Monday, January 30, 2012
R-22 Update
Friday, January 27, 2012
There has been much recent discussion regarding the market for HCFC-22 in 2012, as the EPA works to finalize its allocation and production rights for 2012-2014. Here are some basic facts HARDI wanted to communicate to our membership.
1.) There is an ongoing EPA rulemaking concerning the allocation of refrigerants, including R-22 for 2012-2014. The EPA has suggested a reduction of allocation rights of R-22 between 11% and 47% in each year (2012-2014). EPA’s proposed reduction was not unexpected.
2.) While the rulemaking process is underway, it is illegal for a company to produce or import refrigerant into the United States. The EPA therefore must send out a “non-enforcement” letter, which allows companies to legally produce or import refrigerant. This letter was expected by many companies to arrive the first week of January; however it was delayed until Friday, January 20. Thereby 15 work days had passed where no refrigeration production or importation occurred.
3.) The EPA's "non-enforcement" letter called for a 17% reduction from the original R-22 baseline, or a 45% reduction off of the 2011 allocation. In 2011 the total R-22 allocation was approximately 100 million pounds. Currently manufacturers and producers are operating under guidance that only 55 million pounds will be approved in 2012. If the finalized rule calls for less than a 45% reduction, a manufacturer/producer could produce and import up to their allocated amount.
4.) From 2005-2010 (2011 data is not yet available), only 77% of Consumption Allowances for HCFC-22 were used. These figures along with comment from stakeholders to the EPA, regarding the oversupply of R-22 in the marketplace, have led EPA to consider a more aggressive phasedown.
5.) In 2011, EPA sought comment from the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, of which HARDI and all major refrigerant producers are members, regarding a suggestion for a more aggressive reduction in R-22. The Alliance formally submitted a suggestion for a 20% reduction in Consumption Allowances.
Friday, January 27, 2012
The EPA Works to Finalize its Allocation and Production Rights for HCFC-22 for 2012-2014
There has been much recent discussion regarding the market for HCFC-22 in 2012, as the EPA works to finalize its allocation and production rights for 2012-2014. Here are some basic facts HARDI wanted to communicate to our membership.
1.) There is an ongoing EPA rulemaking concerning the allocation of refrigerants, including R-22 for 2012-2014. The EPA has suggested a reduction of allocation rights of R-22 between 11% and 47% in each year (2012-2014), in addition to the annual 10% reduction each of those years set by the 2009 Allocation Rule. EPA’s proposed reduction was not unexpected, and is supported by some industry stakeholders.
2.) Since the current rule is not final, it is illegal for a company with 2011 allocation rights to produce or imports HCFCs into the United States until receipt of a “non-enforcement” letter from EPA which was expected by many companies to arrive the first week of January; however this letter was delayed until Friday, January 20. Thereby, 15 work days had passed where no refrigerant production or importation occurred.
3.) In this “non-enforcement” letter, EPA stated that production and importation should be limited to approximately 17% of a company's 2011 baseline until the rulemaking is complete. If, when the rulemaking is completed, the final reduction is less than 17% of the 2011 baseline, a company will be allowed to increase production and importation to their allocated limits. HARDI does not expect this rulemaking to be completed by the beginning of summer.
4.) From 2005-2010 (2011 data is not yet available), only 77% of Consumption Allowances for HCFC-22 were used. These figures along with comment from stakeholders to the EPA, regarding the oversupply of R-22 in the marketplace and concerns of stockpiling, have led EPA to consider a more aggressive phasedown.
5.) In 2011, EPA sought comment from the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, of which HARDI and all major refrigerant producers are members, regarding a suggestion for a more aggressive reduction in R-22. The Alliance formally submitted a suggestion for a 20% reduction in Consumption Allowances.
HARDI’s Refrigerants & Refrigeration Council is currently accepting member comments on what the annual reduction should be in this rule.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Climate to stock HFO blends
Published on 20 - January - 2012
CLIMATE Center is the first company to announce it will be stocking Honeywell's new range of HFO blends and other low GWP refrigerants.
