Page 32 - Climate Control News Magazine April 2019

Chiller Feature
Overview of trends in the refrigeration sector
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF
the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), Didier Coulomb, gives an overview of the impact of the refrigera- tion sector on climate change and flammable refrigerants.
1. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE TODAY’S ROLE OF REFRIGERATION AND WHAT IS THE EXPECTED FUTURE GROWTH OF THE SECTOR?
Refrigeration plays an essential and growing role in the global economy, with significant contribu- tions made in food, health, thermal comfort and
environmental protection areas. The refrigera- tion sector includes all refrigeration systems as well as cryogenic systems, air conditioning and heat pump systems.
The total number of these systems in operation worldwide is roughly 3 billion. The sector is ex- pected to grow in the decades to come, particu- larly in developing countries, where demand for refrigeration is rising sharply. This growth must be sustainable, with limited impact on the envi- ronment, and the Earth’s climate in particular.
2. HOW CAN REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT?
According to IIR estimates, 7.8% of global green- house gas (GHG) emissions are attributed to the refrigeration sector.
The emissions can be divided into two groups: direct emissions and indirect emissions.
Direct emissions of refrigerants occur during maintenance operations or when a refrigeration appliance has reached the end of its lifespan, but they can also be caused by leaks during opera- tion. CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), HCFCs (hydro- chlorofluorocarbons), and HFCs (hydrofluoro- carbons) are the refrigerants which contribute the most to global warming, as evidenced by their high Global Warming Potential (GWP), up to 15,000 times higher than that of an equal mass of carbon dioxide (CO2).
3. HOW CAN WE REDUCE THESE EMISSIONS?
Today, there are many alternatives to high- GWP refrigerants with comparable or superior energy efficiencies that can help reduce direct emissions. Examples include ammonia, CO2, hydrocarbons and HFOs. It should be taken into account, however, that these alternative refrig- erants may present certain disadvantages such as safety hazards (flammability, toxicity), envi- ronmental risks (decomposition products), high
The IIR believes HFCs need to be replaced as soon as possible.
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