Refrigerant Blends may offer alternative to R-134a.
Press Release Summary:
Research released by SAE provides further evidence that Mexichem Fluor's refrigerant blends AC5 and AC6 could offer EU regulation compliant alternatives to R-134a in automotive air conditioning. Conducted by Co-operative Research Programme, administered by SAE International, and sponsored by a number of major car manufacturers, research shows that AC6 has an even greater margin of safety than R-1234yf based on its reduced flammability characteristics.
Original Press Release:
AC5 and AC6: More Information Available
Research released this week by the SAE, provides further evidence that Mexichem Fluor’s refrigerant blends AC5 and AC6 could be excellent EU regulation compliant alternative refrigerants to R-134a in automotive air conditioning.
Conducted by a Co-operative Research Programme (CRP), administered by SAE International and sponsored by a number of major car manufacturers, the research shows that AC6 has an even greater margin of safety than R-1234yf based on its reduced flammability characteristics.
In recent years CRP-1234 has extensively studied the single refrigerant fluid R-1234yf but the latest CRP (MRB CRP) has focussed on the characteristics and performance of blended refrigerants AC5 and AC6.
Bob Low, Research Fellow, Mexichem Fluor said:
“In response to the European Mobile Air Conditioning Directive (MAC) car manufacturers have supported research into alternatives to 134a with a lower global warming potential.
Based on this work Mexichem Fluor believes that AC6 could be an excellent solution as it delivers comparable environmental benefits to alternative options and higher margins of safety.”
To date, CRP MRB has found that in contrast to both AC5 and R-1234yf, AC6 is non-flammable at room temperature, only becoming flammable above 50°C and requiring higher surface temperatures than R-1234yf before ignition.
While detailed risk assessments show that both AC5 and R-1234yf have similar safety in-use, the superior flammability characteristics of AC6 mean that it has an even greater margin of safety.
About Mexichem UK Ltd
Mexichem Fluor, as part of the Mexichem Group, is a global chemical business supplying fluorine-based products, technologies and services to a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, automotive, speciality polymers, refrigeration and air-conditioning.
Mexichem’s products include fluorspar from the world's largest fluorspar mine, hydrofluoric acid, aluminium trifluoride, HFC refrigerants and medical HFC propellants.
Please see http://www.mexichemfluor.com/ for further information.
The MAC Directive
Under EU Directive 2006/40/EC[1] (“the MAC Directive”) there are controls on the use of air conditioning fluids with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of more than 150 in mobile air conditioning.
R134a, with a GWP of around 1400, is universally used around the world as the non-flammable refrigerant fluid for car and other vehicle air conditioning systems. Automotive air conditioning represents the single largest use of this chemical which is manufactured and sold by companies in Europe, including Mexichem Fluor.
The MAC Directive bans the use of R134a for all new ‘type approvals’ from January 2011 and for all new vehicles from January 2017.
The Co-operative Research Programme (MAC Refrigerant Blends)
The CRP MRB Press Release can be found at: http://www.sae.org/servlets/pressRoom?OBJECT_TYPE=PressReleases&PAGE=showRelease&RELEASE_ID=2177
Cooperative research projects (CRPs), were formed under the rules of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to look at various fluids that could provide an alternative to R134a. These CRPs looked at CO2 and at range of fluorinated fluids.
Cooperative Research Programmes (CRPs), provide a valuable mechanism for evaluation of the performance and safety characteristics of potential alternative refrigerants.
Results from the first two phases of MRB CRP on topics ranging from materials compatibility through in-car efficiency have been presented at the SAE Alternative Refrigerants and System Efficiency symposia and the third and final phase is expected to complete in October 2013.
A detailed and quantified risk assessment using the Fault Tree Analysis methodology is nearing completion and will be reported on completion of MRB CRP.
Sponsors of the MRB CRP include; Behr, Bosch, Chrysler, Cinetic Filling, Daimler, Denso, Doowon, General Motors, Halla Visteon Climate Control, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Mexichem, Nissan, PSA, Renault, SAIC Motors, Sanden, Schrader International, Texa and Volvo Cars.
