TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP
ALTERNATIVES IN DOMESTIC REFRIGERATION
Background
This fact sheet provides current information on low global warming potential (GWP) alternatives in newly manufactured domestic refrigeration equipment
relevant to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer}
In 2009, an estimated 1.5-1.8 billion domestic refrigerators and freezers were in operation worldwide. Approximately 100 million new units are
produced and sold annually. Domestic refrigerators/freezers typically contain 50-250 grams of refrigerant and up to one kilogram of blowing agent for
the insulating foam. Charge sizes in the United States have decreased over the years but are larger than those in Europe and Japan; units in Europe and
Japan typically contain about 15-25% less refrigerant charge and 50%
less blowing agent. The expected lifetime of these units is 15-20 years.
Domestic refrigeration accounts for less than 1 % of HFC consumption in
the refrigeration/AC sector and approximately 11 % of HFC consumption
in the foams sector; combined, this accounts for nearly 2% of global HFC
consumption in 2010. Developing countries account for approximately
12% of the global HFCs consumed within the domestic refrigeration end-
use (for both refrigerants and foam blowing agents).
Japan's Experience
In 2002, Japan, a major producer of domestic refrigerators/
freezers, introduced its first hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerators
onto the market. HC refrigerants, especially R-600a, have since
dominated the Japanese domestic refrigeration market and are
continuing to grow in market share.
2010 HFC Consumption
(Estimates Presented in MMTCO eq.)
Appliance Foam-
Developed Countries-
(11%)
Appliance Foam-
Developing Countries
(0%)
Solvents
(1%)
Fire Extinguishing
(4%)
Aerosols
(5%)
Domestic Refrigeration
Developed Countries
Domestic Refrigeration
Developing Countries
Global HFC Consumption Total: 1,087 MMTC02eq.
Global HFC Consumption Domestic Ref: 16 MMTCO eq.
Global HFC Consumption Foams Total: 124 MMTC02eq.
Global HFC Consumption Appliance Foam: 13 MMTCO eq.
Global Consumption Ref/AC Sector Total: 858 MMTC02eq.
Global Consumption Ref/AC Sector Domestic Ref: 3 MMTCO eq.
HFC Alternatives and Market Trends
CFC-12 refrigerant and CFC-11 blown foam was historically used in this equipment. In response to the CFC phaseout, HFC-134a was selected as the
substitute refrigerant in most countries while hydrocarbons (HCs) were widely adopted throughout Europe and Japan. Although the majority of new
domestic refrigerators/freezers are manufactured with R-134a, more than 400 million HC units are in use worldwide. In China alone, 75% of new
domestic refrigerators/freezers use isobutane refrigerant (R-600a). It is predicted that in 10 years, 75% of new units will use HC refrigerants.
CFC-11 foam blowing agent was replaced in most countries with HCFC-141 b, which in turn has been replaced by HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, HFC-365mfc, or
HCs. Units produced in Europe and Japan have relied on HC foam blowing agents for years, while a smaller percent have transitioned to this alternative
in other developed countries (e.g., an estimated 20% of units sold today in the United States contain HCs).
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Refrigerants! R-134a has been the primary refrigerant used in
domestic refrigerators/freezers since the phaseout of R-12. However, due
to the high GWP of R-134a, there has been increasing interest in adopting
climate-friendly refrigerants.
R-600a (Isobutane)
• Contains 40% less refrigerant charge than R-134a systems
• Used in all European and Japanese refrigerators/freezers and majority
of Chinese units
• R-600a units will be available in the United States and Brazil in late 2010
R-1234yf(HFO-1234yf2)
• Comparable efficiency to R-134a
• Developed for use in MVACs, but could become viable for refrigerators/
freezers pending additional research and development
Foam Blowing Agents: Multiple climate-friendly blowing
agents have been or are being developed for use in domestic refrigerators,
including hydrocarbons, MFCs, and methylal, as described below.
Cyclopentane Blends
• Cyclopentane, cyclopentane/isopentane, and cyclopentane/isobutane
blends are the most globally used blowing agents in domestic
refrigeration
• Minimal cost, favorable physical properties, and similar thermal
conductivity to HFC-based foams
• Significant progress in meeting fire resistance requirements
HFO-1234ze3
• Low flammability and thermal conductivity
• Acceptable under U.S. EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)
Program
• Other low-GWP compounds under development
Methylal
• Typically used in combination with a HC or HFC blowing agent
• Currently being evaluated in pilot projects supported by the Multilateral
Fund
Chemical
GWP
ODPa
Refrigerant
R-1 2
R-134a
R-1234yf
R-600a
10,900
1,430
4
3
1
0
0
0
Blowing Agent
CFC-11
HCFC-142b
HCFC-22
HFC-134a
HFC-245fa
HFC-365mfc
HCFC-141b
Cyclopentane
Methylal
HFO-1234ze
4,750
2,310
1,810
1,430
1,030
794
725
<25
<25
6
1
0.065
0.055
0
0
0
0.11
0
0
0
aODP=ozone depletion potential
Refrigerant Transition in the
Domestic Refrigeration End-Use51
R-1234yf
Blowing Agent Transition in the
Domestic Refrigeration End-Use*
^ HCFC" > HF
Qg
Cyclopentane
*" Blends
- Low-GWP HFOs
••->•• Methylal
*Solid arrows represent alternatives already available in the market for these systems; dashed arrows indicate those likely to be available in future.
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Challenges and Potential Solutions
The following table summarizes the challenges associated with the various alternatives as well as potential solutions to overcoming them.
