An Overview of R22 Refrigerant Substitution in China
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R22 Refrigerant Substitution in China by Min Zhang, Mingming Lu, and Yanmei Zhou
An Overview of R22 Refrigerant
Substitution in China
A look at China’s efforts to replace the R22 refrigerant in order to comply with the
Montreal Protocol.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • September 2019
R22 Refrigerant Substitution in China by Min Zhang, Mingming Lu, and Yanmei Zhou
The 1987 Montreal Protocol recommended using HCFC- alternative refrigerants, and the main achievements of
22 (R22) and HFC-134a (R134a) to replace chlorofluorocar- domestic refrigerant substitution.
bons (CFCs) to reduce the damage to the stratosphere ozone
layer. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) tend to stay in the Setting Policy and Guidelines
troposphere, the lower layer of the atmosphere we live in, so In August 2016, the Chinese Foreign Economic Cooperation
the ozone depletion potential (ODP) of these compounds are Office (FECO), a subsidiary of China’s Ministry of Ecology
mostly zero. During this time, the growth of the air condition- and Environment (MEE)—formerly the Ministry of Environ-
ing industry in China started to accelerate. As a result, most mental Protection (MEP)—released its HCFCs alternative
Chinese air conditioner units used R22 as refrigerant in recommended directory (draft).3 In response to climate
response to the 1987 Montreal Protocol. change mitigation and the Kyoto Protocol, this guideline
document recommended refrigerant alternatives in the
More than 30 years later, China has become the world’s refrigeration and air conditioning industry, including propane
largest producer and consumer of air conditioners, and pro- (R290), isobutane (R600A), carbon dioxide (CO2) (R744
duced more than 200 million units in 2018, up 10% from and R32), and ammonia (R717), as listed in Table 1.
2017.1 Though the 1992 (and later) amendments to the
Montreal Protocol initiated the phase-out of HCFCs due to On September 18, 2018, FECO held a meeting of industry
their high global warming potential (GWP), a lot of Chinese planning agencies to accelerate the phase-out of HCFCs and
air conditioners still use R22 as the preferred refrigerant to summarized the progress and next steps of HCFCs elimina-
meet the requirements of the 1987 Montreal Protocol. tion in China. Following on from this meeting, 19 major en-
terprises in the room air conditioner industry partially realized
Today, China’s refrigeration and air conditioning industry is the replacement of R22 with propane (R290) and R410A,
actively trying to find new alternative refrigerants for R22 to and carried out adaptive transformation on the production
prevent ozone layer destruction, reduce greenhouse effect, line;4 18 major enterprises in the commercial refrigeration
and protect the environment. The urgency of HCFCs refrig- industry are actively researching and developing replacement
erant substitution has guided the Chinese government and products of R22; companies in the compressor industry have
relevant industries to action. According to the HCFCs phase- vowed to replace R22 with R134A, R32, R744, and R717;
out process set out in the Montreal Protocol, from 2016 to and the cooling industry is using R134A and R717 to replace
2020, China needs to achieve the second-phase target of a R22 in water-cooled chillers, and R134A and R32 in air-
35% reduction in HCFCs and completely phase out HCFC cooled chillers and units.3
production and consumption by 2030,2 which is significantly
faster than the 10% elimination target achieved in stage one. Characteristics of Commonly Used R22 Substitutes
There are many different substitutes for R22 based on differ-
This article considers China’s efforts in the replacement of ent applications. The main characteristics of R22 and its main
R22 to comply with the Montreal Protocol from the aspects substitutes are shown in Table 2.5 The critical environmental
of policy, the use and characteristics of commonly used parameters for evaluation include ODP, GWP, toxicity, and
Table 1. Recommended substitutes for R22 in different sectors.3
Substitute Type Main Application Sectors
Refrigerants
R290 HC (hydrocarbon) Room air conditioner; Commercial independent
refrigeration system
R600A HC Commercial independent refrigeration system
R744 CO2 Domestic heat pump water heater; Industrial or commercial
(carbon dioxide) heat pump water heaters; Cold storage systems for industrial
or commercial use (refrigerants and refrigerant carriers)
R717 NH3 (ammonia) Cold storage; Transport refrigeration; Compressor
condensing unit; Industrial refrigeration system
R32 HFCs Air conditioning unit; Cold water (heat pump) unit;
