REFRIGERANTS
RS-70 (453A). Seeking a more sustainable and cost-eff ective solution and concerned by ever-severe EC regulations, the client opted to trial the new RS-20 (R480A) refrigerant, which is compatible with the temperature range of the facility. The conversion has proven to be an eff ective technical solution, both operationally and environmentally. Comparing data before and after the change, the following conclusions can be drawn: ■ A notable decrease in pressures has been verifi ed on both the high and low sides, reducing mechanical stress on the compressor and improving system safety.
■ Despite the change in refrigerant and lubricant, the system has maintained operating conditions similar to the original one, including compressor discharge temperature.
■ Subcooling has increased signifi cantly, resulting in greater effi ciency in the use of liquid refrigerant before expansion.
■ Although the electronic expansion valve control system did not specifi cally include the RS-20, setting the valve to R-134a and fi ne-tuning by trial and error provided reliable operation of the unit.
■ Replacing RS-70 with RS-20 means a signifi cant drop in the system’s global warming potential (GWP), fully aligning with the current European F-Gas Regulation. This represents an important step forward in the company’s commitment to sustainability and the transition to environmentally friendly refrigerants.
This case demonstrates that RS-20 is a practical option for modernising existing installations without the need for drastic changes to the original equipment, maintaining technical performance and improving the system’s climate footprint. RS-51 (R470B) is the lowest GWP (749), nonfl ammable option on the market for R404A, R507 and R407C, providing a straightforward, retrofi t option to replace R404A, R507 and R407C in existing equipment. No changes to lubricant and minimal modifi cations to hardware are necessary, minimising conversion cost and avoiding the purchase of new equipment. RS-51 has similar properties to R404A and R407C, including
Coeffi cient of Performance, cooling capacity, pressures, and discharge temperature, yet its GWP is approximately 45% lower than those of R448A and R449A. A successful application of RS-51 (R470B) is illustrated by a case study at the refrigeration facility of Star Drive (Intermarché), where it was retrofi tted to a system formerly operating with R507. The project includes multiple cold specialists, Rivacold France, J Airfroid and Framacold.
Download the ACR News app today During 2020, 14 Intermarchés in the Paris region teamed up
to develop an automated and robotic online order preparation system: the Star Drive project. This project is based in the Neuilly-sur-Marne business area.
RS-53 (R470A), which has GWP 909, is a non-fl ammable,
retrofi t replacement for R410A with a GWP less than half that of R410A, and is the only viable ASHRAE A1 retrofi t for R410A in existing equipment, providing a similar thermodynamic performance and compatibility with the materials commonly found in R410A equipment. Comparative tests on R410A and RS-53 (R470A) were conducted on a Panasonic split air-conditioning (CS-RE12NKE) by Gases, Research Innovation and Technology (GRIT), Avenyo, Spain. The unit was instrumented specifi cally to measure the operational characteristics of each refrigerant. The data provided in this study demonstrated that: ■ RS-53 could be used successfully in both heating and cooling modes.
■The room temperatures reached with both gases are similar. ■The RS-53 discharge pressure was lower than that of R-410A. ■ The energy effi ciency of RS-53 is acceptable under typical conditions of use.
■ The retrofi t process is fast and straightforward because no fur- ther modifi cations are required to the equipment or lubricant.
RSL is working on blends which are non-fl ammable, energy
effi cient, low toxicity and with a GWP less than 10. While these new products can use existing components, original equipment manufacturers will need to modify their system designs to optimise performance fully.
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'We are now in a situation where HFC cutbacks are already at 75% of the baseline (2015) and will reach 95% by 2030. Other countries and regions are also phasing down HFCs, but on a less aggressive timetable than the EU.'
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