Page 33 - Climate Control News Nov 2019

CCN Live 2019
LEFT: From L to R: Panellists included Honeywell’s Robert Keddy, RA executive director, Greg Picker, RRA’s Michael Bennett and moderator, Sandra Rossi.
BELOW LEFT: Panellist talk about the HFC phasedown comparing the EU experience with Australia.
THE FLAMMABILITY CHALLENGE
In coming years Australian technicians will be routinely working with flammable refrigerants which is why A2L training is so critical.
Discussing the biggest challenges ahead for Australian industry during a panel discussion at CCN Live,
panellists raised concerns about the storage and handling issues that accompany flammable refrigerants, as well as training.
RRA executive, Michael Bennett, said training the Australian workforce is a massive step and there is still a long way to go.
“Close to 75% of the installed bank will be mildly flammable in 10 years time,” he said.
There was no shortage of questions and comments from audience members who talked about design challenges and the issues associated with selecting refrigerants for old systems.
ABOVE: There was plenty of discussion during the panel with questions from the conference floor.
ABOVE: Topics covered by the panel included training in A2L refrigerants, designing systems for A2L refrigerants, the HFC phasedown and energy efficiency ratings.
Smugglers hijack F-Gas regulations
THE REFRIGERATION AND air conditioning industry is working hard to overcome the dam- aging impact that organised crime has had on business in the European Union (EU).
Arkema executive and chair of the European Fluorocarbon Technical Committee (EFCTC), Nick Campbell, said industry has set up a whis- tle-blower line and employed a contractor to in- vestigate illegally imported HFCs.
In a CCN Live video presentation on how F- Gas regulations are working in the EU, Camp- bell said the illegal market for refrigerants is as high as 20%.
“Official EU figures do not show there is a problem because smugglers don't usually report their sales,” he said. “But customers are becom- ing more vigilant and some countries are review- ing penalties.”
Campbell said that overall the F-Gas regula- tions are working and industry is making the move tolowerGWPalternatives.
But there has been problems with cheap im- ports from China and refrigerant price hikes in- cluding a 10-fold price increase for R404A in early 2018.
In the small refrigeration sector, Campbell said companies have adopted hydrocarbons and Co2 while split systems are using alterna- tives such as R32.
He said there are plenty of new options for chillers including R718 and R513A.
“Industry is responding with the aim of reach- ing carbon neutrality by 2050; this is the direction we need to go and we have a vital role to play.”
Refrigerant Australia executive director, Greg Picker, said Australia's HFC phasedown experience hasn't been as eventful as it has in the EU because industry has taken a very different approach.
“Every two years we tighten the tap 8 to 10% so its gradual steps,” he said.
In a panel discussion on refrigerants, RRA executive Michael Bennett, said the illegal trade in Eu- rope has actually changed
the shape of the market. “There was a black market for refrigerants in Australia during the carbon tax peri- od but it is much harder to do it here because we don't have disposable cylinders,”
he said.
“We got rid of disposable
cylinders in 2004 and it has made Australia more secure.”
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
NOVEMBER 2019
33