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    Preparing for the HFC Phase Down

    May 27, 2021
    Any business operating refrigeration equipment will benefit from HFO refrigerants that will serve as in-field replacements for high GWP HFCs in existing refrigeration systems.

    The rules governing the use of high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) based refrigerants are changing with the recent passing of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act), a rule that promotes the orderly phase down of HFCs over the next 15 years, reducing the consumption and production of HFCs to 15% of the base line period by 2036. It is important for anyone involved in the cold chain to begin evaluating next generation refrigerant options for both new and retrofit applications. End users in the past have specified products such as R22, R-404A, R-507, R-134a, R-407A,  and R-407C; however,  these products, as well as others, will be under scrutiny while the U.S works through the transition to lower GWP next generation refrigerant solutions.

    As the phase down progresses, the price of high GWP HFC products may increase, and as we approach the latter years of the phase down, availability of products may also be a cause for concern. The good news is that effective solutions exist today to address the phase down and ensure that your systems remain operational. Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs)—a family of, high-performance refrigerants—were developed specifically to address the regulatory challenges facing the industry today and tomorrow.

    Any business operating refrigeration equipment will benefit from HFO refrigerants that will serve as in-field replacements for high GWP HFCs in existing refrigeration systems. This ease of conversion means that you can minimize downtime and extend the usable life of your current equipment, reducing capital expenditures.

    For businesses that depend on refrigerated assets, the long-term availability of HCFC and HFC refrigerants should be a call to action. Future availability of legacy refrigerants is not guaranteed, and businesses should plan now by exploring the cost and benefit profiles of suitable retrofit and new installation solutions.

    By converting to these next-generation solutions now, you can ensure that your existing equipment will continue to function safely and efficiently well into the future, while reducing the impact to both greenhouse gas emissions and your bottom line.

    Brandon Marshall is North American Marketing Manager, Thermal & Specialized Solutions at Chemours.

    Andrew Pansulla is Technical Service Engineer, Thermal & Specialized Solutions at Chemours.

    See the sidebar below for supporting product information.

    Low GWP Refrigerant Solutions
    Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) is a nonflammable, low GWP hydrofluorolefin (HFO) blend with a GWP of 1282 (67 percent reduction over R-404A) and is a close performance match to R-404A/507. XP40 offers an ideal solution for retrofit and new systems and is the best choice to replace R-404A/507 for low and medium temperature stationary refrigeration systems. Today, Opteon™ XP40 is being used in a wide variety of different applications including supermarkets, convenience stores, ice rinks, ice makers, and cold storage warehouses.

    HFO and HFO blends such as Opteon™ XP10 (R-513A) and Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) were developed to provide cost effective and efficient solutions to comply with local and international standards. The benefits of these refrigerants do not end at compliance as they can also improve energy efficiency and system performance. 

    Opteon™ XP10 (R-513A) is a nonflammable, low GWP HFO blend with a GWP of 573 (56 percent reduction over R-134a). XP10 has an excellent capacity and efficiency match to R-134a and can be used as a suitable replacement for R-134a in many new or retrofit applications including commercial and industrial refrigeration, water chillers, air conditioning, and heat pumps.


    		Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A)       Opteon™ XP10 (R-513A)
    Relative Capacity (1)0.99       1.04
    Relative Efficiency (1)1.05       0.98
    Normal Boiling Point (2)-50.2F       -21.2F
    GWP (AR5)1282       573
    ASHRAE Safety ClassA1       A1

    (1) R-449A capacity/efficiency is relative to R-404A and R-513A capacity/efficiency is relative to R-134a

    (2) Normal boiling point is the coldest refrigerant temperature that can be achieved with a positive suction pressure at sea level.

    Both products have been approved by major component and equipment manufacturers and are available for sale in the U.S. today.     


    Legacy Refrigerant     Recommended for Retrofits
    R-404A, R-22, R-402A, R-507, R-407, R-408A     Opteon XP40 (Refrigerant R-449A)
    R-134a, R-401B, R-401A, R-409A     Opteon XP10 (Refrigerant R-513A)

    The team at Chemours is here to help, with engineering insight and regulatory guidance to assist your business in planning for the future.   

    Opteon™ refrigerants from Chemours were specifically developed to meet the changing global regulatory landscape while maintaining or improving performance compared to the products they replace.

    Low-GWP Opteon™ XP refrigerants are suitable for use in new equipment and system retrofits. Learn more about Opteon™ HFO refrigerants at opteon.com.