MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema has showcased its refrigerant substitutes designed to address the definitive ban on recycled R-22 and other HCFCs (2nd generation refrigerant gases) at the end of 2014 at Chillventa, the leading trade fair in the refrigeration, air-conditioning, ventilation and heat pump markets in Europe, held in Nuremberg from 14 to 16 October 2014, as per the company's press release.
As 2014 comes to an end, the refrigerant sector is undergoing major regulatory changes in Europe. Firstly, the use of recycled or reclaimed R-22 for the maintenance of existing equipment will be definitely banned in Europe at the end of the year. A large number of installations running on R-22 are still in very good operating order, but after 2014 could no longer be loaded with recycled or reclaimed R-22 fluid in cases of leakage. Changing the equipment entails high capital investments, as well as rather long idle periods between dismantling of old equipment and installation of a new one, which may impose to stop or shut down an industrial or commercial activity relying on refrigeration for several weeks.
In order to continue operating R-22 installations in a simple, quick and cost-efficient manner, Arkema has developed Forane 427A. This 3rd generation refrigerant fluid (HFC) makes for a straightforward substitution of R-22 in existing refrigeration and air-conditioning installations (retrofit). Forane 427A offers the closest match to R-22 in terms of performances (COP, cooling power) as well as mass flow rates and operating pressures in both air-conditioning and low and medium temperature refrigeration. As its thermodynamic properties are close to those of R-22, Forane 427A is the only retrofit fluid that can be used in most equipment designed for R-22 without requiring any major changes to the installations (no need to change liquid lines, expansion valves, condensing units or any other costly parts of the system).
Forane 427A, a nil ODP2 refrigerant fluid with one of the lowest GWP3 (2130) among existing substitutes, is the easiest and most cost-effective retrofit solution with regard to the total ban on R-22. This fluid has been marketed for many years in Europe, and its use both in air-conditioning and in refrigeration has shown that it is effective and easy to put into operation.
In this context of the new F-Gas1 regulation coming into effect in Europe banning the use of R-404A and R-507 from 2020 both in new equipment and for the maintenance of existing equipment, Arkema offers a replacement solution that can be used not just as a retrofit fluid but also in new equipment: Forane 407A (R-407A). This lower GWP3 (2107) refrigerant can replace R-404A and R-507 in medium and low temperature refrigeration applications. This fluid has in particular been used for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom by several major supermarket chains. Forane 407A has a GWP3 almost 50% lower than that of R-404A and R-507, a similar cooling capacity, and an improved energy efficiency especially in the most critical temperature conditions.
We remind that, as MRC wrote previously, in July 2014, French specialty chemicals firm Arkema and Omya, a Switzerland-based global provider and distributor of specialty chemicals, entered into an exclusive pan-European distribution agreement. Under this distribution agreement, Omya will market Arkema's plastic additives range for various polymer markets (impact modifier and processing aid solutions): Plastistrength, Durastrength, Clearstrength and Biostrength across Europe, except Spain and Portugal.
Arkema is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
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