Recently revised U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules include new listings and use conditions for flammable refrigerants used in commercial and industrial refrigeration. The proposed rules are part of a multifaceted effort by the agency to phase down the supply and demand of high-global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. Several mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerants, including R-454B and R-32, are now deemed acceptable for air conditioning applications.

As a result, Copeland is now optimizing its air conditioning and refrigeration compressor platforms forSource: Copeland reliable use with A2L refrigerants while improving performance. To prepare for the transition to these more sustainable HVAC solutions, a new generation of A2L-optimized compression technologies is under development. This includes R-32 (675 GWP) and R-454B (466 GWP) for air conditioning applications, and R-455A (146 GWP), R-454C (148 GWP) and R-454A (238 GWP) for refrigeration applications.

These alternatives to current A1 refrigerants can also be deployed in distributed refrigeration architectures, such as remote, outdoor condensing units or mini racks used in smaller-format outlets. Composed of various blends of hydrofluoroolefin refrigerants and select lower GWP HFCs, A2L refrigerants are among the few alternatives available to deliver expected GWP reductions below the 700 GWP regulatory thresholds in air conditioning applications, and 300 and 150 GWP thresholds in commercial refrigeration applications.

The developer has also qualified rotalock service fittings and electronic componentry for use with A2Ls, including onboard compressor protection, variable frequency drives, contactors and sealed relays.