How will Commercial Refrigeration Develop in the Future?

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How will commercial
refrigeration develop in the
future?
Focus on European normative and trends
This document and all of its contents are property of CAREL
by anyone other than CAREL, is severely forbidden
Miriam Solana
Belgrade, 13th April 2018

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Summary
1. Refrigerant regulations and trends
2. The use of CO2 as refrigerant
3. Propane: flammability requirements
4. Ecodesign and Energy Labelling

1. Refrigerant regulations and
trends

GWP
Global Warming Potential
ODP
Ozone Depletion Potential
For example:
R-12 ODP=1
R-22 ODP=0.05
It means that 1 kg of R-12 damages
the ozone layer like 20 kg of R-22!!
For example:
R-410A GWP=2088
R-744 (CO2) GWP=1
It means that 1 kg of R-410A has the
same greenhouse effect as 2088 kg
of CO2!!

GLIDE
A1 B1
A2L B2L
A2 B2
A3 B3
Toxicity
Flammability
Safety classification*
*ASHRAE Standard 34

HFC (R-134a, R-410A, R-32)
ODP=0, high GWP
HCFC (R-22)
ODP, high GWP
CFC (R-12)
High ODP, high GWP 1930
1950
1990
Natural refrigerants (CO2, NH3) 1834
1987: Montreal Protocol
1997: Kyoto Protocol
2016: Kigali Agreement
Refrigerant history

HFC (R-134a, R-410A, R-32)
ODP=0, high GWP
HCFC (R-22)
ODP, high GWP
CFC (R-12)
High ODP, high GWP 1930
1950
1990
Natural refrigerants (CO2, NH3) 1834
1987: Montreal Protocol
1997: Kyoto Protocol
2016: Kigali Agreement
Refrigerant history
Video Refrigerant history

 HFO and relative blends (R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E))
ODP=0, low or very low GWP, low flammability
 Natural: HC (Propane, Isobutane, Propylene)
ODP=0, very low GWP,
flammability
 Natural (NH3, CO2)
High level of technical
knowledge
XXI century

 HFO and relative blends (R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E))
ODP=0, low or very low GWP, low flammability
 Natural: HC (Propane, Isobutane, Propylene)
ODP=0, very low GWP,
flammability
 Natural (NH3, CO2)
High level of technical
knowledge
XXI century
Go back to the 1800’s??

Kigali Agreement (October 2016)
Montreal Protocol Amended

1. Restrictions: based on the GWP of the refrigerant.
Application Fluorinated
refrigerants
Unacceptable as
of
Domestic refrigerators and freezers GWP≥150 1 January 2015
Refrigerators and freezers for commercial use (Hermetically sealed) GWP≥2500 1 January 2020
GWP ≥ 150 1 January 2022
Stationary refrigeration and A/C equipment GWP ≥2500 1 January 2020
Multipack centralized ref. systems for commercial use with a rated capacity ≥40 kW GWP ≥ 150 1 January 2022
Movable room A/C equipment GWP ≥ 150 1 January 2020
Single split A/C systems containing less than 3 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases GWP ≥ 750 1 January 2025
2. Leak checking: the frequency depends on the tonnes of CO2 equivalents.
Tonnes of CO2-eq. per circuit Frequency of leak checking
Less than 5 (=5000 kg) Exempted
Less than 10, if hermetically sealed Exempted
5-50 Every 12 months (or 24 months with a leakage detection and monitoring system)
50-500 Every 6 months (or 12 months with a leakage detection and monitoring system)
Over 500 Every 3 months (or 6 months with a leakage detection and monitoring system)
3. Quota: quantities of HFCs, expressed in CO2-equivalent that producers and importers of
HFCs are entitled to place on the market according to the phase-down steps.
F-gas

F-gas restrictions
Unacceptable fluorinated refrigerants according to GWP values:
Application Fluorinated
refrigerants
Unacceptable as
of
Domestic refrigerators and freezers GWP≥150 1 January 2015
Refrigerators and freezers for commercial use
(Hermetically sealed)
GWP≥2500 1 January 2020
Stationary refrigeration equipment GWP ≥2500 1 January 2020
Multipack centralized ref. systems for
commercial use with a rated capacity ≥40 kW
R-404A and R-507 banned in all the applications.
Only refrigerants with GWP<150 will be acceptable
in all the applications, except stationary.

