A-Gas business development director for Asia, Australia and North America, Brett Fraser, explains how refrigerant use is changing.
While all the talk in Europe is about the scaling down of high Global Warming Potential (GWP) HFCs, the developing world, which includes China and India, has only just begun a phase out of HCFCs. This will be a slow process for many and in China it is unlikely to be completed until 2040.
This shows how the pace of change in the use of refrigerants varies across the globe. HCFC R22, now outlawed completely in Europe, is still very much in use in Australia, North America and South Africa where it is viewed as a refrigerant with a working life for many years to come.
So it is the life-cycle climate performance of a system which should now be the key factor for customers and engineers. In Australia heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration use accounts for 20 per cent of energy consumption and the industry is looking at a more holistic approach to managing refrigerant use.
Sales of recycled refrigerants are on the up, there is improved leak detection, better installation and work practices, and equipment is more efficient in its use of energy. It’s all about how we make the most of what we have.
Better equipment design and improved training for contractors and skilled technicians all contribute to this holistic approach.
Leakage on modern air conditioning systems has been cut drastically compared to the levels of 15 years ago. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are raising their game by producing better components which deliver more efficiencies.
There is no doubt that the industry is now focused on improved leak detection and that we are cleaning up our act.
There have been significant developments in leak detection practices but there is still much scope to build on this. Better technology is already with us. Trace-A-Gas, from A-Gas, when used with an electronic leak detector can detect as low as 5g per year.
Two new analytical products from A-Gas make a significant contribution to refrigerant re-use and system preventative maintenance. A-Gas Full Refrigerant Analysis (FRA) examines refrigerant that customers have taken out of a system and banked for re-use.
The results of the test sent to the A-Gas laboratory will reveal the maximum contaminant levels permissible for re-use without causing system damage.
FRA also provides all the information needed to make an informed decision on whether to re-use the refrigerant or to have it professionally cleaned. The A-Gas laboratory returns the results with a certificate of analysis against the AHRI700 standard.
A-Gas Refrig Health Check (RHC) analyses oil and refrigerant in an operating system. All the equipment needed to take the sample is provided and also included is a prepaid TNT consignment note to ensure a prompt response from the A-Gas laboratory.
RHC is perfect for system troubleshooting or as part of an annual preventative maintenance program. The results are returned with a certificate of analysis, advice on what can be done to improve the health of the system and how to extend its operating life.
Natural refrigerants will have a role to play in the future. CO2 is an excellent refrigerant but it is not a panacea. It’s not suitable for all applications and there are areas of Australia where climate conditions dictate that it is not the most efficient choice. CO2 will have a major role to play in supermarket refrigeration where it is suited to custom-built systems.
Secondary refrigerants
There will also be a rise in the popularity of secondary refrigerants like glycol and salt-based heat transfer fluids such as Temper. Salt-based fluids offer enhanced heat transfer properties and lower viscosity, particularly at low operating temperatures, compared to glycols.
These factors combine to make Temper more energy efficient which is a key requirement for modern industrial HVAC systems.
R404A is still a go-to refrigerant in supermarket systems but with natural refrigerants coming to the fore it is no longer the only card on the table. In residential air conditioning R32 is still the gas with the most momentum.
You can be sure that in Australia a more holistic approach to use can only lead to a growth in the use of recycled refrigerants. Taking refrigerant out of a system, returning it to its original specification and re-using it, is becoming more attractive to customers as they look to save money and improve their green credentials.