Technology and

Environmental Responsibility
for the 21st Century

Environmental Regulations
and
Refrigerant Technology: Applied for
Optimized, Environmentally Responsible
Solutions
Jeff Moe
 Potential Impacts of
Climate Change
 Agricultural Productivity
 Forest Resources
 Increased Wet-Area Flooding
 Increased Dry-Area Droughts
 Water Resources
 Unmanaged Ecosystems
.
.
.
ALL POTENTIAL IMPACTS
REMAIN POORLY QUANTIFIED
 Kyoto Protocol

Sets Greenhouse Gas

Emissions Limits

Signed December 1997

Agreement reached by 181 Countries

Ratified February 2005

 Kyoto Protocol
Greenhouse Gas Coverage
 Six (6) Gases
– Carbon Dioxide -- CO2
– Methane -- CH4
– Nitrous Oxide -- N2O
– Hydrofluorocarbons -- HFCs
– Perfluorocarbons -- PFCs
– Sulfur hexafluoride -- SF6
 Base Period
– 1990 for CO2 , CH4 , and N2O
– 1990 or 1995 for HFCs, PFCs, and SF6
 Kyoto Protocol --
Developed Countries
 Targets & Timetables
– 34 Countries
– Differentiated Targets
– 5.2 Percent Avg. reduction (versus
1990)
– 6 Greenhouse gases
– Commitment period 2008 - 2012
 EUROPEAN UNION
DRAFT HFC REGULATION
 CONTAINMENT OF HFCs
– PREVENT AND MINIMIZE LEAKAGE
– MANDATORY INSPECTIONS
– LEAKAGE DETECTION SYSTEMS
– MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS
 RECOVERY OF HFCs
 TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
 AUTOMOBILE HFC-134a BAN
– No new vehicles with HFCs - GWP greater than 150 in
2012
– Prohibit sale of vehicles with HFCs greater than 150 in
2018
 It’s Not Just About Global
Warming
“… Because ozone, ODSs, HFC and some other
substitutes are greenhouse gases contributing to the
Climate change and other
environmental issues are related radiative balance of the Earth’s atmosphere, climate
change is influenced by the reduction and phase out of
ODSs. Ozone depletion, in turn, depends on climate
change through changes in atmospheric composition and
meteorology. As a consequence of the complex
interrelationship between ozone depletion and climate
change, there is a clear need for scientists to continue
development of atmospheric models ...”

Source: Science Symposium in Prague

Chaired by Mario Molina (Nov 2004)

An international panel of highly respected scientists,

government officials and senior staff from the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) say that
global warming and ozone depletion are important.
 Montreal Protocol
Developed Countries
(Vienna Adjustment - 1992)
CFCs
1996 0%
HCFCs
1996 Cap at 2.8% (3.1) of 1989
Consumption of CFCs and HCFCs
2004 65% of Cap
2010 35% of Cap
2015 10% of Cap
2020 0.5 % of Cap
2030 0%
– 2020 - 2030 Cap of 0.5% limited to use for service of AC and refrigeration.
 Montreal Protocol
Developing Countries
(Vienna Adjustment)

CFCs
2010 0%

HCFCs
2016 Freeze at 2015
level
2040 0%
EPA Accelerated Phase-out
Rule
CFCs
1996 All CFCs 0 % (Production)
HCFCs
1996 Cap at 2.8% (3.1%) of 1989
Consumption of CFCs plus HCFCs
2003 HCFC-141b 0 % (Production)
2010 HCFC-142b (No New Product Use)
HCFC-22 (No New Product Use)
2020 HCFC-22 0 % (Production)
HCFC-142b 0 % (Production)
HCFC-123 (No New Product Use)
HCFC-124 (No New Product Use)
2030 All HCFCs 0 % (Production)
 Last, let’s look at US &
Canada efficiency regulations:
- Scope
- Timing
 US & Canada Efficiency
Environment: 2006-2010
Complicated regulatory environment for
customers and HVAC industry alike

2006 2010
 NAECA standards Consensus Product
make 13SEER Efficiencies -
industry minimum regulated increase
 30 percent goes into effect
increase from
today

