1. The Future of Refrigerants: Where Do We Go From Here?
Mike Thompson
Global Leader of Refrigerant Strategy
Trane, Ingersoll Rand, Thermo King

2. Options For HVAC Refrigerants
Fluorocarbons
“Natural” Refrigerants
Ozone Depleters
(Montreal Protocol)
Non- Ozone Depleters
(Kyoto Protocol)
Class 1
High ODP
CFC’s
Class 2
Low ODP
HCFC’s
Lower GWP
Higher GWP
R-134a
R-410A
R-407C
R-32
R-152a
Propane
Butane
CO2
Ammonia
R-11
R-12
R113
R-500
R-22
R-123
There are a number of options today in the are of refrigerants.
The most commonly used flourocarbons are broken into two categories- non ozone depleters, and ozone depleters. The ozone depleters have been addressed by the Montreal Protocol. The non-ozone depleters are now being looked at under the Kyoto protocol due to their impact on global warming.
There are also what is referred to as the “natural” refrigerants, such as propane, butane, CO2 and ammonia.
In the 70’s and 80’s, it was easy to determine what the good and bad refrigerants were- there was only one issue- ozone depletion.
Today, it is not nearly as easy. Now we know that global warming is a factor, and many chemicals with a high global warming potential are getting phase out in some location, such as Europe for automotive applications.
Then, some of these chemicals, and flammable, so there use get much more complex in large quantities, some of these refrigerants have toxicity concerns, and there are also efficiency and cost concerns as well.
In the end there is no “perfect” refrigerant choice- any refrigerant we choose is an effort in compromise. A more thorough review of these chemicals will help us understand the impacts of these comprimises.

3. Timeline of Refrigerant Usage
Montreal Protocol Signed
Kyoto Protocol Signed
No new R-22 for service
No new equipment with R-123 in developed countries
All CFC production Stopped (R-11,R-12) in developed countries
No HCFC production in developing countries
No new R-123 for service in developed countries, no HCFC’s in new equipment in developing countries
No CFC’s for
developing countries
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
No automotive use of
R-134a in Europe
Continued use of recycled R-22,
R-123 for developing countries
No new equipment
with R-22
This chart shows a summary of most of the legislative actions in place for refrigerants today in developed and developing countries, both due to the Montreal and Kyoto Protocol, and localized legislation. The specific dates in some developing countries vary, but these are the dates in the US and Canada.
Note that, as with the CFC’s, even when production of the refrigerant is stopped, there is continued use of recycled, recovered, and stockpiled supplies of these refrigerants without restriction. The CFC’s stopped production in 1996, now 11 years later, stocks of these refrigerants are readily available. R-12, drove up significantly in price after 1996 due to automotive use, but has reduced in price in recent years as automotive use has declined. R-11 has remained available at a low price.
Continued use of recycled R-123
Today
Continued use of recycled R-22
Continued use of recycled CFC’s
Note: Included in the use of “recycled” refrigerants is also the use of stockpiled supplies of the refrigerant produced before the phase out date. In addition, there is no restriction on the importation of recycled and recovered supplies of refrigerants.

4. Current Refrigerant Pricing January 2011
This is a current snapshot of refrigerant pricing as of December, These prices can vary by location and time of the year, but it is a good representation of typical prices out there today.
*Source:

5. Trane’s position on refrigerants has been consistent over the years
Trane’s position on refrigerants has been consistent over the years. This magazine article written for HPAC magazine in April of 1991 is a great example. Even back in 1991, Trane was telling the industry that the important issues in the future to determine what refrigerants we would be using would be a balance approach to ozone depletion, global warming, and energy efficiency.
The title “Refrigerants: The Future In The Balance” is even more apparently true today than is was in 1991 when it was written.

