Australia needs to prepare for a period of rapid change between now and the year 2025 as the global HFC phasedown impacts all areas of the HVAC&R industry.
As part of the transition to low GWP refrigerant gases, the Australian industry will be dealing with plenty of new species and blends as the HFC phasedown shapes the refrigerant landscape over the next decade.
Between now and the year 2025, Thinkwell Group managing director Michael McCann said Australia’s refrigerant bank will increase 23 per cent. By 2025, 60 per cent of low GWP gases will be new species.
“In fact, nearly 45 per cent of the refrigerant bank will appear in the next 12 years. That’s how fast the market is changing,” McCann said. “There are currently more than 50 new blends in development.
“By the time today’s apprentices are in their mid-30s they will be dealing with more than 20 new substances they have no training in. Welcome to the future where nothing stays the same.
“Eight years ago, R22 made up more than 60 per cent of the refrigerant bank. Now its 21 per cent.
“For those trying to maintain equipment with R22 a decade from now, R22 will be like gold.”
The figures presented by McCann at ARBS are part of a study prepared by the Expert Group for the Department of the Environment. The government comissioned the report to assess the capacity of Australian industry to transition to low GWP alternative refrigerant gases.
In addition to presenting on the HFC phasedown, McCann was also the master of ceremonies for a panel on the future of refrigeration. Panellist Kevin Lee said the move to more flammable alternatives is a big challenge for the industry, which still needs to address a long list of issues that relate to transporting the gas, licensing and standards.
“The time has come to get local standards up to date for a new wave of refrigerants. The current standard is 16 years old,” he said referring to AS/NZ1677. Very few of us are used to working with toxic gases. The industry will need a lot of guidance here," he said.
“It’s not a condition of the ARCtick license to have experience with flammables right now. We are playing catch-up at the moment.”
Panellist Kylie Farrelley of Arkema outlined a research program organised by the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
Farrelley said the program was established to identify alternative refrigerants in major product categories such as air conditioning, heat pumps, dehumidifiers and chillers.
She said 40 alternatives have been identified with 38 selected for testing (round one test results have been published at www.ahrinet.org). “Front running candidates have been identified and round two testing will be undertaken later this year,” Farrelley said. “It is a long process. The first round of testing took 21 months and round two will take up to 20 months. Componentry such as expansion devices and condensers will need to be modified to accommodate the new fluids.”
The Expert Group assessed a number of low GWP synthetic refrigerants that are nearing commercialisation or are still
under development.
While a phasedown of HFCs is in the early stages of negotiation, gas manufacturers report testing of approximately 50 new substances to deliver replacement gases for all the main uses of HFCs.
The study predicts the total bank of gases employed will grow by more than 23 per cent over the projection period, increasing from a 2013 bank of approximately 46,500 tonnes to 57,200 tonnes in 2025. Access the report at www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone/publications/hfc-consumption-australia-2013