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Editor's Note: CR4 thanks Larry Butz of GEA
Consulting for contributing this blog entry.
Just when
we were getting used to R-404A, 134a, 410A and a few others we decide that that's
just too simple. First we get the new HFOs-1234yf and 1234ze that have lower
GWPs to meet European carmakers needs to replace R-134a. This seems to have
reactivated the "dial-a-blend" concept from the late 1980's from
which blends such as R-410A , 404A and 407C emerged.
Today's
staggering array of alternatives were partially exposed at the recent ASHRAE
Winter Conference with code names such as DR-4 and DR-5 or N-40, l-20 or L-YF,
each being a customized combination to yield a specific GWP in a particular
application. Obviously all other characteristics vary as compositions change.
Capacity, efficiency, flammability, toxicity, high ambient
performance, cost, etc all vary as well as our need to remember what
the differences are between azeotropic and zeotropic mixtures and how that
impacts sytem design, servicing and handling requirements.
With
"dial-a-blend" we just optimize for each unique application, part of
the world, technology type, etc. The race is on to determine winners and losers
in the latest version of refrigerant wars. It should be interesting.
Note: For those
who have not seen our quarterly newsletter I invite you to check
out the last issue as
well as past issues for news and information relevant to the Global HVAC
industry on these topics:
- Global Warming/Climate Change
- Ozone Depletion
- Refrigerants
- Global Water Shortage
- Clean Energies
- Green Buildings
In this
most recent issue, I provided the following commentary of the new phase we are
entering with a whole new cast of characters.
- Larry Butz
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Re: Dial-a-Blend and the Refrigerant Wars