Alternative
Challenges
Potential Solutions
Refrigerants
R-600a
R-1234yf
• High Flammability
• Slight Flammability
• Long-term Reliability
• Market Availability
• Safety Devices
• Standards and Service Procedures
• Engineering Design
• Engineering Design
• Research and Development
Blowing Agents
Methylal
Cyclopentane Blends
HFO-1234ze
• Limited Experience as the Sole
Blowing Agent
• High Flammability
• Insulation Efficiency
• Slight Flammability at Elevated
Temperatures
• Market Availability
• Research and Development
• Engineering Design
• Engineering Design
• Research and Development
Costs of Transition
The cost to transition to ozone- and climate-friendly refrigerants and blowing agents will vary by type of alternative selected. While equipment
manufacturers may need to invest initially in new technologies, and consumers may face higher costs to purchase such equipment, economies of scale
will eventually bring down costs for alternative technologies and/or new refrigerants and blowing agents, as they become more widely accepted and
commercially produced.
Future Outlook
Taken together, the suite of known alternative chemicals, new technologies, and better process and handling practices can significantly reduce HFC
consumption in both the near and long term, while simultaneously completing the HCFC phaseout. Although there is much work to do to fully implement
these chemicals, technologies and practices, and some unknowns still remain, the industries currently using HCFCs and MFCs have proven through the
ODS phaseout that they can move quickly to protect the environment.
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References
Appliance Magazine. 2001. "Matsushita Launches Japan's First HC Refrigerator." Novembers, 2001.
Center for Sustainable Production and Consumption (C-SPAC). 2005. "Ecofridge: Make the Right Choice Now." Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS).
Retrieved September 20,2010 from: http://www.cuts-international.org/sc98-1.htm
Earthcare. 2008. Personal communications between Earthcare Products Ltd and ICE International. May 2008 and October 2008.
Greenpeace. 2010. "Cool Technologies: Working Without MFCs—2010, Examples of HFC-Free Cooling Technologies in Various Industrial Sectors."
Presented at the 30th Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. June 2010.
Available online at:
http://www.unep.ch/ozone/Meeting_Documents/oewg/30oewg/conf-ngos/COOLING%20%20WITHOUT%20HFCs%20-%202010-GREENPEACE.pdf
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2007. "Climate Change 2007:The Physical Science Basis." Contribution of Working Group I to the
Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.
Tignor and H.L. Miller (Eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. Available online at:
http://www.ipcc. ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/contents.html
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)/Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). 2005. "Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the
Global Climate System: Issues Related to Hydrofluorocarbons and Perfluorocarbons." Metz, B., K. Lambert, S. Solomon, S.O.Andersen, 0. Davidson, J.
Pons, D.d. Jager, T. Kestin, M. Manning, and L. Meyer (Eds.). Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom. Available online at:
http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports_safeguarding_the_ozone_layer.htm
Quintero, Miguel. 2010. "Latest Technology Development and Industry Trends in the PU Sector." Presentation to the Workshop on Low-GWP HCFC
Replacement in the Foam Sector. Seoul, South Korea. May 6,2010. Available online at:
http://www.slideshare.net/ozonaction/state-of-the-art-in-the-pu-sub-sectortechnology-options-and-trends-4680731
Shecco. 2010. "BeyondMFCs position paper on 2010 TEAP report presented at 30th Open Ended Working Group of Parties to the Montreal Protocol."
Presented at the 30th Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. June 2010.
Available online at:
http://www.unep.ch/ozone/Meeting_Documents/oewg/30oewg/conf-ngos/Beyond%20HFCs%20position%20on%202010%20TEAP%20report.pdf
Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). 201 Oa. "TEAP 2010 Progress Report. Volume 1: Assessment of HCFCs and Environmentally Sound
Alternatives, Scoping Study on Alternatives to HCFC Refrigerants under High Ambient Temperature Conditions." May 2010. Available online at:
http://www.unep. ch/ozone/Assessment_Panels/TEAP/Reports/TEAP_Reports/teap-2010-progress-report-volume1-May2010.pdf
Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). 201 Ob. "TEAP 2010 Progress Report. Volume 2: Progress Report." May 2010. Available online at:
http://ozone.unep. org/Assessment_Panels/TEAP/Reports/TEAP_Reports/teap-2010-progress-report-volume2-May2010.pdf
Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). 2009. "Task Force Decision XX/8 Report. Assessment of Alternatives to HCFCs and HFCs and
Update of the TEAP 2005 Supplement Report Data." May 2009. Available online at:
http://www.unep.ch/ozone/Assessment_Panels/TEAP/Reports/TEAP_Reports/teap-may-2009-decisionXX-8-task-force-report.pdf
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 2006. "2006 Assessment Report of the Rigid and Flexible Foams Technical Options Committee."
March 2007. Available online at: http://ozone.unep.org/teap/Reports/FTOC/ftoc_assessment_report06.pdf
1 The four sectors (domestic refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, MVACs, and unitary AC) covered in this series of
factsheets represent about 85% of HFC consumption in the refrigeration/AC sector. The remaining HFC consumption in the
refrigeration/AC sector come from sources including chillers, cold storage, industrial process refrigeration, and refrigerated
transport. Any service-related consumption is attributed to the specific end-use.
2 HFOs (hydrofluoro-olefins) are unsaturated HFCs. HFO-1234yf refrigerant is commonly referred to as HFC-1234yf or
R-1 234yf as it is referred to in the remainder of this factsheet.
3 HFO-1234Z6 is commonly referred to as HFC-1234ze or R-1234ze.
&EHV
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA-430-F-1 0-042 • www.epa.gov • September 2010
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paperwith a minimum
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