ACR Journal

CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk 23 REFRIGERANTS been made with Honeywell’s Solstice® ze (R1234ze) and Solstice® zd (R1233zd), both with GWP around one, now finding favour in chiller systems. In replacing the incumbent R134a (GWP 1430), almost every equipment manufacturer has a full range of R1234ze o…erings with their higher system e†ciency. This helps meet the performance requirements of the EcoDesign and Energy Performance of Building Directives (EPBD). Choosing a suitable refrigerant to help reduce global warming should, on the face of it, be a straightforward decision. In theory, all you have to do is replace a high GWP refrigerant with a low GWP alternative. In turn, CO2 emissions will be reduced, and you’ve ticked that box under the F-Gas Regulation step-downs. If only it were that simple. Focusing on capital and operational costs Energy e†ciency is a critical factor when selecting a refrigerant kinder to the planet. You can view CO2 emissions as two distinct areas – direct and indirect emissions. The former relates to global warming potential, and the latter refers to system performance and energy e†ciency. Experts agree that indirect emissions from electrical consumption are a more significant contributor to climate change over the equipment’s lifetime than refrigerant leaks. That’s why it is always important to weigh-up system performance and energy e†ciency before deciding on a refrigerant. There is an easy trap to fall into. Lifecycle costs, also known as an operational expenditure (OPEX), may not be at the forefront of your mind when designing a system. Capital expenditure costs (CAPEX), covering the cost of buying the equipment and start-up, can dominate. My advice is to do your homework on the lifetime and the start-up side; otherwise, any savings made at the beginning may be swamped by hefty running costs further down the road. In the years ahead, I see a rise in the popularity of domestic air conditioning in the UK. Systems are getting more e†cient, and with a growing range of low GWP refrigerants to match, homeowners can start to plan for a low carbon future in all seriousness. www.agas.com Experts agree that indirect emissions from electrical consumption are a more significant contributor to climate change over the equipment’s lifetime than refrigerant leaks. R32 has been the popular choice in reducing carbon footprints for comfort cooling and heating applications.

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