(hydrofluorocarbons) Heat pump system; Condensing unit
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • September 2019R22 Refrigerant Substitution in China by Min Zhang, Mingming Lu, and Yanmei Zhou
Table 2. Characteristics of R22 and its substitutes.5
Refrigerant Molecular Chemical ODP GWP Toxicity Flammability
Trade Formula/ Type
Names Composition
R22 CHClF2 HCFC 0.055 1810 Slight Nonflammable
R290 C3H8 HC 0 20 Non-toxic Inflammable
(asphyxiation)
R134A C2H2F4 HFC 0 1430 Non-toxic Nonflammable
R32 C22F2 HFC 0 670 Slight Micro
combustion
R407C R32 (23%) HFC 0 1774 Hypo-toxicity Nonflammable
R125 (25%)
R134A (52%)
R410A R125 (50%) HFC 0 2088 Hypo-toxicity Nonflammable
R32 (50%)
R404A R125 (42%) HFC 0 3922 Hypo-toxicity Nonflammable
R142a (52%)
R134a (4%)
R600A C4H10 0 3 Non-toxic Flammable and
combustible
R717 NH3 0 0 Toxic Flammable
R718 H2O 0 0-0.4 Non-toxic Nonflammable
R744 CO2 0 1 Non-toxic Nonflammable
R1234YF C3H2F4 HFC 0 4 Hypo-toxicity Micro
combustion
R452B 0 676 Non-toxic Micro
combustion
flammability, in addition to thermal properties. As shown in R290 is about 10% higher than that of the air
Table 2, R22 does not meet climate change mitigation needs conditioner commonly used with R22 refrigerant at
due to its high GWP. More details of select R22 replacement present.7
alternatives are provided below. 2. R410A (ODP = 0, GWP = 2088) is an HFC-type
refrigerant. In addition to good refrigeration
1. R290 (ODP = 0, GWP = 20) causes little or no and environmental protection performance, it is also
damage to the stratospheric ozone layer and has non-toxic and not easy to burn. Its thermodynamic
a low impact on the global greenhouse effect with and physical properties are close to azeotropic or pure
good thermal performance.6 The latent heat of refrigerant. As an alternative for R22, R410A is mainly
vaporization of R290 is more than twice as high as used in automobile air-conditioning, household appli-
that of R22. Therefore, under the same conditions, the ances, small fixed refrigeration equipment, medium
filling amount of R290 is far less than that of R22, temperature refrigeration in supermarkets, and indus-
which is about 43% of that of R22. In addition, since trial and commercial refrigerating machines. The heat
R290 has low dynamic viscosity coefficient and high transfer performance of R410A is superior. Under the
heat transfer coefficient, the system energy efficiency same conditions, the heat transfer coefficient of R410A
ratio of the air conditioner developed to accommodate is 15% higher than that of R22.8 In most cases, the
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • September 2019R22 Refrigerant Substitution in China by Min Zhang, Mingming Lu, and Yanmei Zhou
replacement of the R22 without changing the type of are compatible with common lubricants and structural
lubricant is also an advantage of R410A. materials and have better heat transfer performance
3. R32 (ODP = 0, GWP = 670) has good thermal- than CFC refrigerants, and is suitable for cryogenic
physical and safety properties (low flammability, and ultra-cryogenic refrigeration. However, as a
good safety, high thermal conductivity, good thermal greenhouse gas itself, its application should be care-
stability). In the same refrigeration system, the fully evaluated.
refrigerating capacity can be increased by about 10%
compared to R22. The theoretical cooling capacity of Main Achievements of Refrigerant
R32 system is much higher than that of R410A system Substitution in China
and its comprehensive energy efficiency ratio is much Research and development in refrigerants not only makes
higher than that of R410A system. If R32 refrigerant sense from an environmental aspect, but also can create new
is used, the refrigerating capacity can be increased business opportunities. Here are some of the main benefits
by 10%.9 and achievements of R22 substitution in China.
4. R134A (ODP = 0, GWP = 1430) has smaller heat
capacity and lower pressure than R22. As a Elimination of Production and Consumption of R22
result, the R134A system needs to be equipped with China achieved the first phase of its HCFCs reduction target
a larger volume air compressor, larger evaporator, and of 10% in 2015. At present, China has eliminated approxi-
pipeline.10 R134A is widely used as a replacement for mately 280,000 tons of R22, accounting for more than half
R22 in small refrigeration devices, automobile air of the total elimination of all developing countries combined,
conditioning, and small heat pump units. However, its taking the lead about 2.5 years ahead of schedule, and has
GWP value is about 1,430, which means it is a global become a model for developing countries in implementing
warming refrigerant, and therefore is not a current environmental protocols.12
research focus in China.
