Long-Term Solutions
Clean Refrigerants = Long-term Solution
"CO2 as a refrigerant has been re-invented and is gaining more and more popularity as one of the next refrigerants. In different applications the initial costs for a CO2 system are already today competitive to common HFC technology and the development of this technology has just started. We see a great potential for CO2."
Björn Felgenhauer, Ph.D.
Special Project Manager SWEP International
The development of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases in 1928 ushered in a long period of man-made, synthetic refrigerants. In the 1980s, when the world understood that CFC refrigerants were depleting the ozone layer, these gases were regulated and eventually banned in favor of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC). Now that we understand the global warming implications of this choice, these too are being targeted for extinction.
It is now scientifically undeniable that HFC refrigerants have long duration damaging global warming effects on the atmosphere. The Kyoto Protocol and other “eco/geo” politics have resulted in regulatory action around the world, most notably in the European Union, to begin the process of phasing out of HFCs. While the U.S. debates, development of natural refrigerant technologies continues throughout the world. Industry is taking a fresh look at CO2, which was the refrigerant of choice as far back as the early 1900s. CO2 presents exciting new possibilities and significant advantages over HFCs and other chemical blends.
Specifically, carbon dioxide has great promise to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of heat pumps, while meeting long term market and regulatory demands for environmentally friendly and sustainable products that avoid the flammability concerns of other natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons (e.g. propane and butane) and the corrosive properties of ammonia. The heat transfer efficiency of transcritical CO2 is much greater than HFC refrigerants, which translates into a smaller footprint and exceptional heating efficiencies. Carbon dioxide thus represents an ideal solution for a cost-effective and long-term solution. Being a natural substance, CO2 is unlikely to be banned in the future and will preclude expensive retrofits prior to the end of system service life, often required when new synthetics replace old ones. In addition, certain CO2 products can seamlessly integrate with conventional equipment and methods, making retrofits feasible and economical.
While thermodynamically and environmentally attractive, CO2 refrigerant systems were historically eschewed in favor of mechanically simpler HFC systems. CO2 technology is fundamentally different from the low-pressure halogen technologies of HFC refrigerants and presents a set of very difficult technological challenges that are often beyond the experience and expertise of manufacturers of conventional systems. Operating system pressures up to four times greater than HFC systems and the unique physical properties of CO2 in a transcritical state impose significant technological obstacles, especially in regards to lubrication and durability of the compressor, and were without clear solutions - until now.
EcoThermics technologies offer practical solutions – today - for OEM manufacturers who wish to expand their product lines with this new technology.