REFRIGERANTS
Europe’s propane
proliferation
As propane-based refrigeration becomes more commonplace in the EU, is the US far behind? Allen Wicher director of marketing at Emerson Climate Technologies examines the two markets.
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When it comes to adherence to environmentally sound practices, the European Union and its member countries have consistently been ahead of the curve.
he use of propane (R290) as a refrigerant in commercial refrigeration is the subject of much debate in the US. Its A3 flammable classification conjures up negative connotations in the minds of operators, technicians and public officials alike — beliefs that when examined closer are largely unfounded. But in Europe, the use of R290-based equipment is well into its second decade and continues to play a big role. Some leading retailers are even making it a cornerstone of their refrigeration portfolio. How this may influence R290 perceptions and its subsequent adoption in the US remains to be seen. We can, however, evaluate R290’s early adoption in Europe and speculate on its path toward commercialisation in the US.
When it comes to adherence to environmentally sound practices, the European Union and its member countries have consistently been ahead of the curve. The EU’s F-Gas regulations were among the world’s first actions to phase down hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants in favour of low global warming potential (GWP) natural alternatives. At the same time, consumer, OEM and retailer preferences for sustainable goods and eco-friendly systems contributed to driving compliance with these regulations. It’s no surprise then that Europe has led the way in the adoption of natural refrigerants in commercial refrigeration — including R290. From an environmental perspective, R290 is among an elite class of viable green alternatives to many of the industry’s most common high GWP refrigerants. It is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon (HC) with a GWP of three, and zero ozone depletion potential (ODP). R290 is a highly refined grade of the fossil fuel propane and, although flammable, it is non-toxic in nature.
R290’s green potential doesn’t stop there. Its excellent thermodynamic properties — such as pressure, low back
50 August 2016
pressure, volumetric capacity, capacity and coefficient of performance — are very similar to R22, even outperforming it in certain parameters. In Emerson Climate Technologies’ test labs, as well as published studies alike, R290 consistently outperforms R404A in energy efficiencies. For more than 15 years, retailers in Europe have included R290-based equipment as part of their refrigeration portfolio. Those who sought to meet environmental objectives and establish green market positions began field trials and deployed R290 chillers before the regulatory actions to limit HFCs were in place.
In a region where 150 GWP is the aspirational standard for green refrigerants, R290 allows retailers to comply with both environmental and energy efficiency requirements. Adhering to proper R290 safety protocols is imperative when considering potential applications. In the EU, the 150g charge limit recommendation set forth by the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) safety standards for the use of propane is widely accepted. As a result, Europe has seen a proliferation of R290 based equipment in the light commercial refrigeration segment.
This small charge limit also curbs the size of the refrigeration application. Some EU retailers have made attempts to extend the charge limits to enable larger applications and further expand their green footprint. But when charges exceed 150g, EU retailers are subject to the approval of national, regional and local governance standards and codes for building occupancy and fire safety. Achieving this approval requires a mandatory risk assessment and third party certification of safe operation — a potentially lengthy process that can be costly and difficult for both OEMs and retailers.
It’s also interesting to note that R290 adoption varies
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