selwyn wallace natural refrigerants (sydney april 2016)

Selwyn Wallace

General Information on Hydrocarbon Refrigerants

Natural Refrigerants

CONTENT • General Introduction

• HC Refrigerant Safety

• Case studies

• Summary

April, 2016 Engas Australasia Pty Ltd 2

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Engas Australasia Pty Ltd 3

• There are only five natural refrigerants

• Engas manufactures, distributes and specializes in only HC refrigerants

• HC refrigerants are natural, non-toxic and have minimal global warming potential

• HC refrigerants are more efficient. Lower pressures, higher performance.

• Recognised by the World’s leading industry bodies such as ASHRAE (American Society Heating Refrigeration Air Conditioning Engineers) and ARA(Australian Refrigeration Associations).

• They have designated refrigerant numbers such as R290, R600a, R1270, & R170 etc…

April, 2016

HYDROCARBON REFRIGERANT SAFETY


• The application of flammable HC refrigerants can be done safely as with any

other type of refrigerant

• HC refrigerants are flammable – HCs are used safely throughout the world for cooking, heating, powering vehicles and as aerosol propellants for hairsprays, deodorants, whipped cream and cooking sprays etc

• All refrigeration and air conditioning systems using chemical refrigerants become flammable due to the oil mixing with the refrigerant as it travels around the system

• Most chemical refrigerants produce toxic by-products and poisonous gases when they are burnt or over heated

• HC refrigerants do not spontaneously combust on contact with air

April, 2016

Three Elements need to coincide 1. There needs to be a release of

hydrocarbons

2. The HC needs to mix with the correct proportion of air, the range of flammability being between 2 and 10%. Outside of these limits combustion cannot occur

3. An ignition source exceeding 460 degrees Celsius must be present.

** If one of these three elements is eliminated, combustion cannot occur**

Engas Australasia Pty Ltd 5 April, 2016

FLAMMABILITY

Chemical Refrigerant

ºC

R22 740 ºC

R12 885 ºC

R134a 647 ºC

R290 475 ºC

R600a 480 ºC

Oil 262 ºC

September, 2015 Engas Australasia Pty Ltd 6

• All refrigerants burn

• Lubricant is the first fluid to ignite

• When lubricant burns the temperature produce is in the region of 2000ºC

• When HC refrigerants burn the by-product is steam and carbon

• When chemical refrigerants burn (CFC’s, HCFC’s and HFC’s) the fumes or by-products given off are highly toxic

UNDERSTANDING THE FLAMMABLE TRIANGLE


• Here we have all the three elements in place to have the potential for a fire or ignition

• You MUST have ALL THREE for any risk to occur

April, 2016

UNDERSTANDING THE FLAMMABLE TRIANGLE continues…


• Here we have only two of the three elements required to cause fire or ignition • Remove any one of the three element, an incident CANNOT occur

April, 2016

FLAMMABILITY continues…


• All refrigerants are dangerous and require safety measures

• Although most refrigerants are flammable given the right conditions, some are more flammable than others

• Toxicity does not give a clear judgement on which substance is lethal • For example:- Ammonia is classified as a toxic refrigerant, however its distinctive smell will give an early warning so that it will not be lethal.

• Although R-22 is considered a safe refrigerant, many have been suffocated from it due to its lack of odour or smell.

• HCs have been used in plant rooms as fuels for over a century and there are accepted standards for their use in large quantities.

April, 2016

Performance Characteristics


April, 2016

Energy Efficiency Comparison

11 April, 2016 Engas Australasia Pty Ltd

General Comparison


ENGAS CASE STUDIES


• 251 Adelaide Terrace, Perth • Citibank House, Perth • Bosch & Siemen’s, China • Elite Food Company, Perth • Elite Food Company, Building One • Lidcombe Ice

April, 2016

251 Adelaide Tce


Citibank House


Elite Foods


Bosch Siemens China


Lidcombe Ice


THE FUTURE OF REFRIGERANTS IN AUSTRALIA


• All existing Fluorocarbon Refrigerants will be phased out in some shape or form • Presidents Obama and Xi reached agreement in principle early Jun 2013 to use the

institution of the Montreal Protocol and its proven methods to phase down the use of HFC chemical refrigerants by 2030

• G20 group representing 85% of global economic activity including Australia signed an agreement in Sept. 2013 to phase down the use of HFC refrigerants by 2/3 below present levels by 2030

• The European Union phase down has already started (2014) and HFCs have to be 79% gone by 2030

• In Paris, December 2015 – 195 countries agreed to phase down HFCs and other chemical refrigerants

April, 2016

SUMMARY


• There are many benefits that do arise from converting old refrigeration and air conditioning equipment to operate on hydrocarbon refrigerants

• These include savings on both capital and operating costs of the refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for end users

• Hydrocarbon Refrigerants can be apply correctly and safely just like all other refrigerants

• So by choosing Natural Refrigerants over Chemical Refrigerants you can gain an immediate financial benefit. You will also help our children and grandchildren to have a brighter future. You will contribute to the welfare of many future generations

April, 2016

Thank you Selwyn Wallace

selwyn wallace natural refrigerants (sydney april 2016)

Presentations & Public Speaking