5. R744 (ODP=0, GWP=1) is safe, non-toxic, Promoting Large-Scale R22 Substitution
non-flammable, and has good thermal stability even at The Chinese government has been working on large-scale
high temperatures.11 At the same time, CO2 refriger- application of replacement refrigerants, especially in the field
ant is cheap, has a wide range of sources, does not of home air conditioning. Major Chinese air conditioning
need to be recycled, can greatly reduce the cost of re- companies, such as the Midea Group, Haier Group, and TCL
frigerant replacement. In addition, CO2 as refrigerants Corporation, have all launched R290 air conditioners into the
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em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • September 2019R22 Refrigerant Substitution in China by Min Zhang, Mingming Lu, and Yanmei Zhou
market and completed 17 new R290-lines in total. The appli- capacities of R1234YF/R134A and R134A are close, but
cations of R600A in air energy heat pump, ammonia in cold coefficient of performance is 4% ~ 9% lower than that of
storage, and other replacements are also increasing.13 R134A.14
New Products Innovation R410A Replacement
As can be seen from Table 2, the R22 alternatives, R134A, In May 2017, the China Midea Group selected Opteon
R407C, R410A, and R404A, all have high GWPs. Examples XL55 (R452B) (ODP=0, GWP=676) to replace R410A as a
of new products innovation include: (1) researchers in China refrigerant in their unit products, which are the main prod-
and elsewhere are studying hydrofluorolefin (HFO) refriger- ucts sold to North America. Compared with R410A, the per-
ants with ODP of zero and very low GWP, which are consid- formance of Opteon XL55 refrigerant is improved and the
ered one of the new refrigerants in the future; (2) Chinese GWP is reduced by more than 65%. The Opteon XL55
enterprises, such as Gree Co., are developing R1234YF to re- product is rated as 2L by the American Society of Heating,
place R134A air conditioners; and (3) a feasibility study on Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, meaning it is
replacing R134A with a new type of mixed refrigerant rated with the lowest flammability rating. It has good design
R1234YF/R134A (mass fraction ratio: 89:11) in an automo- compatibility with R410A equipment, a low exhaust tempera-
bile air conditioning system shows that the refrigerating ture, and does not require changes to the compression.15 em
Min Zhang is with the School of Mechanical & Electric Technology, Suzhou Institute of Trade & Commerce, Suzhou, China. Mingming
Lu is also with the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati. Yanmei Zhou is with the Depart-
ment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China, and Beijing Point Lab-
oratory of Typical Water Control and Water Quality Protection in Beijing Jiaotong University. E-mail: mingming.lu@uc.edu.
References
1. 2018–2022 China home air conditioning market in-depth survey and future prospective forecasting; report number: 692076; China market research online
(CMRO), 2016.
2. Zou, G.X.; Su Y. Market Analysis of the Refrigerant Products; Chinese Journal of Refrigeration Technology 2018, 4, 36-47.
3. Recommended list of key substitutes for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs); Environmental protection and foreign cooperation center (FECO), 2016a;
http://www.ozone.org.cn/xmxx/hqlf/gszlhy/ (accessed April 2019).
4. Recommended list of key substitutes for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs); Environmental protection and foreign cooperation center (FECO), 2016b;
http://www.ozone.org.cn/xmxx/hqlf/fjktqhy/ (accessed April 2019).
5. Liu, J.N., et al. Refrigeration principles and devices; Higher Education Press (China) 2016.
6. Zheng, X.D. Refrigeration principles and devices; China Machine Press (Beijing) 2001; 30-36
7. Xiao, K.; Wang, J.Y.; Chen, H.X.; Guo, Y.B.; Liu, J.Y.; Hu, Y.P. Simulation Study on Substitution of Refrigerant R290, R32 for R22 in the Room Air Conditioners;
Refrigeration 2018, 2, 18-23.
8. Chen, J.F.; Yang, C. Comparison of Environmentally Benign Refrigerants R410A and R407C; Fluidmachinery 2005, 7, 78-81.
9. Zhu, L.F. Research on the application of R32 refrigerant in air conditioning; Technology and Economic Guide 2018, 26 (18), 42-45.
10. Cheng, Y.; Chen, G. Technical Investigation and Application Prospect of Vapor-Compression Cycle Evaporative Cooling Water (Heat Pump) Unit; Construction
& Design For Project 2018, 9, 102-109.
11. Guo, J.H. Theoretical Analysis and Experimental Study on R744/R32 Refrigerant in Refrigeration/Heat Pump System; Master’s Thesis, Tianjin University of
Commerce, 2016.
12. Substances that deplete the ozone layer; Chinese government delegation to the 30th Conference of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol; Ministry of ecology
and environment (MEE), November 2018. See http://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk15/201811/t20181110_673319.html (accessed April 2019).
13. Li, J.P.; Chen, D.; Li, C.L. Refrigerants Market Analysis; Chinese Journal of Refrigeration Technology 2016, 38-45.
14. Yang, M.; Zhang, H.; Qin, Y.B.; Meng, Z.F. Thermodynamic performance comparison and experimental study of mixed refrigerant R134A/R1234YF (R513A)
and R134A; Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress 2019, 38 (3),1182-1189.
15. Liu, W.D. Performance evaluation of rooftop air-conditioning unit using R452B with low GWP as alternative to R410A; Refrigeration 2018, 7, 34-38.
In Next Month’s Issue…
Visibility
In January 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) finalized a national regional haze rule applying to
state reasonable progress plans due by 2021 for the period
2019-2028. In January 2018, EPA announced that it was
revisiting the 2017 rule. The October issue will address EPA
revisions to the 2017 rule, state and other stakeholder views
on those revisions, and state planning activities.
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