Compared to R-404A, Opteon® XP40 has 65 percent lower Global Warming Potential and improved energy efficiency
Photo: DuPont
In a pilot project in July 2014, the medium temperature (MT) refrigeration rack (six Bitzer screw compressors) of an R-404A/CO2 hybrid system in a supermarket in Milan was converted to Opteon® XP40 (R-449A) from DuPont.
Nuremberg/Germany, 14 October 2014. In a pilot project in July 2014, engineers from the Italian service contractor CREA SpA, Milan, converted the medium temperature (MT) refrigeration rack of an R-404A/CO2 hybrid system in a supermarket in Milan to Opteon® XP40 (R-449A) from DuPont. In comparison with R-404A, this new refrigerant with its GWP value of 1397 has distinctly lower global warming potential and is part of the company’s ever growing range of low GWP refrigerants. It can replace R-404A and R-507A which are currently widely used in commercial and industrial medium and low temperature direct expansion systems, both in new equipment and for retrofitting existing Systems.
The MT refrigeration compressor pack of the R-404A/CO2 hybrid system consists of six Bitzer screw compressors with electronic expansion valves covering 73 cabinets and 7 cold stores. In preparation for the retrofit the data for Opteon® XP40 was input into the control software. The retrofit commenced after the store was closed on a Saturday evening and was completed well before opening on the Sunday morning. Once the original refrigerant charge of R-404A had been removed from the MT system, the filter dryer was replaced, as is usual during servicing. The system was then evacuated, subjected to leak testing and filled with Opteon® XP40. The conversion went entirely smoothly. Claudio Bresolin, co-owner of Crea SpA commented: “The system set up was very easy for Opteon® XP40 with new coefficients entered via PC as the installation uses electronic expansion valves and the Danfoss ADAP-KOOL®1 System. No further components had to be replaced nor was an oil change required. Measurements before and after the retrofit have shown that this refrigerant has a distinctly higher energy efficiency than the previously used R-404A.“
As Franco Bresolin, co-owner of Crea SpA commented: “Our customer was very pleased with the conversion to Opteon® XP40 which was completely straightforward and did not result in any disruption to trading. The system performed without problem following retrofit and system operation was very stable. Refrigeration capacity remained unchanged. Discharge temperatures are well within the tolerances of the Bitzer screw compressors even on the hottest days.” In the light of this positive experience with Opteon® XP40, there are plans to convert a further number of supermarket systems in the near future.
Opteon® XP40 is an ozone-friendly, hydrofluoroolefin-based refrigerant with a low global warming potential. It has a balanced combination of advantageous properties and is suitable as a replacement for R-404A/R-507A in refrigeration systems with displacement compressors and direct expansion for commercial and industrial refrigeration and deep-freezing applications. Having an approximately 65 percent lower GWP than R-404A/R-507A, it complies with the requirements of the new European F-Gas-Regulation No. 517/2014 which comes into force from 1 January 2015. Over a period of 15 years, this regulation will gradually reduce the number of tonnes of CO2 equivalents available on the market. This will result in a reduction of around 80 percent by 2030 and will prohibit the use for service of HFCs with a GWP greater than 2500 in most applications from 1 January 2020.
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Contact:
DuPont de Nemours (Deutschland) GmbH
Horst Ulrich Reimer
Hugenottenalle 173-175, 63263 Neu-Isenburg/Germany
Public Relations Manager Europe, Middle East, Africa
Performance Chemicals & Fluoroproducts
Tel.: +49 (0) 6102 18-1297
horst-ulrich.reimer@dupont.com
