• Chemours Opteon Refrigerants Receive Expanded EPA Approval

    July 21, 2017
    Chemours' newest low-global warming potential refrigerants have been listed by the EPA SNAP program as acceptable for use.

    July 21, 2017 — The Chemours Company announced today that the U.S. EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program has listed low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants Opteon™ XP44 (R-452A), Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A), and Opteon™ XP10 (R-513A) as acceptable for use. The U.S. EPA SNAP program supports the transition away from ozone-depleting compounds.

    Opteon™ XP44 (R-452A) is now listed as acceptable for use in new and retrofit equipment for refrigerated transport (refrigerated trucks and trailers) and remote condensing units used in retail food refrigeration. Opteon™ XP44 has GWP approximately 50% lower than R-404A and was specifically designed for applications where low compressor discharge temperatures are required. XP44 provides the closest discharge temperature match to R-404A, which makes it an ideal replacement for applications such as transport refrigeration and hermetic compressor systems, especially in low temperature conditions. Many leading global equipment manufacturers have made public announcements regarding their approval, adoption, and use of Opteon™XP44 (R-452A) as a low GWP replacement for R-404A.

    In addition to the new listing of Opteon™ XP44, the approval of Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) has expanded to include use in new and retrofit cold storage warehouse and industrial process refrigeration equipment. The EPA previously had listed XP40 as an acceptable refrigerant in several commercial and retail food refrigeration applications. Opteon™ XP40 provides equipment owners and contractors with an excellent solution to replace R-22 or R-404A in retrofits or new equipment, with up to 12% improvement in energy efficiency and a 67% lower GWP than R-404A. Opteon™ XP40 has been tested and approved by major equipment manufacturers and is being widely used in thousands of systems globally. Its optimal balance of properties, particularly its non-flammability, energy efficiency, and design compatibility to R-22 and R- 404A equipment, gives Opteon™ XP40 a distinct advantage over other low GWP options.

    The acceptable use of Opteon™ XP10 (R-513A) has been expanded to include use in new and retrofit residential dehumidifiers. Opteon™ XP10 is already acceptable for use in numerous applications, including chiller and retail food refrigeration applications. As an azeotropic, non-flammable replacement for HFC-134a, Opteon™ XP10, offers a 55% reduction in GWP compared to HFC-134a, while also maintaining comparable properties and performance. This optimal combination of properties, particularly its non-flammability and design compatibility to R-134a equipment, gives Opteon™ XP10 a distinct advantage over other refrigerant options. Several major global chiller manufacturers have announced equipment designed for Opteon™ XP10, and leading OEMs and retailers in the commercial refrigeration space have approved and begun to adopt XP10 as well, sources report.