MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. — Honeywell announced it will partner with Trane Technologies to accelerate the transition to a next-generation, environmentally preferable refrigerant by field testing Honeywell’s Solstice N41 (R-466A), a nonflammable alternative to R-410A.
Trane will deploy and test Solstice N41 at three customer locations in different parts of the United States as part of a one-year field trial. Trane is currently testing Solstice N41 at the Western Cooling Efficiency Center (WCEC) at the University of California, Davis, to evaluate its performance with a Trane rooftop HVAC unit used in light commercial applications. The trials will test compatibility with new equipment installations and retrofit conversions. Trane will closely monitor power and energy consumption and analyze the refrigerant characteristics to further assess Solstice N41 as a replacement for R-410A.
“As a global climate innovator who is leading the industry transition to next-generation refrigerants, we have invested more than $500 million to identify safe, sustainable options,” said Randy Newton, vice president of engineering at Trane Technologies. “Our continuous testing, research, and development supports new technologies that improve the carbon footprint in support of our customers’ needs and contribute to our Gigaton Challenge. As we evaluate refrigerants to replace R-410A, we seek to balance environmental impact, safety, efficiency, and affordability. We look forward to working with Honeywell to assess the feasibility of Solstice N41 as a safe option for the industry that could enable ease of transition to meet regulatory deadlines and help our customers meet their overall sustainability goals.”
“Honeywell scientists devoted years of research and development to develop a nonflammable product that can replace R-410A in homes and small business as a near drop-in replacement within existing infrastructures, while providing reduced global warming potential coupled with similar energy efficiency,” said Ken West, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Fluorine Products. “Solstice N41 is a great option for both commercial and residential end users. This next step with Trane solidifies our confidence in moving toward industry adoption of R-466A.”
“Our work is increasingly focused on recognizing the far-reaching implications of greenhouse gas emissions on our environment and changing climate,” said Curtis Harrington, senior engineer at U.C. Davis WCEC. “Our research with Trane allows us to provide an objective technology evaluation of Honeywell’s Solstice N41 field performance and provide valuable input on the development of next-generation refrigerants.”
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