For many years, R-22 was the refrigerant of choice for commercial and residential air conditioning and heat pump systems. Supermarket refrigeration systems, industrial centrifugal chillers, and industrial cooling applications also used R-22.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 10,804,918 pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerant was reported as reclaimed by EPA-certified reclaimers in 2016. That total includes 9,409,494 pounds of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 or R-22.
The following remarks were made regarding the “R-22 Conversions Increase as EPA Phaseout Tightens Supply” article, written by Ron Rajecki, published Oct. 9 in The NEWS.
Converting residential air conditioning equipment that uses R-22 to a replacement refrigerant is seen by many contractors and homeowners as a good way to extend the life of the system while removing R-22 from the picture. There are a number of replacement refrigerants to choose from, but with any replacement, it’s important to remember that the refrigerant is only half of the equation.
Diversified Pure Chem has opened a new hub facility in Jacksonville, Florida, to offer small cylinder exchange and refrigerant buyback services. With the Jacksonville addition, Pure Chem now has multiple facilities to service HVACR and industrial businesses throughout the Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami markets.
Of course, reclaimers can only reclaim what contractors and technicians recover, and while the R-22 numbers may never match the hoped-for projections, the industry is already looking to the future and preparing to address new challenges in a post-hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) world that also is likely facing a phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
While contractors are struggling to deal with the dwindling supply and phasedown of R-22, it’s their customers who will ultimately bear the brunt of the cost.
ComStar International Inc. has announced a new refrigerant for ice rink managers to comply with the phaseout of R-22 refrigerant. The company said its replacement refrigerant is for use in flooded liquid overfeed ice rink systems and does not require changing components or oil.