The company reports particular interest in Genetron Performax LT (R407F), a replacement for R404A with half the GWP and greater energy efficiency. An HFC-blend based on R32, R125 and R134a, it has the lowest GWP of all commonly used blends and is classified as non-toxic and non-flammable.
The new generation of Honeywell's Solstice HFO blends offers a choice of reduced or low GWP replacements for many common HFC refrigerants with high GWPs high GWPs, such as R404A, R22, R134a and R410A. In the case of R404A (GWP of 3922), alternatives with a GWP below 300 have been identified.
Environmentally friendly chillers have been developed and commercialised based on Solstice L13 Refrigerant (HFO1234ze), giving reduced energy consumption against alternatives and also over 99% reduction in direct global warming impact versus R134a.
Robert Franklin, who heads Climate Center's cooling business, says: "Many end users are nervous about the long term future of high GWP HFCs due to their potential to harm the environment if released to atmosphere. There is also concern about the possible introduction of a carbon tax, which would penalise higher GWP products."
He added: "The new Honeywell range offers users reduced and low GWP alternatives for the majority of the most popular refrigerants in use, insulating equipment end users from possible future changes in the law."
Robert Franklin says: "The HFO replacements are in many cases compatible with existing equipment designs and compressors, and therefore enable quick and cost-efficient adoption. They are also efficient over a wide temperature range, which helps cut carbon due to indirect emissions in all climates, including the warmest regions."
"Add to this that refrigerants operate at standard pressures and can be handled by engineers without special training, and it adds up to a very attractive option - both for the industry and end users."
CLIMATE Center is the first company to announce it will be stocking Honeywell's new range of HFO blends and other low GWP refrigerants.
The company reports particular interest in Genetron Performax LT (R407F), a replacement for R404A with half the GWP and greater energy efficiency. An HFC-blend based on R32, R125 and R134a, it has the lowest GWP of all commonly used blends and is classified as non-toxic and non-flammable.
The new generation of Honeywell's Solstice HFO blends offers a choice of reduced or low GWP replacements for many common HFC refrigerants with high GWPs high GWPs, such as R404A, R22, R134a and R410A. In the case of R404A (GWP of 3922), alternatives with a GWP below 300 have been identified.
Environmentally friendly chillers have been developed and commercialised based on Solstice L13 Refrigerant (HFO1234ze), giving reduced energy consumption against alternatives and also over 99% reduction in direct global warming impact versus R134a.
Robert Franklin, who heads Climate Center's cooling business, says: "Many end users are nervous about the long term future of high GWP HFCs due to their potential to harm the environment if released to atmosphere. There is also concern about the possible introduction of a carbon tax, which would penalise higher GWP products."
He added: "The new Honeywell range offers users reduced and low GWP alternatives for the majority of the most popular refrigerants in use, insulating equipment end users from possible future changes in the law."
Robert Franklin says: "The HFO replacements are in many cases compatible with existing equipment designs and compressors, and therefore enable quick and cost-efficient adoption. They are also efficient over a wide temperature range, which helps cut carbon due to indirect emissions in all climates, including the warmest regions."
"Add to this that refrigerants operate at standard pressures and can be handled by engineers without special training, and it adds up to a very attractive option - both for the industry and end users."
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Eco-friendly car refrigerant 'turns into deadly gas it vehicle catches fire'
By Henry Samuel, Paris
A new "eco-friendly" car refrigerant expected to become the industry standard turns into a deadly gas if the vehicle housing it catches fire and should be shelved, it has been claimed.
The coolant for car mobile air conditioning systems, called HFO-1234yf, has been approved for use in the US, Japan and Europe and Toyota and Suburu have started fitting their cars with the substance.
7:34PM GMT 17 Jan 2012
A new "eco-friendly" car refrigerant expected to become the industry standard turns into a deadly gas if the vehicle housing it catches fire and should be shelved, it has been claimed.
The coolant for car mobile air conditioning systems, called HFO-1234yf, has been approved for use in the US, Japan and Europe and Toyota and Suburu have started fitting their cars with the substance.
It was chosen as it is produces 98 per cent less climate damaging that its predecessor, R134a.
