Alepa supermarket, Finland, R744 Booster System
F-Gas Regulation and Copeland’s Refrigerant Solutions
F-Gas regulation is today’s dominating industry challenge, posing new limitations to refrigerant choice and impacting system architecture. We offer a variety of possibilities.
Estimates have suggested that the use of HFCs alone could cause a 0.5-degree rise in global temperatures.
Where do we go now?
There is no single perfect refrigerant for the diversity of air conditioning, refrigeration, and industrial applications. The predominant halocarbons (CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs) combine excellent efficiency and safety with acceptable costs. But they contribute to ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP).
In response to the catastrophic damage caused by these halocarbons, the Montreal Protocol mandated the phase-out of CFCs and HCFCs in 1987. Despite positive ozone layer recovery, alternative HFCs have since been shown to still cause climate change, with a GWP significantly greater than CO2. Estimates have suggested that HFCs alone could cause a 0.5-degree rise in global temperatures.
Sustainability challenge accepted.
As the phasedown of HFCs continues globally, the challenge is to identify truly sustainable alternatives that maximize environmental, economic, and operational benefits. Next-generation refrigerants with low global warming potential (LGWP) include natural options like carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (HC), and ammonia (NH3), as well as HFO and HFO blends. Environmental policy must take into consideration the pros and cons of all options.