Technical applications and extreme cold and hot climates with improved performance over R-410A . According to the EIA projections , 94 % of the required energy for operating air conditioning systems was provided using electricity from non-renewable sources .
Renewable sources are still not widely implemented , and according to the EIA ’ s projections , by 2050 , the United States alone will consume 500 trillion BTUs more electricity . 8 Reducing energy consumption , even by small percentages , can result in considerable accumulated energy savings . Improving energy efficiency of residential and commercial air conditioning equipment by using R-32 can result in significant benefits in the coming years .
R-32 systems can be developed that are more efficient and provide higher capacity with less refrigerant charge , leading to a smaller physical design compared to R410A systems . Also , R-32 systems allow for designs that use less raw material - eg less steel , copper , plastics , and aluminium - during the manufacturing process . That , too , helps to reduce the system ’ s potential environmental impact .
Additionally , R-32 systems can offer a smaller refrigerant carbon footprint than blended refrigerants . Because R-32 is a single-component refrigerant , it offers simple charging , recovery , and reclamation processes . R-32 will also have lower direct emissions due to its lower GWP compared to R410A . Direct emissions are a combined calculation of the required amount of refrigerant in an HVAC system and its GWP .
Figure 1 shows a comparison of direct emissions of an R410A system with an R-32 system having similar specifications . The chart compares lifetime emissions from a 15 SEER air-conditioner operating in a mild climate over a 15-year lifetime and an assumed leakage rate from both systems . Most systems will most likely not reach that leakage rate during a lifetime , but for the purpose of this analysis we have assumed a leakage amount to highlight the difference between refrigerants . In this case we assume an annual leakage rate of 4 % and end-of-life leakage of 15 %.
Many HVAC OEMs across the globe have endorsed R-32 for select applications because of these properties . In a published HVAC trade magazine editorial , it was suggested that R-32 could help reduce the carbon footprint by up to 80 % in commercial scroll chillers and heat pumps due to its lower GWP and significant charge reduction . 9
R-32 is not a new refrigerant . R-32 is also a component in one of the most commonly used refrigerants over the past two decades – namely R410A , which is 50 % ( by weight ) R-32 . And other refrigerants blends , such as R454B , R452B , R466A , R407A , and R407C , also include R-32 in varying concentrations .
R-32 has reportedly been used in more than 160 million systems , and more than 50 OEM companies are already manufacturing R-32 systems around the world . That number will likely increase as more countries adopt R-32 as the preferred solution to achieve enhanced indoor comfort in various applications .
To that end , Daikin Industries Ltd has granted free access and pledged many R-32 equipment patents , to increase the pace of R-32 innovation . R-32 refrigerant can greatly help achieve reduction of detrimental environmental impacts associated with HVAC systems . RACA
ARTICLE REFERENCES
1 . Global Warming Potential ( 100 year ), IPCC 4th Assessment Report , 2007 ( https :// www . ipcc . ch / report / ar4 / wg1 /)
2 . ASHRAE 34-2019 – Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants
3 . Zhang M ., et al . 2011 . “ Life Cycle Climate Performance Model for Residential Heat Pump Systems .” AHRTI Report 09003-01
4 . Troch S ., et al . 2016 . “ Life Cycle Climate Performance Evaluation .” International Institute of Refrigeration
5 . Anderson S ., et al . 2018 . “ Life-Cycle Climate Performance Metrics and Room AC Carbon Footprint .” ASHRAE Technical Feature
6 . Optimized Thermal Systems . 2016 . “ An Evaluation of R32 for the US HVAC & R Market .”
7 . Zhang M ., et al . 2012 . “ Life Cycle Climate Performance Model for Residential Heat Pump Systems .” International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference . Paper 1311 . ( http :// docs . lib . purdue . edu / iracc / 1311 )
8 . https :// www . eia . gov / todayinenergy / detail . php ? id = 431559
9 . https :// www . contractingbusiness . com / commercialhvac / article / 21129538 / carrier-selects-R-32- refrigerant-commercial-scrollchiller
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I February 2023 49