World Leaders Agree to Use Safer AC Coolant- But You Do Not Have to Wait
The Latest International Climate Agreement Means Better Air Conditioner Performance For Everyone
Warnings about a warming earth continue to be a hot topic among politicians, scientists and business leaders world-wide. There is a consensus that a trend in global warming is for real. The dispute remains as to the cause: is it man-made or a cyclical and naturally occurring event that we have no control over. And now refrigerant's like the ones in old air conditioners or refrigerators are front and center as a big part of the problem - and solution.
Recently, representatives from more than 100 countries joined the U.S. administration in backing an ambitious worldwide agreement the phase out Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) as refrigerants in air conditioning systems.
What was thought to be a solution to the dangerous depletion of the ozone layer thirty years ago, the HFC coolants have now been deemed a problem.
Hydrofluorocarbons seemed like a remedy to an environmental crisis targeted in 1980s. The reduction of the earth’s ozone layer was theorized to be caused from chemical emissions of refrigerants used in air conditioning and refrigeration around the world.
The new HFC compounds could do everything the old ones could without damaging the ozone layer, so global policymakers turned to them as a substitute. In 1987, this swap of refrigerants was formalized in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
The change appeared to have worked. The ozone layer, our greatest protection from the harmful rays of the sun, has recovered dramatically and to its normal configuration. During the past thirty years, however, the overall problem of temperature warming and climate change has worsened dramatically. Some of this climate deterioration is blamed on hydrofluorocarbons.
Now, world leaders strongly support an amendment to the Montreal Protocol aimed at cutting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and replacing it with a more environmentally friendly ac coolant.
HFCs is a far less common gas than the most abundant greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. But HFCs have a much higher (20 times) warming potential than carbon dioxide by volume, making it more destructive.
The declaration stated that by passing the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs, we could reduce global warming by up to 0.5°C by the end of the century. The agreement, known as the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, will be one of the most effective contributors to reaching goals described in the Paris climate accord that becomes a legal at the end of November.
The changeover will take time, however. The U.S. and some other developed countries nations will begin to phase out HFCs in the year 2019. An additional 100 developing nations, including China and Brazil, will begin to reduce their emissions in 2024. India and Pakistan and Persian Gulf states will not start until 2028.
The long-range goal is to for every country to have achieved an 80% reduction in HFCs by 2040.
The Obama administration has already begun to encourage our military and other government departments to purchase equipment that will run on climate-helpful alternatives coolants where feasible.
The American consumer doesn’t have to wait for the safer coolant mandate to kick in, however.
To avoid the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a variety of climate-friendly, efficient and safe alternatives are available today. Hydrocarbon refrigerants have been used for many years in refrigerators and freezers in people`s homes throughout the world. Over 90% of new appliances nowadays contain hydrocarbon refrigerants, including the complete line of air conditioners and heat pumps from Bryant . These appliances are very efficient also under high-ambient temperatures.
A hydrocarbon [HC] is an elementary compound of hydrogen and carbon which occurs naturally. It’s found in large concentrations in crude oil. Used as a modern refrigerant, non-toxic hydrocarbons are an eco¬friendly alternative to fluorocarbons.
The next time you are serviced by an HVAC company like the MAHLE Cool Air, ask about having your old coolant replaced with Puron from Bryant. It is an environmentally friendly ac coolant that doesn't contain HFCs and offers far superior performance that the older coolants.
What Kinds Of Coolant Are Used In Air Conditioners?
A variety of different types of coolants are used in newer models of commercial air conditioning systems. It’s important to understand coolants, to be able to make informed decisions regarding maintenance, repair, and updating of HVAC system. Three of the most popular refrigerants currently in use are R-407C, R-410A, and R-134a, but there are others in use as well. The various types of coolants and their main properties are described below, including the older R-22 that must be replaced with newer coolants.
R-410A
• This coolant has been approved for use in new HVAC systems.
• It is common to identify R-410A by a brand name rather than its generic description. It may be called Suva® 9100, Genetron® AZ-20®, Puron®, or another brand name.
• Since it is a hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC), it does not cause ozone depletion.
• It is the most commonly-used refrigerant for newer, light-commercial and home unitary air conditioning systems.
• The operating pressures for R-410A are significantly higher than R-22, requiring that R-410A systems have components that can work at pressures over 50% higher than R-22 systems.
R-22
• R-22 is no longer used for new air conditioning systems, a change that became effective in 2010.
• A common brand name for R-22 is Freon®.
• This coolant is a hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), a type of coolant that is no longer used because it causes ozone depletion.
• Use of this coolant is prohibited in all HVAC units after 2015.
R-134a
• This coolant is used in many different refrigeration and air conditioning systems around the world.
• Because it is a hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC), it doesn’t cause ozone depletion, as older coolants did.
• It is the first non-ozone-depleting fluorocarbon coolant to have been successfully commercialized.
• This coolant has a single component and no glide, and is used in many big commercial screw chillers.
R-407C
• This coolant goes by the brand names Genetron® 407C and Suva® 407C, among others.
• R-407C is a hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC), and is preferred because this type of compound doesn’t lead to atmospheric ozone depletion.
• R-407C is the closest match to R-22 of all the higher-temperature hydro-fluorocarbon coolant options.
• This is a high-glide coolant and has lower efficiency than others, but because it has similar pressures to R-22 it provides the simplest conversion.
A Great Option
R-410A is a good choice as a long-term coolant option for both light commercial and residential air conditioning systems. The reason for this is that it combines highly efficient performance with a direct GWP value that is close to the value of R-22. It is also energy efficient and easy to use in most air conditioning systems, plus many components are now available that contribute to the ease of designing R-410A systems that operate efficiently.
R-410A is often the coolant of choice for new system designs because it absorbs and releases a greater amount of heat than R-22, allowing the A/C compressor to run cooler, and thus decreasing the risk of the compressor burning out from overheating. Because R-410A operates at higher pressures than R-22, use of this coolant also requires that compressors be built to withstand these increased pressures. The result is that the system is better made and less likely to crack.
R-410A air conditioning systems use Polyol Ester oil (POE) for lubrication, an oil that dissolves better than the mineral oil that had been previously used did. This means that the newer cooling systems operate better, thus minimizing the amount of compressor wear and tear and allowing the equipment to last longer.
A final consideration regarding any air conditioning system is how environmentally friendly it is. In some areas, it’s possible to get tax incentives or rebates for systems and buildings that meet state or local utility green codes. Systems that use R-410A are more sustainable and easier on the environment. As such, these systems can have a rapid payback period and may earn rebates as well, making them an economically sound choice as well as a positive choice for the environment, and this difference can make these systems the first choice for new installations.