A pioneer of innovative CO2 and ammonia refrigeration has warned about the importance of informed decision making when assessing refrigerant options to comply with the HFC phase down.
Star Refrigeration sales and marketing director, Dr Rob Lamb, said plant owners need to strike a balance between compliance, competitiveness and long-term efficiency.
His advice is timely as F-gas negotiations between the European Commission, Council and Parliament have not been finalised.
In Australia the HVACR industry is preparing for its next drop in the HFC quota.
"We've seen increased interest in natural refrigerant solutions following the EU's draft F-gas Regulation proposal which further restricts the production and consumption of synthetic fluids with high global warming potential,” Lamb said.
“There is no silver bullet that suits all these applications and while CO2 is suitable for some applications, ammonia is better suited for others. In some cases, a combined approach may be the optimal solution.
"It is crucial for businesses to carefully assess the technical, safety and cost implications associated with each option and choose the most suitable refrigerant and technology accordingly."
While the EU's final decision to the proposed F-gas Regulation is not yet known, it is expected that the life-expectancy of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and their blends will be shortened and that regulations to restrict their use through quotas and bans will be accelerated.
Lamb said each refrigerant offers unique benefits for companies looking to reduce energy consumption and work towards net zero goals.
"CO2 is a particularly attractive option for small to medium cooling capacities and for low temperature applications such as blast freezing. Its properties allow for smaller component and pipework sizes to be used and it is compatible with copper, making it cheaper to install than ammonia,” he said.
“It also offers heat recovery potential for mains water heating when run in transcritical mode. The challenges with CO2 when compared to ammonia are increased electrical consumption and the number of components (e.g. compressors) required for larger system cooling capacities."
Lamb said the efficiency and longevity of ammonia refrigeration systems is well-established.
He said its mildly flammable and toxic nature means there are additional safety considerations when designing ammonia systems and its incompatibility with copper requires the use of steel for heat exchangers and pipework, resulting in higher initial capital costs.
Technology innovations such as low charge ammonia systems have reduced refrigerant charges to less than 0.18 kg/kW which has helped address safety concerns and broadened the opportunities for its use in smaller capacity and more diverse applications.
Current F-gas negotiations aim to realign existing EU legislation with the European Green Deal, European Climate Law and international obligations under the Montreal Protocol.
The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), which represents the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump industry in Europe, believes the F-gas timeline is unrealistic.
EPEE director general Russell Patten said there is a lack of granularity.
Patten said the bans must account for a wide range of applications and environments where equipment is installed.
He said these systems are not a one size fits all and a failure to be precise will lead to complications and put safety at risk.
“It is critical that time is allowed to ensure widespread technician training and certification to avoid accidents involving systems with alternative refrigerants, and that periodic inspections and leak checks take place to ensure safe and energy-efficient operation,” he said.
Patten also warned of refrigerant shortages and price hikes as a result of an accelerated phase down.
He said the EPEE is calling for achievable quotas and granular bans with reasonable timelines.