The adverse effect of uninhibited greenhouse gas emissions impacting on the global climate has already been documented as the most serious threat to the environment and most likely to our own survival.
Limiting the growth of HFCs usage will greatly increase the probability that we can achieve the emissions reductions that the scientific consensus say are necessary to stop climate change.
To date, the Montreal Protocol has successfully managed to address the impending disaster of the last century by largely eliminating the use of ozone-depleting substances. That same protocol and existing infrastructure can, and should, now be used to redress the use of HFCs.
In the past 5 years GalxC have devoted its efforts to research and development, using Hydrocarbon R290 as the preferred future refrigerant within its Innovvation-Now advanced chillers. Taking advantage of the latest technology available and contributing towards the Montreal Protocol’s ultimate success on achieving its target with the phase-down of HFCs.
A 0.5 deg. C of global warming (by 2100) can be prevented with the phase-down of HFCs; contributing to numerous environmental and economic benefits. Phasing out HFCs under the Montreal Project is by far the most significant, cost-effective and practicable measure required to limit a global average temperatures rising 2°C back to pre-industrial average temperatures. World leaders agreed to that level during the 2010 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Cancun, Mexico.
To date, 197 countries have signed on to the Montreal Protocol, making it the only universally ratified UN treaty.
Following the Montreal Protocol agreement on the phase-out of Ozone Depletion Substances (ODSs) and subsequent success in achieving its targets on CO2 emission reduction to date, the Montreal Protocol has been successfully generating further efforts to phase down HFCs through its members’ body; relaying the tremendous credibility and sway on global markets.
The increased popularity of HFCs (replacement to CFCs) has produced a further challenging problem for the Montreal Protocol. Although safe for the ozone layer, the continued emissions of HFCs – primarily as alternatives to the ODS will have an immediate and significant effect on the Earth’s climate system. Without further controls, it is predicted that HFC emissions could negate the entire climate benefits achieved under the Montreal Protocol.
HFCs are rapidly increasing in the atmosphere!
The Montreal Protocol Body are advised by experts on ODS’s as well as providing advice on HFCs. This advisory group for the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP), comprised of experts from government agencies, universities and non-government organisations universally. They provide internationally respected research on scientific, environmental, economic and technological issues requested by parties to the Montreal protocol.
Since HFCs entered the market in the 1990s, TEAP has issued annual recommendations on the usage and impacts of HFCs – making the panel well-equipped to advise the international community on their usage, examine the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and barriers of low-GWP HFC alternatives.
Right from the outset, the Montreal Protocol has established that developed countries would lead the phase-down of HFCs, and developing countries would begin their phase-down at a later date. The later start date for developing countries would allow more time for the development of affordable and reliable alternatives. Consequently this leaves developed countries with no other choice but to take on responsibility by keeping the phase-down momentum in place.
The impetus has steadily grown for phasing down HFCs. Some key recent events have supported this growing momentum:
As environmental law and regulations are set to continue tightening, the impetus is growing to identify an alternative to the popular HFC refrigerant currently used in most refrigeration systems. A limited number of HFCs are currently available as refrigerants used within water chillers, inevitably CO2, ammonia and hydrocarbon are destined to become the leading mainstream replacements.
These three refrigerant options are cost-effective, efficient alternatives to HFCs and are perfectly safe for the environment, however the Hydrocarbon R290 has the edge!
The Montreal Protocol:
“Perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date.” – According to former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
CFCs Impact on the Ozone Layer
The chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) phase-out was an important turning point in the recovery of the Ozone layer. At present, the depletion process is approximately 3 percent at Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes and 6 percent at Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes, but if no action had been taken to limit CFCs, the Ozone depletion process would eventually have reached 20 percent or more.
Thanks to the phase-out, CFCs are no longer accumulating in the atmosphere at an accelerating rate. CFC-11 and CFC-113 levels are decreasing, and CFC-12 levels are increasing but at a slower rate than in the past. If international agreements are adhered to, the Ozone layer is expected to recover around 2050.
HFCs Impact on the Ozone Layer
HFCs are fluorinated greenhouse gases introduced as replacements for Ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs. HFCs are used in wide and varied applications, as a direct replacement to CFCs.
Domestic and commercial air-conditioning, alongside many industrial applications, are taking by far the biggest portion of the users of HFCs. HFCs are also used in air-conditioning in vehicles plus smaller amounts are used in foam products, aerosols, solvents and fire protection systems.
Although HFCs are regarded to be less damaging than the CFCs, the HFCs are considered to be an intermediate substance. Most HFCs are still impacting on the global environment, although with less ferocity their warning impact is very strong. CFCs emissions are projected to increase nearly twenty-fold in the coming decades.
Ammonia NH2 as a Refrigerant
CO2 as a Refrigerant
Ammonia (R717) Refrigerant – Drawback
There are some disadvantages with using an ammonia as a refrigerant within water chillers:
CO2 Refrigerant – Drawback
CO2 is a high-pressure refrigerant that operates in high operating pressures to achieve efficient operation. During idle periods, the ambient temperature is likely to reach and exceed the critical temperature and the pressure may breech the critical pressure point, therefore CO2 systems are typically designed to withstand pressure up to 90 bar. The liquid density of CO2 is larger, resulting in higher mass charge in evaporators, consequently this may be forcing larger dimension chillers in particular with large industrial systems. Higher density means higher oil circulation, this in turn requires effective oil separators for industrial systems.
What about safety concerns with R290?
Hydrocarbon (R290) single blend refrigerant has different chemical properties compared to fluorocarbon refrigerants.
The primary difference is their classification as extremely flammable, therefore the handling and use of hydrocarbons requires adequate safety measures, thanks to our innovative design and by using an advanced technology every safety measure is taken by way of separation of the electrical compartment from the refrigeration and the mechanical section, the reduced charge of refrigerant per circuit as well as using leakage detection module to eliminate any potential hazardous situation, ensuring utmost safety utilisation.
Our team of experience engineers are standing by waiting to help our many customers with their Cooling projects requirements. Please do contact us by phone or email and we’d be more than happy to provide any advice or help we can. Look forward to hearing from you.