What is a Natural Refrigerant Anyway?
With regulatory landscapes constantly evolving to align with new environmental policies, the discussion around lower GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants is becoming increasingly prevalent. GWP measures the potential of a gas to contribute to the greenhouse effect, with carbon dioxide (CO₂) serving as the reference point at a value of 1.
Refrigerants are substances capable of evaporating and condensing in a closed cycle, selected based on the temperature range required for heat removal. For instance, water, with its boiling and condensing point at 100°C, serves as an excellent refrigerant for high-temperature applications. Conversely, propane, which boils at -42°C, is suitable for low-temperature cooling applications. Since the 1920s, synthetically produced fluorinated gases, known for their versatile energy storage modes, have been widely used in refrigeration. While these F-Gases offer advantages such as non-flammability and optimal thermophysical properties for residential, commercial, and automotive cooling, they are significant contributors to the greenhouse effect.
Natural vs. Synthetic Refrigerants
So, what exactly is a natural refrigerant? It is a substance not synthesized in a laboratory. Natural gases like propane, butane, ethane, and their isomers, extracted from oil wells as value-added byproducts of LPG extraction, can be used in refrigeration cycles. These are considered natural refrigerants because they exist in nature and require minimal modification—except for the addition of system lubricants—before integration into chiller or HVAC systems.
Why, then, did we rely on fluorinated gases if natural refrigerants were available? While natural refrigerants are environmentally friendly, they pose challenges such as flammability, requiring designated spaces, high-pressure cycles, and specialized, often costly, parts, leading to larger equipment footprints compared to their synthetic counterparts.
The Future of Thermal Controls
As the shift towards natural refrigerants continues, the future of thermal controls is focused on innovation and sustainability, enhancing efficiency while reducing environmental impact. The integration of IoT and smart technology is transforming thermal control systems by enabling real-time monitoring and adjustments, which optimize energy use and allow for predictive maintenance to reduce downtime. Advances in refrigerant technology are also making strides toward lowering GWP without sacrificing performance, creating more sustainable cooling solutions. Additionally, the shift toward energy-efficient systems includes the incorporation of renewable energy sources like solar power, reducing reliance on traditional power and lowering carbon footprints. Future thermal control solutions will also be more customizable and modular, allowing for scalability and adaptation to meet evolving industry needs and technological advancements.
LAUDA and Natural Refrigerants
Does LAUDA work with natural refrigerants? Absolutely! LAUDA has been utilizing natural refrigerants for decades. Our commitment to sustainability is evident in our Versafreeze and Eco units, which incorporate natural refrigerants globally and in select products in North America. We are actively developing and launching multiple unit variations to support users in regions impacted by F-gas bans, like California and the CARB regulations effective January 1, 2024. Historically, such regulations initiated in California often expand to other states, as seen with the CARB rules for tailpipe emissions now adopted by states like Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and, to a lesser extent, Maine, Delaware, and Nevada.
LAUDA currently offers both compression-free chiller systems—utilizing Peltier technology for small-scale and semiconductor cooling/heating—and compressor-based systems featuring natural refrigerants and HFOs (hydrofluoroolefins) with lower GWP, promoting environmental sustainability.
Share Your Insights
We invite you to join the conversation about refrigerants and regulations. Consider the following questions and reflect on how your company approaches these important issues:
- Does your company have a policy regarding refrigerant gases and environmental impact?
- If yes, what is your company’s stance on HFC, HFO, hydrocarbon, and/or CO₂ solutions?
- Does your company currently engage in processes exceeding 2,000L in volume? If not, are there plans to scale up in the future?
If you’d like to share your insights or discuss further, please reach out to us through our contact page. We’d love to hear from you and learn about your experiences and strategies in navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.
This post was authored by Christopher Sebastiano, Southeast Sales Manager at LAUDA-Brinkmann.