1. A Global Approach to Transitioning to Lower
GWP Refrigerants
Stephen Yurek
President and CEO
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

2. Refrigerants Are Vital
Used in Air-conditioning,
− Vital for personal health, comfort, and
well-being
Used in Refrigeration
− Prolong life of perishable food
− Keep life-saving medicines safe
Improve
− Health, productivity, and safety
Save
− Lives
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Economics Working
Paper Series
Adapting to Climate Change: The
Remarkable Decline in the
U.S. Temperature-Mortality Relationship
Over the 20th Century
Alan Barreca
Karen Clay Olivier
Deschenes Michael
Greenstone Joseph
S. Shapiro
Working Paper 12-29
December 20, 2012
Room E52-251
50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02142
This paper can be downloaded without charge from the Social Science Research
Network Paper Collection at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2192245
Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2192245

3. Things to think about:
Maintaining refrigerant choice
Evaluating refrigerant characteristics for
informed choices
Making transition predictable, smooth,
and informed
Educating policy makers and training
technicians

4. New Reality
CFCs HCFCs HFCs ??

5. New “Replacement
Refs”
New LGWP Refs
“For OEM Use”
R-410A
Like
Capacity
R404A &
R407/22
Like
R134a
Like
GWP Level
400-675
< 1500
~600
150 -
300
R32
DP: DR7
HWL: L40, L20
HFO 1234yf
HFO 1234ze
R410A
R407C
R22
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Today’s Refs
Pressure
Or
DP: DR33
HWL: N20, N40
DP: DR5
HWL: L41
DP: XP10
HWL: N13
R134a
R407A
CO2
R404A
DP: DR2; HWL: N12
R290
NH3
A1 – Non Flammable
A2L – Mildly Flammable
A3 – Flammable
B2L – Toxic, Mildly Flam.
Qualitative Chart –
Not To Scale
Lower GWP Refrigerant Landscape
Options For New & Existing Applications Continue To
Grow
ARK: ARM 70
ARK: ARM 30
ARK: ARM 32
R407F
R123-Like
(V.Low Pr.)
(3922)
Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies

6. Choosing a Refrigerant
Refrigerants have unique operating characteristics:
Choice cannot be based on one factor, but instead should be based on an analysis of
all factors:
− Safe
− Energy efficient
− Widely available
− Economical
− GWP
Operating factors can be different:
− Pressures
− Incompatible lubricants
− Incompatible metals and alloys
− Flammability levels
Needs will be different for each application

7. Avoiding Unintended Consequences
Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies

8. Refrigerant Research

9. Low GWP Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation Program
Cooperative research program to identify suitable alternatives to high GWP refrigerants.
Purpose is NOT to prioritize refrigerants, but rather test and present results in a
consistent manner.
Participants
− Sixteen (16) U.S. companies/organizations
− Five (5) international companies/organizations
− Six (6) refrigerant producers supplied thirty-eight (38) refrigerant candidates
Tests cover the following applications
− Air-conditioners and heat pumps (air-source, water-source, VRF, unitary, mini-split)
− Chillers (screw, centrifugal)
− Heat pump water heater
− Refrigeration (commercial refrigerator, ice machine)
− Transport refrigeration
− Bus air-conditioning

10. Current Status of Low GWP AREP
Completion of the first round of testing – 3rd quarter of
2013
− Results posted at:
http://www.ahrinet.org/ahri+low_gwp+alternative+refrig
erants+evaluation+program.aspx
Low-GWP AREP Conference
− January 16, 2014 in New York City
Possible second round of refrigerant testing

11. Other Research
Risk Assessment of Residential Heat Pumps using 2L Refrigerants
− Showed very low risk of ignition from the use of R-32, HFO-1234yf, or
HFO-1234ze in ducted residential split heat pump systems
− October 2012 Report: www.ahrinet.org/technical+results.aspx
Configuration of AC/HP Systems Using Low GWP Refrigerants
− Summarized configurations of residential air-conditioning and heat
pump systems using hydrocarbons, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and
HFO-1234yf while meeting previously defined safety requirements.
− January 2013 Report:
http://www.ahrinet.org/App_Content/ahri/files/RESEARCH/Technical
%20Results/AHRI-8006%20Final%20Report.pdf

12. New “Replacement
Refs”
New LGWP Refs
“For OEM Use”
R-410A
Like
Capacity
R404A &
R407/22
Like
R134a
Like
GWP Level
400-675
< 1500
~600
150 -
300
R32
DP: DR7
HWL: L40, L20
HFO 1234yf
HFO 1234ze
R410A
R407C
R22
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Today’s Refs
Pressure
Or
DP: DR33
HWL: N20, N40
DP: DR5
HWL: L41
DP: XP10
HWL: N13
R134a
R407A
CO2
R404A
DP: DR2; HWL: N12
R290
NH3
A1 – Non Flammable
A2L – Mildly Flammable
A3 – Flammable
B2L – Toxic, Mildly Flam.
Qualitative Chart –
Not To Scale
Lower GWP Refrigerant Landscape
Options For New & Existing Applications Continue To
Grow
ARK: ARM 70
ARK: ARM 30
ARK: ARM 32
R407F
R123-Like
(V.Low Pr.)
(3922)
Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies

13. Education and Training
We must come together – globally – to develop an
education and training plan
AHRI will lead collaborative U.S. effort
We can ensure a seamless transition to multiple
refrigerants

14. Summary
We understand policy interest in addressing high
GWP refrigerants
Adequate time needed
− To properly research alternatives
− Engineer products that can use alternatives
safely
− Develop capacity to manufacture, distribute,
and sell
We have a good record as an industry
− We must continue to work with policy makers
We must seize the opportunity to approach global
issue in a global not regional fashion

15. Thank You!