Movable room air-conditioning equipment
Domestic refrigerators and freezers Refrigerators and freezers for
commercial use
(hermetically sealed)
Multipack centralized refrigeration
systems for commercial use (≥ 40 kW)

2500
1500
750
150
Domestic refrigerators and freezers 1 January 2015
Refrigerators and freezers for commercial
use (hermetically sealed equipment)
1 January 2022
Multipack centralized refrigeration
systems for commercial use with a rated
capacity of 40 kW or more
1 January 2022
Movable room air-conditioning equipment 1 January 2020

 R-455A
 R-454C
 PURE HFO
R-1234yf
R-1234ze(E)
R-1233zd(E)
 HYDROCARBONS
R-290 (Propane)
R-600a (Isobutane)
R-1270 (Propylene)
 CO2
 NH3
Charge limits (A2L), except R-
1233zd(E) that is A1.
Charge limits (A3).
Local norms and other
drawbacks due to flammability.
Low flammability (A2L).
GLIDE≈8-12°C.
High pressure, high level of
technical knowledge.
Low flammability, toxic,
corrosive, high level of technical
knowledge, license.
GWP<150

Single split air-conditioning systems containing less than 3 kg of fluorinated
greenhouse gases

2500
1500
750
150
Single split air-conditioning systems containing
less than 3 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases
1 January 2025

 R-454B, R-452B
 R-32
 R-513A
 R-450A
Low flammability (A2L).
GLIDE≈1.5°C.
Low flammability (A2L),
High discharge temperature.
GLIDE= less than 1 °C.
Medium temperature.
GLIDE= 0°C.
Medium temperature.
GWP<750

Stationary refrigeration equipment
Stationary air conditioning equipment

2500
1500
750
150
Refrigerators and freezers for commercial use
(hermetically sealed equipment)
1 January 2020
Stationary refrigeration and air conditioning equipment
(including multipack centralized refrigeration systems for
commercial use with a rated capacity of less than 40 kW)
1 January 2020

 R-452A
GLIDE=3°C
 R-407A
GLIDE=3°C
 R-410A
 R-407F
GLIDE=7°C
 R-407C
GLIDE=7°C
 R-134a
 R-448A
GLIDE=6°C
 R-449A
GLIDE=6°C
GWP<2500

CO2 equivalents = kg of refrigerant × GWP
Example:
5 kg of R-410A (GWP=2088)
5 × 2088 = 10,440 kg of CO2 equivalents
10.4 tonnes of CO2 equivalents
F-gas: concept of CO2
equivalents

Tonnes of CO2-eq. per circuit Frequency of leak checking
Less than 5 (=5000 kg)
(e.g. for R-410A, GWP 2088: less than
5000/3922=2.4 kg)
Exempted
Less than 10, if hermetically sealed and
labelled as such
(e.g. for R-410A: less than 10000/2088=4.8 kg)
Exempted
5-50
(e.g. for R-410A: 2.4-24 kg)
Every 12 months (or 24 months with a
leakage detection and monitoring system).
50-500
(e.g. for R-410A: 24-240 kg)
Every 6 months (or 12 months with a
leakage detection and monitoring system).
Over 500
(e.g. for R-410A: over 240 kg)
Every 3 months (or 6 months with a leakage
detection and monitoring system).
For stationary refrigeration equipment, stationary
air conditioning equipment and stationary heat
pumps:
Leak detection system
F-gas: leak checking

F-gas: quota

Compared to the
average 2009-2012
EU HFC
consumption
F-gas: quota

 Prices are speedily increasing…
F-gas: consequences

F-gas quota: consequences
Italy (listino Rivoira,
December 2017)
R-404A ~ 55 €/kg
R-410A ~ 59 €/kg
R-134a ~ 35 €/kg
R-448A ~ 35 €/kg
R-32 ~ 13 €/kg
R-452B ~ 33 €/kg
R-1234yf ~ 90 €/kg
R-1234ze~ 24 €/kg
R-290 ~ 6 €/kg
R-744 ~ 3 €/kg
Natural
HFO and mixtures
HFC
R-404A
R-410A
R-134a
R-448A
R-32
R-1234yf
R-290
R-744
R-1234ze
R-32
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
€/kg
GWP

