Hydrocarbon refrigerants

Small companies are showing leadership in moving the Japanese market to wider adoption of hydrocarbons, as evidenced at this year’s HOTERES 2018 tradeshow held in Tokyo, Japan from 20-23 February.

Viessmann’s ESyCool Green propane-based heat pump refrigeration system has been awarded the government-backed German Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment.

Embraco’s new FMFT413U Bivoltage hermetic R290 compressor – showcased last month at the AHR Expo in Chicago – is actually multi-voltage, accommodating the voltage of any country in the world.

Emerson debuted its first line of propane Copeland M-Line condensing units, including Copeland reciprocating hermetic compressors last month at the AHR Expo in Chicago.

In a sign of growing interest in hydrocarbon plug-in systems in Japan, distributors acknowledged growing awareness of natural refrigerants among end users at this year’s Supermarket Tradeshow, held in Tokyo on 14-16 February.

While Japan remains the world leader in using CO₂-based heat pumps, hydrocarbons are gaining ground in the European heat pump market, according to a speaker from Emerson at the European Heat Pump Summit, sponsored by Chillventa.

Analysis conducted by technology company Emerson, in conjunction with HVACR research institute ILK Dresden has shown that European retailers could save hundreds of millions by making the right choice of refrigeration system as they transition away from HFCs to sustainable alternatives.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which will phase down HFC consumption in developed countries by 85% by 2036 (compared to a 2011-2013 baseline period), will enter into force on 1 January 2019.

The International Institute of Refrigeration is now calling for abstracts of papers to be presented at the International Congress of Refrigeration (ICR) in Montreal in August 2019.

A new fire safety guide published by the French government has increased the maximum recommended charge limit on hydrocarbons in shops and shopping centres to 1.5 kg per circuit.

Daikin has officially announced the launch of its first chillers using the low GWP HFO refrigerant R1234ze(E).

The implications of the European F-gas regulations and phase down will be discussed in a new forum set up for public sector employees in London and the South East.

With natural refrigerants ready to step in as replacements for f-gases in HVAC&R technology, a workshop held on the margins of the 29th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (20-24 November 2017), organised by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), set out ways to combat growing use of high-GWP HFCs.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cleared the way for hydrocarbon refrigerants to be used in new household refrigerators and freezers.

Emerson announced it has launched propane-ready models for its Copeland M-Line condensing unit platform. The new models, which feature the latest Copeland reciprocating hermetic compressors, are designed to deliver up to 30% in energy savings.

European standardisation bodies CEN-CENELEC today began to act on the European Commission’s request to alleviate barriers posed by European standards that impede wider use of flammable refrigerants

From 20-24 November 2017, policy representatives from approximately 200 countries and various UN agencies, as well as interested industry and non-governmental representatives, are meeting in Montreal, Canada to discuss alternatives to Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and high GWP HFCs.

In a sign of growing interest in natural refrigerants in the Asia-Pacific, training organisations in Australia and New Zealand are seeing increased demand for natural refrigerant system training from owners, operators, and technicians in the region.

The global refrigerants market is estimated at USD 14.49 Billion in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 18.05 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2017 to 2022. In this report, 2016 is considered the base year and the forecast period is from 2017 to 2022.

Just two months before next year’s major cut in HFC refrigerants, a survey of European retailers has revealed that 40% are not fully aware of the regulatory changes.