However, a German expert on the compound has warned that it is should be scrapped as it is much more flammable than the current coolant and when heated above 500C (932F) releases hydrogen fluoride, a highly toxic gas. Temperatures in car fires can easily reach twice that heat.
"You have 600g of this cooling agent per car, which if it burned completely would produce 200g of hydrogen fluoride at a level of concentration that is very high. For a human just one gram is deadly – either inhaled in gas form, through the skin or when dissolved in water," warned Prof Andreas Kornath, an inorganic chemistry professor at Munich University who has been studying the substance for 20 years.
The odourless gas has no instant effect but once inside the body a person dies within a day or so in terrible pain due to internal burns and muscle failure.
"This product should not be on the market. There is a real risk every time a car catches fire, which happens 30,000 times per year in Germany alone," he told the Daily Telegraph.
Prof Kornath issued his warning at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Honeywell, which produces the product, has refuted the claims.
"The risk of HF formation is not higher than with R134a – and this refrigerant has been used for decades without any recorded incident," said Honeywell's Sabine Chmielewski.
SAE International Cooperative Research Program, which comprises leading automakers, found HFO-1234yf to offer "superior environmental performance" to CO2 while having "the lowest risk for use in mobile air conditioning systems in meeting environmental and consumer needs."
But Prof Kornath alleged the product had been mainly approved on the basis of tests compiled by the chemical makers, not the findings of independent research.
BAM, Germany's Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, for instance, had warned of the risks of using it, he said.
He recommended using carbon dioxide as a coolant, as the fire risks and toxic hazards were nil.
Toyota confirmed it would start using the new refrigerant in new models starting this year.
The car maker’s spokesman Jean-Yves Jault said: “We think the new refrigerant is as safe, yet much more environmentally friendly, as the previous one. This was confirmed by the SAE CRP investigation whose outcome we support.”
"We undertook flammability tests and risk assessment with an independent third party institute, and the results confirmed the safety of the new refrigerant.”
He said that that the phenomenon of hydrogen fluoride gas is “not new", and that concentration of fluorine atoms was “actually much higher” in the historic refrigerant, R134a.
"This product should not be on the market. There is a real risk every time a car catches fire, which happens 30,000 times per year in Germany alone," he told the Daily Telegraph.
Prof Kornath issued his warning at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Honeywell, which produces the product, has refuted the claims.
"The risk of HF formation is not higher than with R134a – and this refrigerant has been used for decades without any recorded incident," said Honeywell's Sabine Chmielewski.
SAE International Cooperative Research Program, which comprises leading automakers, found HFO-1234yf to offer "superior environmental performance" to CO2 while having "the lowest risk for use in mobile air conditioning systems in meeting environmental and consumer needs."
But Prof Kornath alleged the product had been mainly approved on the basis of tests compiled by the chemical makers, not the findings of independent research.
BAM, Germany's Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, for instance, had warned of the risks of using it, he said.
He recommended using carbon dioxide as a coolant, as the fire risks and toxic hazards were nil.
Toyota confirmed it would start using the new refrigerant in new models starting this year.
The car maker’s spokesman Jean-Yves Jault said: “We think the new refrigerant is as safe, yet much more environmentally friendly, as the previous one. This was confirmed by the SAE CRP investigation whose outcome we support.”
"We undertook flammability tests and risk assessment with an independent third party institute, and the results confirmed the safety of the new refrigerant.”
He said that that the phenomenon of hydrogen fluoride gas is “not new", and that concentration of fluorine atoms was “actually much higher” in the historic refrigerant, R134a.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
EPA Approves Latest Refrigerant Substitutes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month added three hydrocarbons as acceptable alternatives in household and small commercial refrigerators and freezers through the agency’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.
By Anne Vazquez, on January 13, 2012, at 11:18 am
The three substitutes, for use in small commercial and refrigerators and freezers (and their household counterparts), mark the first time hydrocarbon replacements might be widely used in the U.S. The refrigerants approved as acceptable substitutes, with use conditions, are propane, isobutane, and a chemical known as R-441A.
