COMPRESSORS & COMPRESSED AIR FEATURE
DEALING WITH F-GAS REGS – WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?
The EU F-Gas Regulation aims to move end users away from using harmful refrigerant gases to more environmentally friendly options, by limiting how much HFC-style gas can be sold each year. Here, Roy Brooks, technical development officer at the British Compressed Air Society, provides advice on how end-users can reduce the regulation’s impact
U
nder the EU F-Gas Regulation, the quantity of HFCs that can be placed
on the EU market will be cut in stages and by 2030, only 20% of the volume of HFCs that were sold in 2015 will be available. In 2018, around 40% of supplies will be cut meaning that HFC refrigerant prices are likely to rise sharply as the market starts to feel the effect of supply shortages – some reports claim prices are already five times more expensive than they were at the start of the year. For many operators
that rely on refrigeration equipment as part of an efficient process, any such change, especially one that could result in higher prices, can be concerning. This is why reducing its impact is important.
alternative service arrangements. The best long-term solution is, of course, to convert systems to lower GWP alternatives or to swap out the equipment where financially viable. Where this is not currently viable, operators do have some other options available.
‘Suppliers can
often retrofit the existing dryer with a lower GWP
refrigerant. It does not usually
require many modifications, and energy-efficiency can often be improved’
WHICH GAS? According to the Food and Drink Federation, ‘owners of refrigeration and air conditioning systems located in the EU (including the UK) need to ensure that their existing systems are in compliance with the F-Gas Regulation and that the regulation is taken into account when selecting refrigerants for new equipment.’ The regulation stems back to October
2016 when international controls on the use of HFCs were put in place via the Montreal Protocol – with the ultimate aim of a global phase-down in HFC use. At present, it is not illegal to continue
using HFC gas, but it is against the law to knowingly top-up refrigerant equipment with the wrong gas. However, by January 2020, there will be a ban on using virgin HFCs to service any refrigeration equipment that uses a refrigerant with a GWP above 2,500. As a result, operators need to consider
RECOVER THE GAS If capital investment is not feasible, a good short-term measure is to use recovered gas. This can be carried out until the 1st January 2030 if the gas has been reclaimed from the same type of system. Best practice must be used when recovering gases if they are to be used during routine
maintenance after the 2020 ban.
ROUTINE SERVICE It is illegal to allow refrigerant equipment to leak gas, so continuing
with routine servicing is critical. In particular, as long as the gas is ‘compliant’ the maintenance provider can still recharge - which means customers can use cheaper, recovered gas too, as long as it is available. It has been a legal requirement since
July 2009 for all businesses that install, maintain or service stationary equipment containing or designed to contain F-gas refrigerants to obtain an F gas Company Certificate. Refcom, the Government- certified body provides this mandatory service for the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors and has said: “The phase-out of HCFCs and planned phase-downs of HFCs has sparked the development of alternatives with lower global warming potential – some of which operate at higher pressures; some of which are toxic and flammable – so that
Roy Brooks is technical development officer at the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS)
only those designated by manufacturers as suitable ‘drop-in’ replacements for their equipment should be used.” As a result, customers should always ensure that their service provider is suitably qualified in both the selection and handling of gases, especially where an alternative gas is specified for refrigeration systems. Using the wrong type of refrigerant gas can pose significant safety and environmental risks, so suppliers should be vetted thoroughly to ensure compliance with the latest standards.
RETROFIT Suppliers can often retrofit the existing dryer with a lower GWP refrigerant. It does not usually require many modifications and energy-efficiency can often be improved at the same time. BCAS represents the interests of the
compressed air and vacuum industry to the UK government as well as to many European and other overseas institutions. As part of its ‘Insist on BCAS – Be Compliant and Safe’ scheme, the organisation champions the safe and efficient use of air across all industrial and commercial applications. This includes an independent review scheme that rates the service and support customers receive from suppliers, as well as regularly advising our own members on the safe application of compressed air and vacuum technologies.
BCAS
www.bcas.org.uk
PROCESS & CONTROL | JUNE 2018 11
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