Honeywell communicated last April its intention to stop selling the high
GWP refrigerants R-404A and R-507 in Europe from next year. Link
“Legacy products like R-404A, R-134a and R-407C may become
harder to find in the coming years” (Chemours) Link
“We have to manage our quota and for every container of R-404A we
can sell three containers of R-449A to help the market transition”
(Chemours) Link
 Availability will speedily decrease…
F-gas: consequences

Taxation for HFC’s
• Poland:
- a placing on the market fee (new installations) for F-Gases at
0,003 PLN per kg (=0,0007 €/kg)
- an emissions fee (servicing/ topping up leaked refrigerants) for
F-Gases at 27,66 PLN per kg (6.6 €/kg)
• Slovenia: Taxation in place since 2013. Target tax of 0.71 € per ton
of CO2 equivalent.
• Serbia: From 2014, licenses have been required for the import,
export and placing on the market of HFCs (and other F-gases), as
well as the import and export of air-conditioning equipment using F-
gases.
• Czech Republic: no taxation
• Hungary: no taxation

United States: SNAP
Stand-Alone Units
R-744 (CO2)
R-290 (Propane), R-600a (Isobutane), R-441A
R-450A, R-513A LIMITED TO MT APPLICATIONS
R-448A, R-449A, R-449B Acceptable in LT equipment only
R-134a Unacceptable in new MT units: 2019/2020
LIMITED TO MT APPLICATIONS
R-407C, R-410A Unacceptable in new units: 2019/2020
R-404A, R-507, R-507A Unacceptable in retrofit and new units: 2016/2020
Remote Condensing Units/Typical Supermarket Systems
R-744 (CO2)
R-134a LIMITED TO MT APPLICATIONS
R-450A, R-513A LIMITED TO MT APPLICATIONS
R-448A, R-449A, R-449B
R-410A
R-407A, R-407C, R-407F
R-404A,R-507, R-507A
Unacceptable in retrofit equipment: 2016.
Unacceptable in new equipment: 01/01/ 2017 (supermarkets)
Unacceptable in new equipment: 01/01/2018 (condensing units)

China:Recommended Substitutes
Refrigerant Recommended
Substitute
Application
R-22 R-290 (Propane) Commercial independent refrigeration system
R-22 R-600a (Isobutane) Commercial independent refrigeration system
R-22 R-744 (CO2) Industrial/commercial freezing and refrigeration
system (used as refrigerant and secondary
refrigerant)
R-22 R-717 (Ammonia) Refrigerated warehouse; Transport refrigeration;
Condensing unit; Industrial refrigeration system

Trends
Isobutane
Propane
Propane R-448A, R-449A
(retrofit)
CO2 (new)
Ammonia
Domestic
units
Beverage
coolers
Supermarkets and
convenience stores
Industrial
refrigeration
Plug-in and semi
plug-in units
Propane

2. The use of CO2 as refrigerant

Subcritical CO2, cascade
• In subcritical cascade systems, CO2 is
used as the refrigerant for the low
temperature stage (compressor suction
temperature -30/-35°C).
• The heat from condensation of the CO2
is absorbed by the refrigerant in the
medium temperature stage.
• This process takes place via a cascade
heat exchanger between the two
refrigerants.

Subcritical CO2, pumped
• In subcritical pumped systems, CO2 is
used as the refrigerant for both stages
(if featured), low and medium
temperature.
• In these systems, CO2 is a secondary
refrigerant, and the primary circuit,
typically a chiller using HFCs/HCs, has
the task of cooling the liquid CO2, which
is then pumped inside the system.
• This process also takes place via a heat
exchanger, with the addition of a liquid
receiver and a pump.