EPA took action after requests from Ben and Jerry’s and General Electric, as well as A.S. Trust & Holdings, and True Manufacturing, a family owned small business. SNAP is globally recognized as the only program designed specifically to evaluate substitutes for ODS and to focus on the industrial sectors that use them.
“[This] is a great example of how businesses and EPA can work together to protect our planet and drive innovation,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “This action increases the options for effective, climate friendly refrigerants in the U.S.”
Under the Clean Air Act, the SNAP program evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies for ozone depleting substances (ODS). The newly approved refrigerants (propane, isobutane, and R-441A) can be used to replace ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 in household refrigerators, freezers, combination refrigerator-freezers, and commercial standalone units.
Replacing older refrigerants will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 600,000 metric tons by 2020, equal to the emissions from the annual electricity use of nearly 75,000 homes, and will help protect people’s health and the environment.
At the recent 23rd Meeting of the Montreal Protocol Parties, EPA and the U.S. Department of State announced that 108 countries signed a declaration to address hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). While HFCs are ODS substitutes, they are increasingly contributing to climate change. The approval of hydrocarbons in the U.S. is significant because hydrocarbons are more environmentally friendly substitutes than HFCs.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Halt on gas import
Samisoni Nabilivalu
Friday, December 23, 2011
The imported refrigerant is used in the car air conditioning systems and commercial and domestic refrigeration.
According to the packaging, the cylinder contains R134A but tests conducted by Seru Ramakita, an Ozone Depleting Substances Inspector with Department of Environment, have proven otherwise.
Mr Ramakita made the discovery by accident earlier this year when demonstrating the use of a refrigerant identifier to customs officers at a workshop in Lautoka.
"The R134A I used for the demonstration was not 100 per cent," he said.
"It was cross contaminated with chlorofluorocarbon and hydro chlorofluorocarbons.
"I kept the discovery to myself because it was a big issue.
"I needed more evidence before we could make any moves and I was hoping one of the companies would bring it up as well."
Lincoln Refrigeration Limited director Praveen Singh was the first to approach Mr Ramakita after the processors for some of their fridges kept burning out.
Mr Singh said he suspected the R134A was inferior and Mr Ramakita confirmed his suspicions after he tested the gas.
"We also supply gas and we've never had this problem before.
"We had a shortage of gas, so we bought the R134A from another supplier," Mr Singh said.
Mr Ramakita confirmed all importers, wholesalers, and retailers of the product had been instructed to halt imports and remove the refrigerant from their shelves as investigations continue.
He said many businesses would have suffered unnecessarily if the product had continued to be used.
Mr Ramakita would not identify the manufacturer or local supplier of the product.
Friday, December 23, 2011
THE Department of Environment has revealed that a batch of Refrigerant 134A (R134A) sold locally is actually not 100 per-cent R134A.
According to the packaging, the cylinder contains R134A but tests conducted by Seru Ramakita, an Ozone Depleting Substances Inspector with Department of Environment, have proven otherwise.
Mr Ramakita made the discovery by accident earlier this year when demonstrating the use of a refrigerant identifier to customs officers at a workshop in Lautoka.
"The R134A I used for the demonstration was not 100 per cent," he said.
"It was cross contaminated with chlorofluorocarbon and hydro chlorofluorocarbons.
"I kept the discovery to myself because it was a big issue.
"I needed more evidence before we could make any moves and I was hoping one of the companies would bring it up as well."
Lincoln Refrigeration Limited director Praveen Singh was the first to approach Mr Ramakita after the processors for some of their fridges kept burning out.
Mr Singh said he suspected the R134A was inferior and Mr Ramakita confirmed his suspicions after he tested the gas.
"We also supply gas and we've never had this problem before.
"We had a shortage of gas, so we bought the R134A from another supplier," Mr Singh said.
Mr Ramakita confirmed all importers, wholesalers, and retailers of the product had been instructed to halt imports and remove the refrigerant from their shelves as investigations continue.
He said many businesses would have suffered unnecessarily if the product had continued to be used.
Mr Ramakita would not identify the manufacturer or local supplier of the product.
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