RACA Journal July 2024 RACA_July_2024_digital | Page 41

Support although South Africa is a group 1 article 5 country the supply of HFC systems will reduce at a rate closer to the non-article 5 countries . This process may be somewhat delayed as suppliers ship excess HFC systems into article 5 countries but as manufacturing of HFC systems comes to an end this will be a temporary situation .

HYDROFLUOROCARBONS USES South Africa does not produce but rather imports all HFCs . What are HFCs ? They are synthetic greenhouse gases , primarily used in domestic and commercial refrigeration , cold storage , food processing , transport and industrial refrigeration , air conditioning , heat pumps , chillers and air conditioning equipment – but also in the fire protection foam blowing and aerosols and for medical and veterinary use . HFCs refrigerants were commonly used as alternatives to ODSs ( ozone depleting substances ). HFCs do not harm the ozone layer but are potent greenhouse gases . HFCs have high GWP ranging up to 14 800 , raising concern about their impacts as they become increasingly used as replacements for ODSs , and as economic growth spurs demand for new equipment , especially in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector .

These chemicals have no known natural sources . Thus , HFCs are present in the atmosphere because they were used to comply with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol . The use of HFCs is increasing rapidly as a result of global economic development and population growth .

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CAUSED BY HFCS HFCs are a subset of a larger group of climate changing gases called greenhouse gases . Taken together , greenhouse gases are expected to warm the planet by 1.4 ° C to 5 ° C by the end of century . Subsequently HFCs , contribute an estimated 11.5 % to present-day effect of greenhouse gases on climate and climate change . Some effects of global climate change include :

• Increase of the average temperature of the Earth

• Loss of agricultural output ( food security ) due to drought

• More frequent heavy rainfall and flooding

• Loss of land area including beaches , wetlands due to sea level rise

• Increasing health risk from insect and water-borne diseases

James , this sums up the current situation : we foresee hydrocarbons entering more and more into the market , in many instances replacing HFCs . As the world moves towards natural refrigerants we may find that the refrigerants of the near future are Ammonia , CO 2

,

HCs and possibly HFOs .

Thanks to everybody for the overwhelming response . I receive many questions each month and cannot publish all of them . But keep them coming , as I may answer you directly . Looking forward to hearing from you . RACA

REFERENCES

1 . ACRA 2 . A-Gas 3 . UNIDO 4 . Department of forestry , fisheries and the environment 5 . HPMP South Africa

Non-Article 5 parties Article 5 parties – Group 1 Article 5 parties – Group 2

Baseline

Average HFC for 2011 – 2013 + 15 % of HCFC baseline *

Baseline

Average HFC for 2020 – 2022 + 65 % of HCFC baseline

Baseline

Average HFC for 2024 – 2026 + 65 % of HCFC baseline

Freeze – Freeze January 1 , 2024 Freeze January 1 , 2028 10 * percent reduction January 1 , 2019 10 percent reduction January 1 , 2029 10 percent reduction January 1 , 2032 40 * percent reduction January 1 , 2024 30 percent reduction January 1 , 2035 20 percent reduction January 1 , 2037

HFC or HFC blend Blend composition Uses GWP ( 100Year ) HFC 125 Fire suppression 3500

HFC 134a

Chillers , domestic and transport refrigeration . Air conditioning , aerosols

HFC 227ea Fire suppression 3220 HFC 23 Fire suppression 14800 HFC 32 Air conditioning 675 R404a HFCs 125 , 134a , 143a Industrial , commercial , transport refrigeration 3900 R407a HFCs 32.125,134a Air conditioning 2107 R407c HFCs 32 , 125 , 134a Chillers , unitary air conditioning 1800 R 32 HFCs 32 , 125 Air conditioning 675 R410a HFCs 32 , 125 Chillers , air conditioning 2100 R507a HFCs125 , 143a Industrial refrigeration 4000

1430

HFC phasedown schedules for developed and developing countries .

List of HFCs blends and uses .