Transcritical CO2, booster
• A booster system is when there are
two stages of compression of the
same refrigerant, therefore the CO2
discharged by the low temperature
compressors flows, via a intercooler,
to the suction port of the medium
temperature compressors.
• The high pressure valve (HPV) is the
heart of this type of installation,
making sure it works efficiently and in
the most favourable conditions at any
given moment; consequently, it
lowers the operating pressure of the
receiver downstream to 35-40 barg so
as to condense the CO2.

Transcritical CO2 system with
Modulating Ejector
3 working modes:
• Winter: standard CO2 transcritical
system, ejector as replacement of
transcritical valve, flash gas valve

Modulating Ejector
3 working modes:
• Mid: standard CO2 transcritical
and parallel compressors
synchronization

Modulating Ejector
3 working modes:
• Mid: standard CO2 transcritical
and parallel compressors
synchronization
• Summer: Ejector mode, medium
temp and parallel compressors all
working as parallel compressors,
gas ejectors maintaning ΔP for
flooded evaporators

Ejector

3. Propane:
flammability requirements

Commercial refrigeration
GENERAL STANDARD PRODUCT STANDARD
INTERNATIONAL ISO:
ISO 5149
IEC:
IEC 60335-2-89
EUROPE cen:
EN 378
CENELEC:
EN 60335-2-89
UNITED STATES ASHRAE:
ASHRAE 15
UL:
UL 60335-2-89
These standards often reference other standards, such as the standard dealing
with explosive atmospheres, EN 60079. EN 60079 defines explosive
atmospheres, gives guidelines on how to install electrical applications and protect
equipment in these environments.

IEC 60335-2-89
• Household and similar electrical appliances- Safety- Part 2-89:
Particular requirements for commercial refrigerating appliances
with an incorporated or remote refrigerant unit or compressor.
• An International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) working group
has prepared a draft to change the charge limit on hydrocarbons
and define the measures to maintain the equivalent safety level as
for the present limit.
• The new limit is expected to change from 150 g 16 × LFL (500 g
for propane).
• The draft will probably be approved by the end of 2018 and would
come in force in 2019.

IEC 60335-2-89
If 60335-2-89-2018 draft is approved, and according to the
information we have now, the main news will be:
• Charge limit: it will increase to 16 × LFL (500 g for propane).
• Refrigerants: A2L will be included
• Ice makers will be included
• Only hermetically sealed systems shall be used for appliances with
flammable refrigerant
• Appliances with more than 150 gr of flammable refrigerants:
additional test to determine the gas concentration beyond the
boundary of the appliance

4. Ecodesign and Energy Labelling

Condensing units: ecodesign
NEW LIMITS FROM JULY 2018!

Condensing units: ecodesign
2.25
2.35
2.55
2.65
1.5 1.6
1.6
1.7
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
0 10 20 30 40 50
MinimumSEPR
Rated cooling capacity (kW)
MEDIUM T: July 2016
MEDIUM T: July 2018
LOW T: July 2016
LOW T: July 2018
SEPR:
Seasonal
Energy
Performance
Ratio
NEW LIMITS FROM JULY 2018!

Appliance Date Limit
Professional refrigerated
storage cabinets
Exceptions:
Heavy-duty cabinets
Refrigerator-freezers
1 July 2016 EEI<115
1 January
2018
EEI<95
1 July 2019 EEI<85
Heavy duty cabinets 1 July 2016 EEI<115
Professional refrigeration cabinets
Ecodesign

Energy labelling
Energy
efficiency class
EEI
A+++ EEI < 5
A++ 5 ≤ EEI < 10
A+ 10 ≤ EEI < 15
A 15 ≤ EEI < 25
B 25 ≤ EEI < 35
C 35 ≤ EEI < 50
D 50 ≤ EEI < 75
E 75 ≤ EEI < 85
F 85 ≤ EEI < 95
G 95 ≤ EEI < 115 From 1 July 2016
From 1 July 2019
Professional refrigeration cabinets

Trends
• Electronic expansion valve
• Variable velocity compressors
• Inverter
• Evaporative cooling
• Ejectors
• Control and supervisory systems with energy saving functions
• High efficiency heat exchangers
• Electrical ventilators and pumps

Stay tuned!
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How will Commercial Refrigeration Develop in the Future?

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