6. Kyoto Protocol Greenhouse Gas Coverage
Six (6) Gases
Carbon Dioxide -- CO2
Methane -- CH4
Nitrous Oxide -- N2O
Hydrofluorocarbons -- HFCs
Perfluorocarbons -- PFCs
Sulfur hexafluoride -- SF6
Base Period
1990 for CO2 , CH4 , and N2O
1990 or 1995 for HFCs, PFCs, and SF6
This chart shows the specific gases to be covered and regulated under the Kyoto Protocol.
Note that even though CFCs and HCFCs are Global Warming Gases, they are not covered under this protocol due to their separate coverage already under the Montreal Protocol.
Likewise, HFCs which have no ozone depletion are not covered under the Montreal Protocol, but because they do have Global Warming Potential, they are covered here in the Kyoto Protcol.
Also, the reduction percentages are not gas specific but are combined. So, for example, greater savings in CO2 can be credited to allow growth in HFC’s, as long as the combined emissions are reduced overall.
The Base periods shown are the dates which will be used to determine compliance with the reduction levels agreed to in the treaty. Primarily it will be 1990, except that HFCs will likely use 1995 since not many HFCs were yet in use in 1990.

7. European HFC Restrictions
Denmark
General HFC ban in 2006
HFC ban on HVAC equipment in 2007, except if the factory refrigerant charge is <10kg for cooling applications or <50 kg for heat pump applications
Austria
HFC ban on HVAC equipment, appliances and cars in 2008, except if factory charge is <20kg of refrigerant
Switzerland
Domestic Refrigeration HFC Ban
Air Conditioners HFC Ban
Mobile Air Conditioning HFC Ban – 2008
F-Gases Directive on car air conditioning
No new vehicles containing F-gases, with a GWP greater than 150, in 2011
Prohibit sale of vehicles containing F-gases, with a GWP greater than 150, in 2017
Recent moves in Europe with regard to the HFC’s (R-134a, R-410A, R-407C) are quite startling. Denmark, Austria and Switzerland will enact bans on all HFC’s within the next 3 years.

9. Country GHG Cap & Trade Legislation
Japan
GHG emissions reduction target of 60-80% by 2050
Will start trial cap & trade program fall of 2009
Govt pressure on GHGs, including HFCs, against industries desires
New Zealand Cap & Trade (Legislation in process)
Six gases including HFCs
All sectors
Australia Cap & Trade (Legislation in process)
Five gases
Separate HFC regulation (25% below 2000 levels by 2020)
HFC regulations begin in 2011
European Union (27 countries)
CO2 only cap and trade, utilities & large industrials
HFCs under regulatory pressure

10. US Legislative Efforts
American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (aka: Waxman-Markey Bill)
Uses the average of 2004, 2005, 2006 production as a baseline for HFC production (weighted HCFC and HFC volumes)
10% below average in 2012
33% below average in 2020
75% below average in 2030
85% below average in 2033
US State Department Proposal to UNEP
Reduce to 2005 levels by 2014
20% reduction by 2017
30% reduction by 2020
50% reduction by 2025
70% reduction by 2029
Developing countries to follow developed countries by 10 years

11. Balance of Environmental Issues
Minimal Ozone Depletion (ODP)
Minimal Global Warming potential (GWP)
Best delivered efficiency (part and full load)
Short atmospheric life
Lowest possible leakage rate

12. Environmental Impact of Refrigerants
Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
Energy Efficiency (COP)
Atmospheric Life (years)

13. ODP versus GWP CFC-11 12 113 114 115 HCFC-22 123 124 141b 142b HFC-32
125
134a
143a
152a
227ea
Next we look at both GWP and ODP together- ODP on the left, and GWP on the right.
Balance becomes a factor when we compare ODP and GWP.
This chart offers a different environmental impact perspective. It’s clear that there’s no perfect refrigerant for the HVAC industry. However, it’s R-123 that strikes the greatest balance between ODP and GWP.
The two other common fluorocarbons on this chart that appear to have good balance are R-32 and R-152a. Unfortunately, their use is limited because they’re flammable.
236fa
245fa
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
0.0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
ODP (relative to R-11)
GWP (relative to CO2)
J. M. Calm and G. C. Hourahan, “Refrigerant Data Summary,” Engineered Systems, 18(11):74-88, November 2001 (based on 1998 WMO and 2001 IPCC assessments)
© JMC 2001

14. Chiller Operating Pressure
Operating pressure tells us how likely or how quickly a refrigerant will escape out of the machine in case of a leak.
For HVAC equipment, we look at operating pressure in three different circumstances
The operating pressure in the evaporator (blue bar)
The operating pressure in the condenser (red bar)
The operating pressure when the unit is offline (yellow bar)
The bottom line is that higher pressure refrigerant have a higher tendency for leakage.

