NEW HFO-BLENDS AS LOWER GWP SUBSTITUTES FOR R-404A

Following advice to replace R-404A because of its high GWP of 3,922, newly developed non flammable HFO blends R-450A (HFC-134a / HFO-1234ze(E), 42/58 weight %, GWP around 600) and R-452A (HFC-32/HFC-125/HFO-123yf, 11/59/30 weight %, GWP 2,140) have been introduced and tested.

In the first case, a Spanish supermarket is testing R-450A as a drop-in substitute, expecting to bring additional energy saving through increased energy efficiency. The system is being monitored to obtain real and accurate values of the new consumption over time, taking into account the variation of temperatures throughout the warmer seasons.

In the second case, a major refrigerated transport company is offering R-452A in a new line of trailers and self-powered truck units and for retrofitting existing R-404A ones. Later on, vehicle powered truck products will be offered the same option.

Despite not being a low GWP gas, R-452A is considered particularly suitable for the demanding conditions of transport refrigeration, due to the wide range of ambient conditions. Transport refrigeration requires indeed the safest, most environmentally responsible, and technically and commercially viable solution.

Sources : Cooling post - Cooling Post