Editor's Note: CR4 would like to thank Duane Lom for contributing this fifth installment in GEA Consulting's Refrigerant series. Click here for Part 4.
When it comes to a major design change like using a new
refrigerant in a system, knowing what the industry leaders are doing can offer
many insights. Whatever approach a
leader is using, it's a good bet that he has done his homework.
- The HVAC industry leaders are well known for
their capabilities in analysis and testing of new designs before they bring
them to market. If your product operates
in the same environment and application as a leader's product, you can use that
as a basic starting point for your product.
This does not mean you can shortcut the due diligence process in product
design; it only means that you have some assurance that you can avoid a false
start in selecting a suitable refrigerant.
- Components should be readily available both for new
production and service parts. The
leaders, with their large sales volumes, will naturally spur a good supply of
components suitably applicable to the new refrigerant.
- The refrigerant itself should be in good supply
and at an affordable price. Again the
large volume usage by an industry leader will spur a good supply of the new
refrigerant at an affordable price.
- The
installation and service industry should be prepared to handle the new
refrigerant and have the appropriate tools for the job. A new refrigerant means the right service
tools and adequate training for installation and service personnel is
required. Following a leader should
assure the installation and service industry is ready to handle your product.
- Following a leader should provide insights into
all the aspects of applying a particular refrigerant. Safety issues (toxicity and flammability, for
example), performance issues (pressure levels and heat transfer properties, for
example), economics, regulation issues, environmental issues and the list goes
on.
The flip side of this is that the leaders do not know
everything or there may be no leaders to follow. There are many examples of companies that
successfully implemented alternative refrigerants without the aid of industry
leaders. In the early 1990's, a number
of European companies successfully introduced R407C based products. Another company, without the advantages of
having a leader to follow, introduced hydrocarbons as a refrigerant in domestic
refrigerators. So if you do have a good
reason not to follow the leaders or the leaders don't exist, be prepared to
face the risks and hurdles of refrigerant and component availability and cost,
having a trained workforce to install and service your product, and developing
the knowledge base for the new refrigerant with regards to safety, performance,
economics, regulation and the environmental impact.
Another word of caution on following a leader. Recognize that the leader's design work was
done years before and current conditions may make that refrigerant choice
obsolete. In particular, be sure to use
current information regarding safety, environmental issues and regional
regulations. To again emphasize a key
point made by Rajan Rajendran,
Engineering Director, Emerson Climate Technologies in his webcast on Refrigerant
Evaluation and Selection - "Future refrigerants may differ by
application and region, more than today's".
Following
a leader or not, either way you have to do your homework.
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