FEATURE |
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN |
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To comprehensively understand the measures taken to address refrigerant emissions , it is essential to familiarise ourselves with several significant global treaties :
• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer ( 1987 ): The Montreal Protocol is an international environmental treaty aimed at protecting the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances ( ODS ), including CFCs and HCFCs . It sets specific reduction targets and schedules for the phase-out of these substances , leading to the recovery of the ozone layer .
• Copenhagen Amendment to the Montreal Protocol ( 1992 ): This protocol aimed to accelerate the phase-out of CFCs and HCFCs .
• Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( 1997 ): It established binding emission reduction targets for several greenhouse gases , including HFCs , by setting specific emissions limits for
Technology advancements in CO 2 systems are making these systems more economically viable , in terms of both equipment and installation costs but also energy and operating costs .
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developed countries during the first commitment period ( 2008 – 12 ).
• Beijing Amendment to the Montreal Protocol ( 1999 ): This established a fund , the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol , to assist developing countries financially and technologically .
• Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol ( 2016 ): It specifically addresses the phasedown of HFCs , setting targets and schedules for reducing the production and consumption of HFCs , which are potent greenhouse gases used as substitutes for CFCs and HCFCs . The amendment aims to avoid up to 0.5 ° C of global warming by the end of the century and provides a framework for transitioning to more environmentally friendly alternatives .
These treaties have encouraged the development and use of alternatives that have lower or no impact on the ozone layer and contribute less to climate change .
Commencing in 2024 , South Africa embarks on the phasedown of HFCs with a gradual reduction in the volume of imported refrigerants . Consequently , if the current import stands at 100 tons , the new limit will be 90 tons . However , this transition cannot occur overnight due to the considerable lifespan of installed refrigerant systems , which typically spans 20 years .
The phasedown process is anticipated to be a gradual and protracted transition , and significant changes are not expected in the immediate two to three years . However , we have begun observing the emergence of air-conditioning systems utilising R32 , a refrigerant boasting a superior GWP of less than 750 . While
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this presents a more favourable option , it is essential for technicians to undergo training in handling the new refrigerants and be aware of their inherent hazards when not handled properly . In the long run , natural refrigerants represent the optimal choice ; unfortunately , the necessary hardware is not always available within the country .
Regulatory requirements play a critical role in guiding the industry towards sustainable practices . However , there have been notable delays in governmental decision-making processes . For instance , despite the Kigali Amendment being introduced in 2016 , South Africa ratified it only three years later . Currently , the country relies primarily on outdated standard environmental acts as the sole government regulations . In 2012 , the HCFC phase-out national plan was introduced , followed by the publication of the National Environment Management Air Quality Act in 2014 , which specifically addressed the phaseout and management of ozone-depleting substances . South Africa ' s ratification of the Kigali Amendment occurred in 2019 . In 2021 , an amendment was published ; however , it failed to provide substantial guidance on the future phasedown in accordance with the Kigali Amendment . Consequently , a pervasive sense of uncertainty prevails , and a comprehensive roadmap for transitioning towards natural refrigerants remains absent .
Although hydrocarbon refrigeration technology is already established in other parts of the world , it is not yet fully commercially available within South Africa and is currently limited to the domestic appliance market segment . Importation of such technology is currently limited due to the lack of demand within the country . The complexity escalates when considering multiplex systems employing ammonia and
CO 2
. Furthermore , analysing the cost of refrigerants relative to the baseline R22 , R404 demonstrates a substantial increase of approximately 1.7 times , while the new refrigerant 448 is nearly 3.3 times more
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Ammonia is the
most efficient and
cost-effective natural
refrigerant available
today .
expensive than R22 . Conversely , R290 proves to be a more affordable alternative to R22 ; however , its viability is hindered by the unavailability of compatible hardware . Addressing maintenance costs , fuel quality , pressure and flammability requires adherence to safety principles outlined in SANS 10147 and ASHRAE Standard 34 , which categorise refrigerants into different safety groups .
Regardless of the safety group classification , be it A1 or A3 , utmost importance must be placed on ensuring proper handling to mitigate potential risks . Technicians operating in the industry must prioritise the critical aspect of refrigerant training . Alarmingly , a significant number of technicians remain unregistered and lack adequate training . It is imperative to drum home the necessity of attending training programmes to enable safe handling of refrigerants . This presents a formidable challenge that must be urgently addressed . CLA
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