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Retrofit your system ! On 1st January 2015, European Regulation No. 517/2014, known as F-Gas, introduced a new mechanism for gradually reducing the use of HFCs through to 2030 to ensure the reduction of emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases. The progressive reduction of HFCs is achieved through several methods: - The implementation of quotas. Quota is the overall quantity of HFC refrigerants that producers and importers can place on the market, expressed in CO2 equivalent Tonnes. At the end of 2014, the European Commission introduced an annual placing on the market quota that reduces in steps every 3 years through to 2030 with the biggest reductions in 2018 and 2021. - The introduction of sales bans for new equipment containing certain HFCs depending on their GWP. - The prohibition of the use of HFCs for the maintenance or servicing of existing refrigeration equipment depending on their GWP.
With average temperatures across the world increasing, the challenge for the HVACR sector is how to achieve system sustainability, while minimising the carbon footprint and optimising the energy efficiency of thermodynamic installations. F-Gas legislation, pressures to save money and most importantly, world-wide efforts to halt climate change are forcing businesses to review their approaches towards energy efficiency. A refrigeration system running at optimal performance will use less product, it will not leak and it will use less energy thereby having a lower carbon footprint. As a result, it will also cost less to operate as it has been well maintained and is utilising quality products.
The next edition of ISK-SODEX, the international Exhibition for HVAC&R, Pumps, Valves, Fittings, Fire Prevention, Water Treatment and Insulation will be held in Istanbul at Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center, on October 2-5, 2019.
With the introduction of F-Gas II and the quota system, players in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry should not delay the integration of new fluids into their development plans. For facility owners, one of the solutions to regulatory pressure can be the installation of new equipment operating with a very low GWP fluid. Therefore, CO2 (R-744); one of the oldest refrigerants, has « come back to the fore » and is increasing its market share. With a GWP of 1, CO2 (R-744) can meet the needs of commercial refrigeration. The number of hypermarkets and supermarkets using CO2 is growing rapidly in Europe and around the world. Equipment manufacturers claim they have CO2 solutions that can be used across large, medium and most recently, very small commercial systems; whatever the climate conditions.
The impact of F-Gas on our industry in the UK today focuses on the big move toward lower GWP refrigerants and distributing the right balance of products within quota allowances. Dave Richards, Head of Sales for Climalife in the UK, talks about some of the quota free solutions from Climalife, leak detection and maintenance tools to help ease the quota pressures, whilst improving cost and energy efficiency of cooling systems.
Heat transfer fluids / secondary refrigerants are used throughout refrigeration, air conditioning, heating and renewable applications. They are one of the least expensive components of a system, but are critical to the way it functions and how effectively it is used to transfer warmth from one location to another and provide protection from freezing and corrosion.