Most Significant Efficiency Change in

History of the HVAC Industry
 US & Canada Efficiency
Environment: 2006-2010
Complicated regulatory environment for
customers and HVAC industry alike

2006 2010 2010

 NAECA standards  Consensus  US Clean Air Act
make 13SEER Product phases out R-22
industry minimum Efficiencies - use in new
 30 percent regulated increase equipment
increase from goes into effect
today

Combination of all three make for the

largest transition ever in HVAC Industry
 Direct and Indirect
Global Warming
Direct emissions + Indirect emissions = Total emissions

Up to 95 percent of a typical chiller’s global warming

potential is the CO2, created by energy consumption

Energy efficiency is the most important factor to evaluate

U.N. Environment Programme
Review: March 2003
Assessment Report from Refrigeration, A/C and
Heat Pumps Technical Options Committee
“[Link] Environmental Evaluation for Retention of HCFC-123 as a
Refrigerant for Centrifugal Chillers ”

“Refrigerant HCFC-123 has a favourable overall impact on the environment that is

attributable to five factors:
(1) a low ODP
(2) a very low GWP
(3) a very short atmospheric lifetime
(4) the extremely low emissions of current designs for HCFC-123 chillers
(5) the highest efficiency of all current options
Based on integrated assessments, considering the tradeoffs between negligible impacts
on stratospheric ozone and important benefits in addressing global warming, these
studies recommend consideration of a phase out exemption for HCFC-123.”

“R-123 has favourable overall impact on environment”

 Science Symposium:
November 2004

SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES –

OZONE LAYER PROTECTION

19 NOVEMBER 2004
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Chaired by Professor Mario Molina
“We can further protect the ozone layer by accelerating the pace of phase outs.
However, the acceleration can consider the impact of greenhouse gas
accumulation.
For example, R-123 could be allowed in specific air conditioning applications where
its use promotes superior energy efficiency and assures near-zero refrigerant
emissions.”
U.N. IPCC/TEAP Special Report
Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global
Climate system: Issues related to
Hydrofluorocarbons and Perfluorocarbons

The report shows HCFC-123 to have the lowest total global warming impact of all of
the CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and PFCs due to five factors:

(1) The lowest direct GWP – 49 to 103, compared to 1300 for HFC-134a
(2) The lowest GWP for indirect radiative forcing – not more than 55
(3) The shortest lifetime – 1.3 years, compared to 14 years for HFC-134a
(4) The highest full and part load efficiency of all current options
(5) The lowest leak amount – charge quantity .23kg/kw vs. .36 for HFC-134a
Considering the tradeoffs between negligible impacts on stratospheric ozone and
important benefits in addressing global warming, this report shows that HCFC-123
has a favorable overall impact on the environment.
 The Future

Emissions

Energy
Efficiency
Focusing on Emissions and Efficiency
is fundamental to doing what’s right.
 Future Means Being
Environmentally
Responsible
 Designing “best value versus
lowest cost” building
 The green of energy efficiency
 The green of resource
sustainability
 “Environmentally Responsible”
Opportunities are Tremendous For:
 Manufacturers
 Consulting Engineers
 Contractors
 Owners
 Summary and
Expectations
 Energy Efficiency will be Strongly
Encouraged
– Replacement of Inefficient Equipment,
HVAC, Lighting, and other appliances
– Proper service of existing equipment
– Life Cycle Cost purchasing will be the
preferable process for obtaining
energy efficient systems, appliances,
buildings, and automobiles
 Refrigerant Technology: Applied for
Optimized, Environmentally Responsible
Solutions

 Balanced approach, refrigerants

comparison
 Trane’s refrigerant choice criteria and
direction
 Summary
 It’s All In The Balance:
ODP, GWP, Energy
Efficiency
 Rational Planning & Solutions Delivery Needed
– Montreal Protocol gave time for proper solutions
 Two Areas For Choice:
– R22 Lifetime
– HFC Lifetime
The Best Environmental
Solution
1. Low ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential)
2. Low GWP (Global Warming Potential)
3. High operating efficiency
4. Short atmospheric life
5. Low operating pressure
6. Low flammability/toxicity
7. Good cost vs efficiency relationship
 Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
ODP (R-11=1.0)

