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Future-Proof Refrigerant Gas Detection During the HFC Phasedown

As the global community continues to prioritize environmental sustainability and combat climate change, one significant initiative gaining traction is the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. HFCs, widely used in various applications including air conditioning, refrigeration, and insulation, have long-since been identified as potent greenhouse gases with high global warming potential (GWP). In response to mounting concerns over their contribution to climate change, international efforts have been underway to gradually phase out the production and consumption of HFCs. The dynamics of the global phasedown of HFC refrigerants are in many cases driven by the regulatory frameworks driving change. This is taking place in major global economies and has wide-ranging implications for the refrigeration industry. b

In the United States, in accordance with subsection (h) of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, titled “Management of Regulated Substances,” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is empowered to establish specific regulations aimed at maximizing reclamation efforts and reducing releases of select hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and substitutes from equipment. The overarching objective of this program is to significantly decrease HFC production and consumption, aiming for an 85% reduction from baseline levels by the year 2036.

Broadly sharing a common objective with the AIM Act, the European Union’s F-Gas Regulation has been in effect for over a decade, aimed at curbing the usage of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and mitigating their climate impact. Enacted in 2014, the F-Gas Regulation set a goal to reduce HFC use by two-thirds by 2023 from baseline levels. However, the recently published F-Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573, released in February 2024, marks a significant update. This regulation amends the previous Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and replaces the prior F-Gas Regulation (EU) 517/2014. Notably, the revised regulation sets an even more ambitious target: to reduce the amount of HFCs placed on the market by 98% by 2050, compared to 2015 levels.

Future-Proof Refrigerant Leak Detectors

Both the AIM Act and the F-Gas Regulation mandate refrigerant leak detection installation for larger refrigeration systems. In light of the dynamics of the market and the development of new, lower-GWP refrigerants, a common question when businesses are installing new refrigerant leak detection systems is, will they be usable in the future when I need to change my refrigerant out for a lower GWP alternative?

Fortunately, if the question is asked of a forward-thinking refrigerant gas detector manufacturer, the answer can be a resounding “yes!”. Intelligent gas detection design, by those with a knowledge and focus on the shifting requirements of their customers, mean that this can be achieved in two ways.

  1. Broadband sensor configuration: there are refrigerant gas detectors on the market which can use a single sensor configuration to accurately detect multiple gases. Extensive testing and calibration work allows the development of different calibration algorithms and curves to be applied to a single sensor. In configuring the gas detector in which the sensor is deployed, the user can select which specific gas they are using, and the appropriate calibration factors are then electronically applied to provide accurate readings for the target gas. In practice, that means when a refrigeration system is changed, or a drop-in replacement gas is used, there is the possibility to continue using the same refrigerant leak detection system with just a simple change of configuration.
  2. Pre-calibrated smart sensors: in some cases, if the refrigerant being used is changed then it is necessary to change the sensor which is used for leak detection. This can be because the new gas has a radically different response on the sensor comparative to the old gas, or because the new gas requires a fundamentally different technology for detection – for example, the change of a HFC gas, being detected using semiconductor sensors, for a CO2 refrigeration system would require a new sensor. This is because CO2 cannot be detected with semiconductor sensors, and an infrared sensor would be required.

 

Using smart sensor modules, some refrigerant gas detectors can accommodate this change. This is done by simply changing the sensor module on the gas detector, with the main electronics of the gas detector able to identify the new sensor without no need for changing the whole system or altering any of the power and communications already installed and integrated.

In conclusion, the changing dynamics of the refrigeration market will, in the coming years, see the refrigerants used changed in many installations. With thoughtful selection now, this does not mean that the refrigeration gas detection system will need to be replaced but simply modified instead.