1. FGas Regulation Revision : Industry Impact
Seamus Kerr
BE, MEngSc, MIEI, MIRI

2. Market feedback and challenges
Price of refrigerants
Supply of product
Alternative Refrigerants
HFC Phase Down
Training, Equipment and safety

3. Market feedback and challenges

4. Market feedback and challenges

5. Market feedback and challenges
115MTonnes CO2 equivalent

6. GWP
AREA : Fgas Guide

7. Market feedback

8. Supply and demand Quota
No refrigerant manufacturing or blending in Ireland
Very little Irish held quota
>90% of refrigerant into Ireland based on UK/other quota
Both Germany and Spanish associations have issued warnings about shortages.

9. Supply and demand example
British Refrigeration Association PURR report
Putting into Use Replacement Refrigerants
Estimate tonnes R404A installed in UK
43M CO2 tonnes equivalent in R404A alone
R410A, R22, R134a
Germany, France, Poland, England + 24

10. Supply and Demand Example
115MTonnes CO2 equivalent
UK R404A installed estimate

11. GWP and Phase down R23 = 14800 R508B = 13396 (R508A)
R404A = 3922 (R507, R422D,R422A)
R407A = 2107 (R407F = 1705)
R410A = 2088
R442A = 1888
R134A = 1430
R449A = 1397
R448A =
R452B = 675
R32 =
R1234yf = 4, AC5 = <100
CO2 = 1
NH3 = 0
R600a, R1270 and R290 = 0

12. Low Temperature Applications -70 o
R508B = (R508A)
Current available HFO alternatives : None
Quota holders not wasting quota on R508
Future alternative :
Ethane R170
Ethylene R1150
Hydrocarbons, extremely flammable
New system required
Very few systems readily available
Atex Regulations
Engineering support limited
Walk in room, no alternative currently

13. R404A and R507 (R22) Alternatives
R404A = 3922 (R507, R422D,R422A)
R407A = 2107 (R407F = 1705)
R410A = 2088 (not suitable for retrofit)
R442A = 1888
R134A = 1430 (not suitable for retrofit)
R449A = 1397
R448A = 1273
R452B = 675 (not suitable for retrofit)
R32 = 675
75% quota material
(Restricted supply chain, shortages already)

14. R404A and R507 (R22) Alternatives
R404A = 3922 (R507, R422D,R422A)
R407A = 2107 (R407F = 1705)
R410A = 2088 (not suitable for retrofit)
R442A = 1888
R134A = 1430 (not suitable for retrofit)
R449A = 1397
R448A = 1273 (Patented product, supplies limited)
R452B = 675 (not suitable for retrofit)
R32 = 675 (not suitable for retrofit)
Supplies not guaranteed
Prices will rise
Alternative Lower GWP Refrigerant properties are different
TX valve changes/adjustments
Higher discharge temperatures

15. R410A Alternatives
R410A = 2088
R452B = 675. A2L aimed at new equipment
R32 = 675 : A2L for new equipment
Supplies not guaranteed
Product most likely to become unavailable (SK)
Most likely first applications needing equipment change.
Prices will rise
Currently no lower GWP retrofit available

16. Alternative long term refrigerants
HFO
R1234yf (ze, zd etc.)
Ammonia NH3, R717
CO2, R714
HC (R290A, R600, R1270)
A2L Low GWP refrigerants
Others

17. Alternative long term refrigerants
HFO
R1234yf (ze, zd etc.)
Expensive production process
Unknown long term environmental impact
R134a replacement
- HFO blends
Not readily available on market yet

18. Alternative long term refrigerants
CO2, R714
Most popular replacement refrigerant so far
10 yrs experience in Ireland in small % of contractors
Increasing number of contractors “trying it”
Very very high pressures
Poor energy performance (reports of 8 to 14% higher energy usage)
Most solutions aimed at the supermarket sector
Smaller solutions coming
Complete equipment change
Big investment in training needed
Lack of training/experience is dangerous

19. Alternative long term refrigerants
NH3, R717, Ammonia
80+ yrs experience in Ireland in small % of contractors
Increasing number of contractors “considering it”
Standard pressures
Good energy performance
Toxic
Most new solutions aimed packaged chiller market
Smaller solutions coming (equipment available)
Complete equipment change
Low level of training required

20. Alternative long term refrigerants
Propane, R290
40 yrs experience in Ireland in small % of contractors
Increasing number of contractors “trying it”
Standard pressures
Good energy performance
Very flammable
Most solutions aimed at very small applications
Bigger solutions coming (equipment available)
Complete equipment change

21. Alternative long term refrigerants
A2L (Low GWP refrigerants)
Very little experience in Ireland (first plant arriving this summer)
Increasing number of contractors “trying it”
Standard pressures
Good energy performance
Mildly flammable?
Most solutions aimed at split air conditioning (<750 GWP)
Complete equipment change

22. Excerpt from my presentation in April 2012
Main Challenges
Refrigeration Industry ready?
Skills
Equipment
Training/Certification
Industry ready?
Investment
Safety
Timing
Time scale
Technology
Supply

23. Future ? Supply shortages Massive prices increases Skill shortages
Technology lag
Training lag
Phase down will be too severe and will have negative economic impact

24. Thank you. seamus@rslireland.com