The Future of Refrigerants with Stephan Kujak

As October is Refrigerant Month at ASHRAE, we always make this month about the gas that keeps us cool, or hot, whatever you like...

Societal environmental demands for climate change control are leading to new regulatory policies to reduce the impact of F-gases. The HVAC&R industry faces challenges in identifying suitable refrigerants due to uncertainties in the evolving global regulatory landscape at various levels.  The use of safe, non-flammable, low-toxicity F-gases led to improved food productivity, reduced heat related deaths, increased worker productivity, and facilitated migration to hotter climates. Transitioning from CFCs to HCFCs and HFCs balanced environmental concerns with societal needs, maintaining ozone protection while enhancing living standards in developing countries and ensuring safety for all.  Today designers are exploring lower GWP unsaturated HFOs and natural refrigerants like carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrocarbons, and water for refrigeration, some of which are slightly flammable.  This presentation will provide an update on new lower GWP alternatives introduced into the marketplace and will highlight some important considerations, particularly flammability, that engineers, designers, and building owners should keep in mind regarding next-generation refrigerants.