0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
CFC-11 CFC-12 HCFC-22 HCFC-123 HFC-134a HFC- HFC- HFC-245fa
410A 407C
 Global Warming Potential (GWP)
12000

10000
GWP (CO2= 1.0)

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
CFC-11 CFC-12 HCFC-22 HCFC-123 HFC-134a HFC- HFC- HFC-245fa
410A 407C
 ODP versus GWP
CFC-11
12
113
114
115
HCFC-22
123
124
141b
142b
HFC-32
125
134a
143a
152a
227ea
236fa
245fa
1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
ODP (relative to R-11) GWP (relative to CO2)
J. M. Calm and G. C. Hourahan, “Refrigerant Data Summary,” Engineered Systems,
18(11):74-88, November 2001 (based on 1998 WMO and 2001 IPCC assessments) © JMC 2001
 Efficiency for Chillers (COP)

6.8

6.6

6.4

6.2
COP

5.8

5.6

5.4
CFC-11 CFC-12 HCFC-22 HCFC-123 HFC-134a HFC- HFC- HFC-245fa
410A 407C
 Atmospheric Life (Years)

100

80

60
Years

40

20

0
CFC-11 CFC-12 HCFC-22 HCFC-123 HFC-134a HFC- HFC- HFC-245fa
410A 407C

mospheric life of the R-125 component for R-410A, and R-407C blends
 Operating Pressure
220
Operating Pressure (psi)

200 Evaporator (38F)

180
Off Line (72 F)
160
140 Condenser (100 F)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
-20
HCFC-123 HFC-134a HCFC-22
 Safety of Refrigerants

 Flammability
 Toxicity
 Likelihood of Exposure
 ASHRAE Std 15
– Not a regulation in Brazil, but sound
guidelines
 Toxicity of Refrigerants

 Chronic Toxicity
Long term exposure – Lifetime effects
Near zero risk – all CFCs, HCFCs & HFCs
 Acute Toxicity
Single, short-term exposure – immediate
effects – risk of asphyxiation
Low risk – medium and high pressure
refrigerants
Near zero risk – low pressure refrigerants
Likehood of Exposure to Risk

 Pressure of Refrigerant
 Air Displacement
 Time of Exposure
 Design Equipment room to
ASHRAE Standard - 15
– Not regulated in Brazil
 Chiller Emissions
Study
Number of Trane R-123 CenTraVacs 2768

Total Pounds of Charge 3,547,612 lbs

Total Pounds of Charge Added 16,229 lbs/yr

Annualized Total Loss Rate 0.4575 %

The Trane Company

1997 Survey Results

Study corroborated in “Impact on Global Ozone and Climate

From Use and Emission of (HCFC-123)” By Calm, Wuebbles an Jain
 R-22 Lifetime:
Developing Global Alternatives for All
Requirements

 Many choices available, including R22 solutions

– All allowable refrigerants can be environmentally-responsible
– Industry continues transition through 2009 (NAR) and beyond
(Developing countries)
 No single replacement for R22
– Different needs for different equipment types:
 System balance points
 Non-refrigerant needs (size, weight, cost, etc.)
 Need to look at system, not component,
optimization

Balance is a top priority – we will deliver the right

refrigerant in the right product at the right time
 HCFCs and HFCs:
Critical through Phase-Out
Timing
 R-22 is a responsible choice through
phase out dates
 HCFC phase out dates were set to give
industry time for rational transition
– Develop the right systems for both the environment
and customers
 Balance is important to customers
– Need to meet regulatory requirements while bringing
significant non-refrigerant benefits to customers
Environmental Balance
Summary
 R-22 and HFC Alternatives are all balanced
environmental solutions
 There are no perfect refrigerants
– All have positives and negative attributes
 The scientific community has given us clear
guidelines to consider when looking at
multiple solutions which are environmentally
responsible from a balanced perspective
 Now, What Is Trane’s
Direction On Future
Refrigerant Technology?
 Substitute Refrigerants
The potential refrigerants for global heating and
air conditioning equipment are:

