11.02.2019
Technology and Knowledge
New Refrigerant Regulation to limit climate change
Current status and impact of the F-Gas Regulation
F-gases, PFAS and co. – what changes are coming our way?
Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 (the F-Gas Regulation) on fluorinated greenhouse gases has been in force since 1 January 2015 and repeals Regulation (EC) No. 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases. The current F-Gas Regulation includes, among other things, bans on the use of F-gases and on placing on the market products containing F-gases.
The aim of Regulation No. 517/2014 is to reduce the emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases to around 35 million tons of CO₂ equivalent by 2030 in order to combat climate change.
New F-gases Regulation
You can find all the information about the new F-Gas Regulation 2024 here.
What was agreed in the F-Gas Regulation 2015?
F-gases include almost all refrigerants currently in common use in refrigeration and air conditioning technology. In 2015, it was agreed that some of these refrigerants would be banned outright at certain points in time, while others would become significantly more expensive through a phase-down.
The European Parliament has been trying for years to reduce the greenhouse effect, among other things with the ‘F-gas Regulation’. The reduction in quantity should take place gradually until 2032, when only 14 percent of the average quantity placed on the market between 2009 and 2014 may be placed on the market – and that in a growing refrigeration and air conditioning market.
Firstly, the 2015 F-Gas Regulation has caused a sharp increase in refrigerant prices since 2017. These prices have now stabilised at a moderate level.
Refrigerant solutions and alternatives
In Kampmann heat pumps and chillers, refrigerant is only used in the generator itself, unlike in direct evaporation systems where the refrigerant flows through the pipework from the outside unit to the last internal unit. The amounts used are therefore significantly lower with fewer possible leak points.
Bans on the use of certain F-gases are ensuring an increase in refrigerants with low GWPs (global warming potentials). These are primarily ‘natural’ refrigerants such as CO2 or propane. Propane is characterised by its extremely low GWP value of only 0.02/kg.
Future-proof with R32 refrigerant
The continuing rise in the price per kilogram of refrigerant suggests a trend towards lower fill quantities. Systems with extensive piping networks will become economically difficult to operate in the future. Cold water generators, in which the cooling energy is transferred to a carrier system such as water, are an environmentally friendly alternative.
Kampmann sells all standard models of heat pumps and chillers in the KaClima series with the refrigerant R32. R32 improves efficiency in the refrigeration cycle, enabling the chillers/heat pumps to achieve energy efficiency class A++ or A+++, depending on the model, and ensuring safe operation at outdoor temperatures as low as -25 °C (heating) or -5 °C (cooling).
With the R32 refrigerant, the fill quantities can be reduced by up to 30% compared to R410A. Another advantage is that the larger series devices need to be checked for leaks less frequently. With the smaller series, leak tests are not necessary at all. The devices operate with continuously adjustable EC fans and an inverter compressor with a control range between 20 and 100 per cent. Noise-reduced operation is also possible, e.g. during the night.
Kampmann is already well equipped for the future. In order to anticipate further restrictions in the future, all KaClima units will be gradually converted to the natural refrigerant R290 (propane).
Heat pumps and chillers
Central supply of decentralized (local) and centralized units with environmentally-friendly water-based heating and cooling energy.