Technology F-Gas
each has its place. Our principle aim is to deliver the
best possible performance for clients at the lowest
energy penalty, whether that is by using HFCs,
ammonia, carbon dioxide or hydrocarbons.”
Warming impact
European Commission officials, however, have called
on the RAC sector to step up research into alternative
non-HFC gases that have low ‘global warming potential’
(GWP). But most design and installation engineers
regard the ‘total equivalent warming impact’ (TEWI)
of a cooling system to be the most meaningful measure
of environmental friendliness.
TEWI takes into account the GWP, the energy
efficiency, and the life-cycle costs of running the
equipment.
Hywel Davies, CIBSE technical director, says: “In
practice, an efficient refrigerant used in a properly
The European Union could
that the rate of reclamation is increasing. Current
contained, maintained and inspected system does not
consider extending its rules
reclamation levels of around 10 per cent of demand
on refrigerant gases
cause global warming, and will result in much lower will leave most R22 users short of product come 2010,”
energy consumption, with associated much lower the BRA adds.
emissions, than an inefficient system containing less Ken Logan, managing director of refrigerant supplier
appropriate refrigerants, that doesn’t leak but has to A-Gas (UK), warns that time is running out. “Although
work much harder and use more energy.” recycled material is readily available at the moment,
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry there may be issues with supply towards the end of
Board (ACRIB) says that removing HFCs would drive the year,” he says.
up energy consumption to such an extent that the “Now is the time to start looking into alternative
‘indirect’ emissions from power generation would far refrigerants, as by 2015, if not sooner, alternative
outweigh the benefits of removing the ‘direct’ global refrigerants or new plant may be the only accessible
warming impact caused by HFCs. options but a strategy needs to be put in place to
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European facilitate budgeting and ensure a smooth transition.”
Association (AREA), which represents contractor Persuading end-users to make radical and expensive
trade bodies, believes there will have to be a range of changes to systems that are working perfectly well is a
solutions far into the future, including HFCs. difficult, if not impossible, task. The snail-like pace of
“Our industry cannot simply produce a one-size-fits- conversion from R22 shows that any attempt to remove
all solution,” says Graeme Fox of AREA’s technical and HFCs could take decades and would, inevitably, also
environment committee.
There is
undermine the phase out of R22.
“There is simply no such thing as one refrigerant
being the answer in all applications. For large, deep-
simply no such
HFCs are an alternative to R22 in many systems and,
if they were not available, long-term wholesale plant
freeze applications, I have seen some wonderful thing as one replacement programmes would be needed. There
ammonia systems, for large central plant systems I
refrigerant being
is an enormous installed base of cooling equipment
have seen fantastic evidence of CO2 working very well
and with excellent efficiencies.”
the answer to all
that simply cannot work without HFCs. Medium- to
high-temperature systems in shops, offices, and some
applications. domestic applications along with the growing numbers
HFC review
– Graeme Fox
of small heat pumps being installed across Europe rely
And how practical would a ban on HFCs be? We are on HFCs – there are alternatives, but few that could
in the middle of a phase-out of HCFCs – the interim match the energy efficiency delivered by HFCs.
replacement for CFCs – but a survey carried out by All sections of the industry, from system designers
the British Refrigeration Association (BRA) showed to product manufacturers, recognise the importance of
that progress is painfully slow. In many cases, HCFCs making F-Gas stick. It has only been law in the UK since
should be replaced by HFCs. March, meaning that there will have been little time to
“It’s the last year that virgin R22 [a popular HCFC gauge its impact before the EC’s review next year. The
refrigerant] can be used and the latest BRA survey shows industry, justifiably, believes it needs to be given more
rate of reclamation of R22 has not increased to meet future time to prove it can get on top of the refrigerant leakage
demand,” the association says. “The quantity of virgin issue and drive up installation standards.
R22 sold in 2008 was close to that in the previous year Moreover, despite the problems of implementation
and at odds with the 25 per cent reduction predicted in the and arguments about the future, the UK was among 20
last survey based on users switching to alternatives. of the 27 EU member states said to be in compliance
“R22 reclaimed in 2008 was just over 200 tonnes with F-Gas when the deadline passed on July 4 this
and similar to the volume in 2007. There is no evidence year. This is according to a survey conducted by the >
www.cibsejournal.com August 2009 CIBSE Journal 33
CIBSEaug09 pp32-34 Refrig.indd 33 23/7/09 15:55:36
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