HCFC-22 High Pressure

HFC-134A Medium Pressure
Replacement for CFC-12 & HCFC-22
HCFC-123 Low Pressure
Replacement for CFC-11
HFC-407c High Pressure
Replacement for HCFC-22
HFC-410a High Pressure
Replacement for HCFC-22 Equipment
Water-LiBr Absorption
 Natural Refrigerant
Considerations

CO2 Low Temp/Refrigeration/Automotive

Very low efficiency at typical HVAC applications

Hydrocarbons Stationary Air Conditioning

Not sure how to safely apply!
Ammonia Low Temp/Process Chiller Applications
Limited opportunities for safe applications

Good for ozone depletion and direct global warming …

but need to consider energy efficiency and safety issues
Trane Global Refrigerant Criteria
Delivering optimal, balanced solutions to customers

 Regulatory Compliance
 Environmentally Friendly:
– Focused on a balanced solution
 Readily available through equipment life
 Customer Friendly, considering all criteria:
 Energy usage
 Cost
 Size
 System, Not Component, Optimization
 Prepare For Continued Efficiency Improvement

Trane will deliver the right refrigerant,

in the right product, at the right time
 Will There Be Enough R22 Volume
in the Future Under These Caps?

2010-2020 - Diversity and complexity associated with estimation process

Assumptions: No consensus update on projections

Logic: Production may be tight, but will continue

Re-use & reclamation makes up difference
Enormous feedstock potential for re-use & reclamation
CFC-11 Example: Readily available with no price escalation

Why will R22 production continue through 2029?

 Availability: R-22 Production Will
Continue

 Significant amount of world’s R-22 production is

used as a chemical intermediate (feedstock) to
produce fluoropolymers (e.g. DuPont Teflon®)
R-22
 Fluoropolymer production will continue

Fluoropolymers  Feedstock use of R-22 is specifically excluded

from control under the Montreal Protocol.
– Reason: R-22 isn’t released into atmosphere when
used as a feedstock
R-11 Phase-Out Experience in
North America Supports
Availability
R-11
 Approximately 54,000 large chillers installed between 1970-1990,
about 60 percent with R-11
 Widely available despite common annual leak rates of 10-30 percent
 Inventory of available recycled R-11 fed by installed base

R-123
 Approximately 58,000 large chillers installed between 1990-today,
up to 60 percent using R-123
 Trane’s R-123 chillers have much lower annual leak rates, often as
low as 0.5 percent
 About 36 million pounds of R-123 in service today; inventory in
service continues to grow
 Large installed base will feed inventory of R-123 for future recycling
 Cost of Service
 R-22 has the lowest refrigerant cost
compared to the alternatives
– Nearly 75 percent less than alternatives –
making it less expensive when replacing
during service

R-22 R-123 R-134a R-410A R-407C

1 3.4X 3X 5X 3.5X
Several Replacement
Solutions
There’s more than one R-22 replacement
 R-410A in residential, light commercial and
packaged terminal products

 R-134a in larger unitary systems, and screw and

scroll compressor chillers

 R-407C in Europe, Asia, and where there’s a

drop-in requirement and little time for
equipment changes
 Non-Refrigerant
Technology
 Refrigerant is only one of a number of
technologies supporting value delivery to
customers
 Other Technologies Include:
– Compressors
– Integrated Comfort Systems
– Heat Exchangers
– Adaptive Unit Controllers
– Noise abatement

Refrigerant is an equipment enabler, not the end result.

Place primary focus on system benefits.

 Summary

 Mandatory that we consider environmentally-

responsible choices from a balanced perspective
 Energy Efficiency will be Strongly Encouraged
Through Choice and/or Regulations
– Replacement of Inefficient Equipment, HVAC, Lighting, etc.
 First Cost Remains Important
– Therefore, we need refrigerants which deliver highest
efficiencies at lowest cost.
 Refrigerant is enabling equipment technology…not
the end result
 In Closing...
 Global Warming Concerns drive
efficiency
 Environmental Responsibility requires
a balanced viewpoint
 Integrated solutions, delivered in a
rational manner, are critical
 Refrigerant is only one consideration
in equipment design
Focus on full delivered value:
Environmental Responsibility, Efficiency, Cost,
Reliability, Service…and more
Thank You For Your
Time!