The Evolution of Cooling: Understanding F-gas and PFAS in Modern Refrigeration
Author: Georg F?sel, Refrigeration Specialist at MCI
Publishing date: 20/02/2024
Refrigerants are the blood in thermal energy systems – transferring thermal energy (i.e. heat) to different temperature levels by evaporation and condensation in the vapour compression refrigeration cycle; the basic process that is applied in refrigerators, air conditioning and heat pump equipment, process chillers, supermarkets, and reefers, among many other applications.
Please note that the landscape surrounding refrigerants, PFAS, and F-gas regulations is dynamic and subject to changes due to ongoing research, technological advancements, and shifts in environmental policies globally.
As such, while we create the article to the best of our knowledge in support of the industry and endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct at time of writing, we make no representations or warranties of any kind about the completeness or accuracy.
In the early days of refrigeration technology, any fluid that would undergo an evaporation and condensation process at achievable pressure and temperature levels where used. With more systems and applications in use, the number of accidents caused by machine defects or improper handling increased, paving the way for safe to use halogenated hydrocarbons, the Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Until the discovery of the ozone hole and the underlying root causes, these substances have been driving progress in food perseveration, health, and comfort control.
CFCs have been banned under the Montreal Protocol and the industry responded with replacement options such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). With lower (HCFC) to no (HFC) ozone depleting impact, efficient and safe operation was ensured, but they do contribute significantly to global warming when leaked to the atmosphere. At that time, leakage control, detection, and prevention were not a high focus of manufacturers, installers and owners of refrigeration equipment, which called for political action to regulate the use of these substances. With the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2016, a global framework to lower the emission of HFCs was agreed upon and entered into national/regional legislation, such as the US American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020, the Chinese Management measures for fluorinated Greenhouse gases (Order No. 20) or the European Regulation (EU) No 517/2014.
Understanding F-gases
Fluorinated greenhouse gases, often abbreviated F-gases or F-GHGs, are a group of substances defined in regulatory context as substances that contain fluorine, contribute to global warming and their use is being restricted.
While neither the Montreal Protocol nor the various Amendments, incl. the Kigali Amendment uses the expression, this international treaty regulates the use of certain substances, all listed in the various Annexes (A to F)1.
The European regulation that addresses F-gases (No. 517/2014) uses the expression “fluorinated greenhouse gas” to define the measures to control and phase down Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur Hexafluoride and other greenhouse gases that contain fluorine and are listed in Annex I of the regulation. For instance, R134a would be listed as “fluorinated gas”, whereas R1234yf which also contains fluorine is classified in the European legislation as “other fluorinated gas” – thereby being outside of the phase down schemes mandated by the regulation2.
F-gas regulations
To read about regulations for the Europe, USA and China regions, go to the full article at https://www.mcicontainers.com/stories/the-evolution-of-cooling-understanding-f-gas-and-pfas-in-modern-refrigeration/
Understanding PFAS
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revised the definition of PFAS in 2021, stating that:
“PFASs are defined as fluorinated substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I atom attached to it), i.e. with a few noted exceptions, any chemical with at least a perfluorinated methyl group (–CF3) or a perfluorinated methylene group (–CF2–) is a PFAS.
The rationale behind the revision is to have a general PFAS definition that is coherent and consistent across compounds from the chemical structure point of view and is easily implementable for distinguishing between PFASs and non-PFASs, also by non-experts. The decision to broaden the definition compared to Buck et al. is not connected to decisions on how PFASs should be grouped in regulatory and voluntary actions.”
Refrigerants and their atmospheric decomposition products, Plastic materials such as PTFE and many more are falling under the OECD definition, some estimate that more than 12,000 substances would be classified as PFAS.
PFAS regulations
To read about regulations for the Europe, USA and China regions, go to the full article at https://www.mcicontainers.com/stories/the-evolution-of-cooling-understanding-f-gas-and-pfas-in-modern-refrigeration/
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Summary and Conclusion
Refrigerants are the vital component in a refrigeration system to lower and control temperature for food, pharmaceuticals, maintain comfort by heating and cooling and are therefore essential for modern societies. Environmental concerns have led to restriction of use, and it is likely that these will be tightened in the future. To maintain these benefits for society, while reducing the environmental impact as much as possible, it is important to:
1.) Design energy efficient refrigeration systems, as fossil fuels are still the main source of energy to power these systems. This entails also reducing the need for refrigeration to the least possible extent, e.g. by improved and more durable insulation. The selection of refrigerant and foaming agents plays a key role.
2.) Design robust refrigeration systems that maintain their energy efficiency over their lifetime. Any premature retired machinery adds to the environmental footprint through its production carbon footprint.
3.) Operate refrigeration systems with care, e.g. avoiding excessive use of chemicals for cleaning, that could negatively impact the health of refrigeration systems.
4.) Monitor refrigeration system performance in order to act swiftly on malfunctioning/suboptimal performing machinery.
5.) Service and maintain refrigeration systems, ensuring proper refrigerant management to avoid leakages to the absolute minimum and detect potential leaks as early as possible.
6.) Ensure proper end-of-life management of equipment, including recovery and recycling of refrigerants.
Maersk Container Industry is committed to impact all of the above items, through continuous research on refrigeration technology, including refrigerants, improving product reliability and longevity, developing digital solutions that monitor equipment continuously during operation, as well as providing training and service solutions.
Links
1) Information on the Montreal Protocol, Adjustments and Amendments
2) Current EU F-gas regulation
Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006Text with EEA relevance ( europa.eu )
3) US legislation to phase down HFCs:
4) US GWP values
5) Information on EU PFAS restriction proposals (Proposal, comments, enforceability)
6) Information on US EPA’s actions on PFAS