Global Update

NEW SUCCESSOR TO R410A?

ASHRAE has given Honeywell’s new stationary air conditioning refrigerant R466A (also known as Solstice N41) the official designation A1 – non-toxic and non-flammable.

The classification could be a key factor for manufacturers deciding which refrigerant to use in their systems in the medium-term. As a result of the HFC phase-down and the transition to refrigerants with a lower GWP, many manufacturers have already switched from R410A (with a GWP of 2,088) to R32 (675). In Australia, more than half of all small air conditioners imported now contain R32.

However, R32 is classified as A2L – mildly flammable – making it unsuitable for units with larger charge sizes, such as VRF units. R466A may be seen as a more favourable option, given its A1 classification and its ability to be used in a wider range of systems. Its GWP of 733 is comparable to R32. ■

INDIA

PRIZE FINALISTS

The eight finalists of the Global Cooling Prize have been selected. The international innovation competition aims to promote the development of super-efficient and climate-friendly residential cooling solutions for homes.

The finalist teams are led by some of the world’s largest AC manufacturers, including Gree, Daikin, and Godrej and Boyce; start-ups and corporations, including S&S Design Startup Solution, Transaera, M2 Thermal Solutions, and Kraton Corporation; and Barocal, a new spin-out from a University of Cambridge lab.

The eight teams selected pitched a wide range of technologies, including smart hybrid designs of vapour-compression, evaporative cooling, and solid-state cooling technologies that use little or no refrigerants.

HOLY HFC PHASE-DOWN

Late last year Rome hosted the 31st Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol – the international convention for protecting the ozone layer. And Pope Francis took the opportunity to announce that the Vatican is supporting the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFCs.

“It is important that the Kigali Amendment quickly gain universal approval on the part of the whole family of nations, as has happened with the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol,” said Pope Francis.

“The continued acceleration of changes affecting humanity and our planet, coupled today with a more intense pace of life and work, should constantly urge us to ask whether the goals of this progress are truly directed to the common good and to a sustainable and integral human development, or whether they cause harm to our world and to the quality of life of much of humanity, now and in the future.” ■

INDONESIA

GO WITH THE FLOE

As climate change attracts more and more attention, expect to see crazier (and sometimes downright scary) attempts at fixing the problem with technology.

One of the latest concepts comes from Indonesia, and it has impressed the Association of Siamese Architects enough to win second prize in their recent design competition. The idea? A submarine that makes icebergs to replenish the melting polar icecaps.

At this stage the proposal is light on technical detail. The video simply says: “The temperature in the polar region is indeed enough to freeze fresh water, but is accelerated by using a giant freezing machine.”