Global Warming Potential (GWP) of Refrigerants: Committed to the Environmental Health of Our Nation
Air conditioning, refrigeration, and motor cars account for nearly 80% of toxic hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) released worldwide. Solvents, fire suppression agents, aerosols, and foam spraying account for the residual HFCs. Developed nations account for the bulk of HFC emissions. On the other hand, HFC emissions in developed countries are expected to quadruple by 2030, owing to the rising demand for air conditioning and refrigeration.
Heating, Air-Conditioning, Ventilation, and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) Equipment uses refrigerants in several applications. Our existing refrigerants have no ozone depletion potential, but they do have a significant global warming potential when introduced into the atmosphere.
Since the 1990s, hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants with a high Global Warming Potential (GWP) have been commonly used in HVACR equipment. The refrigerant industry has started to build equipment that uses low GWP substitute refrigerants in response to global hydrofluorocarbon plans and phase-down goals. The following are the properties of the “ideal” low GWP refrigerant:
- Zero Global Warming Potential
- Zero Ozone Depletion Potential
- Operates in a pressured atmosphere that is tolerable.
- It is non-toxic and flammable
- Has a sufficient volumetric potential for the application
In the past, refrigerants that were reasonably non-toxic and non-flammable yet had high GWP and ozone depletion characteristics were created. Unfortunately, many of the more newly produced refrigerants were more flammable, poisonous, and had smaller volumetric capacities while maintaining a much higher degree of low GWP and low ozone depletion characteristics. As they reform Codes and Regulations, authorities are taking extraordinary measures to control the dangers of hazardous and flammable low GWP refrigerants.
Switching to lower GWP refrigerants is being proposed for specific refrigeration systems:
- Both refrigeration elements are found within the framework of stand-alone or self-contained devices.
- Ice devices for sale
- Equipment for the foodservice sector
- Coolers should be stepped in.
- Display cases that are kept cold
- Equipment for Cold Storage
- Food preparation equipment for walk-ins that has been packaged
- Equipment for refrigerated food production and dispensing (ice cream machines, frozen beverage dispensers, and chilled beverage dispensers)
