ACR Journal

June | July 2020 REFRIGERANT 28 Volume 6 No.4 There is a lot of talk about A2L low GWP solutions for new equipment but legacy equipment operating with a refrigerant with a GWP >2500 still exists in large numbers, explains Climalife UK Technical Director Peter Dinnage. This legacy stems back over the last 25 years when for many, R404A was the refrigerant of choice for new equipment. Whilst many of these systems have been converted to alternatives or replaced, estimates suggest around half of the R404A bank still remains in systems at the start of 2020, as the ban on the use of virgin refrigerants with a GWP >2500 came into e ect for stationary refrigeration systems with a charge over 40 CO2 equivalent tonnes. This year has seen some unprecedented challenges due to Covid-19 with lockdown rules delaying both conversion and replacement projects and may lead to some adjusting of budgets and re-prioritising upcoming projects. This may inevitability lead to increased demand for reclaimed product to service such systems still on R404A and other GWP >2500 refrigerants. Supply of reclaimed refrigerant with GWP >2500 Fortunately, in 2018 many users ramped up conversion and replacement programmes, with many large users such as supermarkets creating their own bank of reclaimed R404A for servicing equipment that had not been converted. So far there are no signs of any shortages of reclaimed R404A-R in the UK, but going forward, the key to future supply of refrigerants with a GWP >2500 for servicing, is dependent upon the industry, converting and replacing enough of the bank to generate su‹cient availability of reclaimed product. Converting systems with GWP >2500 With the next F-Gas phase down step only six months away in 2021, the remainder of the year is the time to convert systems that can be easily switched to lower GWP alternatives. Replacing equipment before the end of its useful life is not always practical, cost e‹cient or essential. Fortunately, the experience gained over the last three years has shown that it is Working to support legacy equipment