Transitioning to Lower GWP Refrigerants: Research, Technology, and Training

Transcription

1 Transitioning to Lower GWP Refrigerants: Research, Technology, and Training Stephen Yurek President and CEO Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

2 We Must Get This Right: Refrigerants Are Vital Used in Air conditioning Vital for personal health, comfort, and well-being Used in Refrigeration Prolong life of perishable food Keep life-saving medicines safe Improve Health, productivity, and safety Save Lives Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Economics Working Paper Series Adapting to Climate Change: The Remarkable Decline in the U.S. Temperature-Mortality Relationship Over the 20 th Century Alan Barreca Karen Clay Olivier Deschenes Michael Greenstone Joseph S. Shapiro Working Paper December 20, 2012 Room E Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA This paper can be downloaded without charge from the Social Science Research Network Paper Collection at Electronic copy available at:

3 Discussion Topics Where we are today U.S. and global initiatives Where we are likely to be Refrigerant research Education and training needs

4 Representing

5 ICARHMA Established 1991 Purpose: Unite and strengthen the voice of global industry Focus on energy efficiency and environmental stewardship Members AREMA -- Australia ABRAVA Brazil HRAI Canada CRAA China EPEE Europe EUROVENT Europe JRAIA Japan KRAIA Korea AHRI United States

6 Continuing to Transition HCs NH4 CFCs HCFCs HFCs??

7 GWP is Important, But Not the Only Consideration Maintaining refrigerant choice Best refrigerant for each application Evaluating refrigerant characteristics for informed choices Balancing efficiency, cost, availability, safety Making transition predictable, smooth, and informed Educating policy makers and training technicians

8 Lower GWP Refrigerant Landscape Options For New & Existing Applications Continue To Grow Pressure Or Capacity New LGWP Refs For OEM Use A1 Non Flammable A2L Mildly Flammable A3 Flammable B2L Toxic, Mildly Flam. New Replacement Refs Today s Refs CO 2 R-410A Like DP: DR HWL: L41 ARK: ARM 70 R32 R410A R404A & R407/22 Like NH 3 R DP: DR7 HWL: L40, L20 ARK: ARM 30 < 1500 DP: DR33 HWL: N20, N40 ARK: ARM 32 R407F R407C R22 R407A R404A (3922) R134a Like R123-Like (V.Low Pr.) HFO 1234yf HFO 1234ze DP: DR2; HWL: N12 ~600 DP: XP10 HWL: N13 R134a GWP Level Qualitative Chart Not To Scale Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies

9 Initiatives in the USA President s Climate Action Plan Legislative Regulatory Activity Code Bodies HVACR Industry Initiatives

10 U.S. President s Climate Action Plan Aims to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, accelerate clean energy leadership, and reduce emissions of HFCs. EPA to use SNAP to encourage investment in low-emissions technology US Government is directed to purchase cleaner alternatives to HFCs North American Amendment to Montreal Protocol Fourth year proposing an amendment to phase-down the production and consumption of HFCs.

11 Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short- Lived Climate Pollutants Initiative Announced February 16, 2012, by U. S. State Department and EPA Focuses on three identified pollutants Black carbon (soot), Methane, and HFCs. Sponsors: Original: U.S., Canada, Bangladesh, Sweden, and Ghana. Current: 32 Countries and Regions Purpose: To help countries develop national action plans, Provide technical support, Build capacity among developing countries, Mobilize public and private funds for action, Raise awareness globally, Foster regional and international cooperation, and Improve scientific understanding of the impacts and mitigation of these gases.

12 U.S. Congress On August 2, 2013 the House of Representatives passed an amendment that prevents the Obama administration from instituting a carbon tax without the consent of Congress. Carbon tax unlikely this Congress Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is crafting a cap-and-dividend climate bill that would cap greenhouse gases on upstream emitters while providing payments to the U.S. public.

13 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Two proposed rules will be issued in 2014 under Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program Add new low GWP refrigerants (subject to use conditions because of flammability) Refrigerants Retail Refrigerator Stand-alone Vending Machines End Use and Application Considered by EPA Very Low Heat Transfer Home AC Temperature Self-Contained Refrigeration Ethane Isobutane Propane R-441A R-32 De-list high GWP refrigerants R-134a and HFC blends with higher GWPs in vending machines, stand-alone reach-in coolers and in various foam blowing end uses R-507A, R-404A and other HFC blends with high GWPs in multiplex supermarket systems (R-407A and R-407F will retain their current status)

14 Code Activities ASHRAE UL Mildly flammable classification 2L added to Standard 34 Ongoing discussions to add requirements for use of class 2L refrigerants in Standard 15 Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems Established three working groups to address class 2L refrigerant requirements in UL standards 471, 474, 484, 1995 & 2182 Other Mechanical Codes Waiting on ASHRAE Standard 15 to act on class 2L refrigerants

15 Industry Initiatives Pre-competitive Research Education

16 Low GWP Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program Cooperative research program to identify suitable alternatives to high GWP refrigerants Purpose is NOT to prioritize refrigerants, but rather to test and present results in a consistent manner Participants Sixteen (16) U.S. companies/organizations Five (5) international companies/organizations Six (6) refrigerant producers supplied thirty-eight (38) refrigerant candidates Tests cover the following applications Air conditioners and heat pumps (air-source, water-source, VRF, unitary, mini-split) Chillers (screw, centrifugal) Heat pump water heaters Refrigeration (commercial refrigerator, ice machine) Transport refrigeration Bus air conditioning

17 GWP 100 Value Low-GWP Alternative Refrigerant Candidates 1800 R-134a (GWP=1430) replacements R-404A (GWP=3900) replacements R-410A (GWP=2100) replacements R-22 (GWP=1810) replacements A1 A2L A3 B2L 0 Alternative Refrigerant Candidates

18 Outlook for Low GWP AREP Completed first round of testing end of 2013 Results posted at: +evaluation+program.aspx Held Low-GWP AREP Conference January 16, 2014 in New York City Beginning second round of refrigerant testing Covering additional equipment and refrigerants High ambient conditions

19 Low-GWP AREP Phase II Testing 23 New samples Some samples in Phase I will be available for Phase II further Testing and Evaluation.

20 Education and Training Major global supply chain challenge safely handling alternative refrigerants We must come together to develop an education and training plan AHRI willing to lead collaborative effort January 2014 AHRI symposium, New York (AHR) ICARHMA members will identify top 3 topics, volunteer experts Meeting tentatively scheduled October Nurnberg We can ensure a seamless transition to multiple refrigerants

21 Summary We understand policy interest in addressing high GWP refrigerants Adequate time needed To properly research alternatives Engineer products that can use alternatives safely Develop capacity to manufacture, distribute, and sell We have a good record as an industry We must continue to work with policy makers We must seize the opportunity to approach global issue in a global, not regional, fashion These Roundtables are a good forum to do so

22 Thank You!