A Global Approach to Transitioning to Lower GWP Refrigerants

Stephen YurekPresident and CEO

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

Refrigerants Are Vital

Used in Air-conditioning,− Vital for personal health, comfort, and

well-beingUsed in Refrigeration− Prolong life of perishable food− Keep life-saving medicines safe

Improve− Health, productivity, and safety

Save− Lives

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Economics Working

Paper Series

Adapting to Climate Change: The Remarkable Decline in the

U.S. Temperature-Mortality Re la tio nship Over the 20th C e ntury

Alan Barreca Karen Clay Olivier

Deschenes Michael Greenstone J oseph

S. Shapiro

Working Paper 12-29 December 20, 2012

Room E52-251 50 Memorial Drive

Cambridge, MA 02142

This paper can be downloaded without charge from the Social Science Research Network Paper Collection at http://ssrn.com /abstract=2192245

Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2192245

Things to think about:

Maintaining refrigerant choice

Evaluating refrigerant characteristics for informed choices

Making transition predictable, smooth, and informed

Educating policy makers and training technicians

New Reality

CFCs HCFCs HFCs ??

New “ReplacementRefs”

New LGWP Refs“For OEM Use”

R-410ALike

Capacity

R404A &R407/22

Like

R134aLike

GWP Level

400-675

< 1500

~600

150 - 300

R32

DP: DR7HWL: L40, L20

HFO 1234yfHFO 1234ze

R410A

R407CR22

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Today’s Refs

PressureOr

DP: DR33HWL: N20, N40

DP: DR5HWL: L41

DP: XP10HWL: N13

R134a

R407A

CO2

R404A

DP: DR2; HWL: N12

R290

NH3

A1 – Non Flammable

A2L – Mildly FlammableA3 – FlammableB2L – Toxic, Mildly Flam.

Qualitative Chart – Not To Scale

Lower GWP Refrigerant LandscapeOptions For New & Existing Applications Continue To Grow

ARK: ARM 70

ARK: ARM 30

ARK: ARM 32

R407F

R123-Like(V.Low Pr.)

(3922)

Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies

Choosing a RefrigerantRefrigerants have unique operating characteristics:Choice cannot be based on one factor, but instead should be based on an analysis of all factors:

− Safe− Energy efficient− Widely available− Economical− GWP

Operating factors can be different:− Pressures− Incompatible lubricants− Incompatible metals and alloys− Flammability levels

Needs will be different for each application

Avoiding Unintended Consequences

Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies

Refrigerant Research

Low GWP Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation Program Cooperative research program to identify suitable alternatives to high GWP refrigerants.Purpose is NOT to prioritize refrigerants, but rather test and present results in a consistent manner.Participants

− Sixteen (16) U.S. companies/organizations − Five (5) international companies/organizations − Six (6) refrigerant producers supplied thirty-eight (38) refrigerant candidates

Tests cover the following applications− Air-conditioners and heat pumps (air-source, water-source, VRF, unitary, mini-split)− Chillers (screw, centrifugal)− Heat pump water heater− Refrigeration (commercial refrigerator, ice machine)− Transport refrigeration− Bus air-conditioning

Current Status of Low GWP AREP

Completion of the first round of testing – 3rd quarter of 2013− Results posted at:

http://www.ahrinet.org/ahri+low_gwp+alternative+refrigerants+evaluation+program.aspx

Low-GWP AREP Conference− January 16, 2014 in New York City

Possible second round of refrigerant testing

Other Research

Risk Assessment of Residential Heat Pumps using 2L Refrigerants− Showed very low risk of ignition from the use of R-32, HFO-1234yf,

or HFO-1234ze in ducted residential split heat pump systems− October 2012 Report: www.ahrinet.org/technical+results.aspx

Configuration of AC/HP Systems Using Low GWP Refrigerants− Summarized configurations of residential air-conditioning and heat

pump systems using hydrocarbons, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and HFO-1234yf while meeting previously defined safety requirements.

− January 2013 Report: http://www.ahrinet.org/App_Content/ahri/files/RESEARCH/Technical%20Results/AHRI-8006%20Final%20Report.pdf

New “ReplacementRefs”

New LGWP Refs“For OEM Use”

R-410ALike

Capacity

R404A &R407/22

Like

R134aLike

GWP Level

400-675

< 1500

~600

150 - 300

R32

DP: DR7HWL: L40, L20

HFO 1234yfHFO 1234ze

R410A

R407CR22

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Today’s Refs

PressureOr

DP: DR33HWL: N20, N40

DP: DR5HWL: L41

DP: XP10HWL: N13

R134a

R407A

CO2

R404A

DP: DR2; HWL: N12

R290

NH3

A1 – Non Flammable

A2L – Mildly FlammableA3 – FlammableB2L – Toxic, Mildly Flam.

Qualitative Chart – Not To Scale

Lower GWP Refrigerant LandscapeOptions For New & Existing Applications Continue To Grow

ARK: ARM 70

ARK: ARM 30

ARK: ARM 32

R407F

R123-Like(V.Low Pr.)

(3922)

Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies

Education and Training

We must come together – globally – to develop an education and training planAHRI will lead collaborative U.S. effortWe can ensure a seamless transition to multiple refrigerants

Summary

We understand policy interest in addressing high GWP refrigerantsAdequate time needed− To properly research alternatives− Engineer products that can use alternatives safely− Develop capacity to manufacture, distribute, and

sell We have a good record as an industry− We must continue to work with policy makers

We must seize the opportunity to approach global issue in a global not regional fashion

Thank You!