15. Chiller Emissions Study
Number of Trane R-123 CenTraVacs
2768
Total Pounds of Charge
3,547,612 lbs
Total Pounds of Charge Added
16,229 lbs/yr
Annualized Total Loss Rate %
Do low pressure chillers really leak less? This Trane study conduction in 1997 took every single R-123 chiller that Trane had under service contract at the time. This study included all leaks- accidental discharge, servicing, and normal operation.
In real world applications, R-123 have low leakage rates.
Trane 1997 Survey Results
Study corroborated in “Impact on Global Ozone and Climate
From Use and Emission of (HCFC-123)” By Calm, Wuebbles and Jain

16. What Is Important Over the Life of a Chiller?
Cost of Energy (94.5%)
First Cost of Chiller (5.18%)
Cost of Initial Charge
Of Refrigerant (0.25%)
We need to put everything into proportion, and focus on what really is important over the life of a chiller.
-The cost of energy to operate the chiller over a 30 year life is almost 95% of the total life cycle cost of a chiller
- The initial cost of the chiller is only a little more than 5%.
The cost of the initial refrigerant charge, which included in the purchase price of the chiller, only amounts to ¼ of 1% of cost
When you are looking at refrigerant costs, the important factor is what it costs to add refrigerant that leaks over the life of the chiller. With average leakage rates of 0.5% per year, the cost of additional refrigerant over the life of the chiller is only 0.04% of the total life cycle cost. Refrigerants with a higher pressure, and resulting higher leakage rates will certainly be higher.
Don’t let minor issues like the refrigerant type cause you to ignore what is really important.
Refrigerant Added
Over 30 years (0.04%)

17. The Future Emissions Energy Efficiency
This is the key focus for the future. Whether you an equipment manufacturers, an engineer, or an owner, the focus of achieving the best possible energy efficiency, with the lowest possible refrigerant emissions is the key to being both environmentally responsible, and economically responsible.
Focusing on Emissions and Efficiency is fundamental to doing what’s right

18. Options For HVAC Refrigerants
Fluorocarbons
“Natural” Refrigerants
Ozone Depleters
(Montreal Protocol)
Non- Ozone Depleters
(Kyoto Protocol)
Class 1
High ODP
CFC’s
Class 2
Low ODP
HCFC’s
Lower GWP
Higher GWP
R-134a
R-410A
R-407C
R-32
R-152a
Propane
Butane
CO2
Ammonia
R-11
R-12
R113
R-500
R-22
R-123
GWP
GWP
ODP
GWP
ODP
GWP
GWP
ODP
ODP
There are a number of options today in the are of refrigerants.
The most commonly used flourocarbons are broken into two categories- non ozone depleters, and ozone depleters. The ozone depleters have been addressed by the Montreal Protocol. The non-ozone depleters are now being looked at under the Kyoto protocol due to their impact on global warming.
There are also what is referred to as the “natural” refrigerants, such as propane, butane, CO2 and ammonia.
In the 70’s and 80’s, it was easy to determine what the good and bad refrigerants were- there was only one issue- ozone depletion.
Today, it is not nearly as easy. Now we know that global warming is a factor, and many chemicals with a high global warming potential are getting phase out in some location, such as Europe for automotive applications.
Then, some of these chemicals, and flammable, so there use get much more complex in large quantities, some of these refrigerants have toxicity concerns, and there are also efficiency and cost concerns as well.
In the end there is no “perfect” refrigerant choice- any refrigerant we choose is an effort in compromise. A more thorough review of these chemicals will help us understand the impacts of these comprimises.
GWP
GWP
ODP
GWP
ODP
-Toxicity Concerns
-Efficiency Concerns
-Cost Concerns
-ODP Concerns
-GWP Concerns
- Flammable
ODP
GWP

19. Summary
All fluorocarbon refrigerants in use today are under legislative jeopardy
The balanced approach to refrigerant selection is the best way to protect the environment
Ozone Depletion
Global Warming
Energy Efficiency
Short atmospheric life
Low pressure (low tendency for leakage)
Chiller selection should focus on:
High Energy Efficiency
Minimal leakage rates
Superior technical design