In a statement the company said that the exemption “further demonstrates the environmental benefits of Solstice zd refrigerant, which has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1 (equal to carbon dioxide), significantly lower than the GWP of traditional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, and an order of magnitude lower than the GWPs of many hydrocarbons.”

“Manufacturers of centrifugal chillers need a refrigerant that offers both outstanding heat transfer performance and superior environmental properties. Solstice zd offers exactly that — it is VOC-exempt, has an ultra-low GWP, and is nonflammable,” said Rajiv Banavali, chief technology officer for Honeywell Fluorine Products.

Honeywell said it now offers Solstice zd as well as Solstice ze refrigerant and Solstice N-13 (a refrigerant blend) as “cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally preferable alternatives to high-GWP refrigerants typically used in centrifugal chillers.”

VOCs are organic compounds that break down quickly in the lower atmosphere and participate in chemical reactions that ultimately create tropospheric (ground-level) ozone, which is an irritant and a major component of smog. The EPA provided the VOC exemption for Solstice zd based on the material’s low photochemical reactivity and negligible contribution to the generation of ground-level ozone.

In addition to Solstice zd refrigerant, Honeywell's family of Solstice-branded products includes gaseous blowing agents, propellants, and solvents based on Honeywell’s hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology that helps customers lower their carbon footprint without sacrificing end-product performance, the company said.

Publication date: 12/9/2013