A2L refrigerant changeover
Presented by Douglas Tucker, Director of Industry and Government Relations at Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.
ASHRAE, a world leader in refrigerant technology, research, and standards development, is currently supporting a global transition to the use of lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants to reduce the effects of our technologies on the environment. The Montreal Protocol banned the use of CFC refrigerants and is working to phase out the use of HCFC refrigerants worldwide. The replacement HFC refrigerants, such as R-410A and R-134a, have zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), but have a high GWP and are under increasing regulatory scrutiny in the US. Refrigerant producers, assisted by organizations such as ASHRAE, have developed new refrigerants that are classified as zero or near-zero ozone depleting and have a lower GWP than those currently in use. Many proposed lower GWP refrigerants are classified as flammable which will require changes in how systems using these refrigerants are designed and applied. This presentation will provide an update on industry and regulatory activities related to the phase down of HFC refrigerants and the transition to lower-GWP refrigerants, including the policy issues driving the demand for alternative refrigerants, changes in critical codes and standards (such as ASHRAE Standard 15), a discussion of low-GWP refrigerant options, and an overview of the challenges in utilizing flammable refrigerants in comfort conditioning systems.