ShareUS: EPA expands the use of 4 hydrocarbons and R32
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently authorised the use of four hydrocarbon refrigerants and R32 in various applications.
Recently, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorised the use of four hydrocarbon refrigerants and R32 in various applications:
- ethane (R170) in very low temperature refrigeration and non-mechanical heat transfer;
- isobutane (R600a) in retail food refrigeration (stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers) and in vending machines;
- propane (R290) in household refrigerators, freezers or combination refrigerators and freezers, vending machines and room air conditioning units;
- R441A (hydrocarbon blend) in retail food refrigeration (stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers), vending machines and room air conditioning units;
- R32 in room air conditioning units.
In addition to approving these climate-friendly alternatives, the EPA is also exempting all of these substances, except R32, from the Clean Air Act venting prohibition.
The regulation is expected to pave the way for a wider adoption of hydrocarbons across the US for these end uses, especially once the other SNAP proposal, currently pending approval, will be finalised.
This proposal prohibits the use of certain high-GWP refrigerants (incl. R134a) in certain applications by 2016, such as retail refrigeration and vending machines (see IIR Newsletter No. 60).
- ethane (R170) in very low temperature refrigeration and non-mechanical heat transfer;
- isobutane (R600a) in retail food refrigeration (stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers) and in vending machines;
- propane (R290) in household refrigerators, freezers or combination refrigerators and freezers, vending machines and room air conditioning units;
- R441A (hydrocarbon blend) in retail food refrigeration (stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers), vending machines and room air conditioning units;
- R32 in room air conditioning units.
In addition to approving these climate-friendly alternatives, the EPA is also exempting all of these substances, except R32, from the Clean Air Act venting prohibition.
The regulation is expected to pave the way for a wider adoption of hydrocarbons across the US for these end uses, especially once the other SNAP proposal, currently pending approval, will be finalised.
This proposal prohibits the use of certain high-GWP refrigerants (incl. R134a) in certain applications by 2016, such as retail refrigeration and vending machines (see IIR Newsletter No. 60).