Natural refrigerant technologies are helping industry leaders to accelerate their transitions to environmentally friendly refrigeration.
Natural refrigerants play a critical role in the global phasedown of legacy hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. As food retailers and foodservice operators set short- and long-term sustainability targets, natural refrigerants are among the few alternatives capable of delivering significant reductions in both direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Offering very low global warming potentials (GWPs) and excellent energy efficiencies, CO2 (or R-744) and propane (R-290) are well-suited for a wide variety of commercial refrigeration equipment strategies.
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Regulatory mandates and corporate sustainability initiatives are driving the transition toward more environmentally friendly refrigerant alternatives. Many of the commonly used hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants used in commercial refrigeration applications have a high global warming potential (GWP). Global, federal and state regulations are actively phasing down the use and production of these high-GWP HFCs.
Natural refrigerants have very low-GWP levels and offer thermodynamic properties well-suited for modern commercial refrigeration applications.
Delivering excellent energy efficiency and performance characteristics in small, self-contained units, R-290 has become a leading natural refrigerant alternative for food retailers, restaurants and convenience stores.
CO2-based refrigeration systems have been successfully deployed in commercial and industrial applications in Europe and North America for nearly two decades.
Delivering excellent energy efficiency and performance characteristics in small, self-contained units, R-290 has become a leading natural refrigerant alternative for food retailers, restaurants and convenience stores.
CO2-based refrigeration systems have been successfully deployed in commercial and industrial applications in Europe and North America for nearly two decades.
Natural Refrigerants FAQs
A natural refrigerant is a substance that occurs naturally or is already present in the Earth’s atmosphere or natural environment. The most common natural refrigerants in use today are refrigerant-grade versions of carbon dioxide (CO2 or refrigerant name R-744), the hydrocarbon propane (R-290) and ammonia (R-717.)
Natural refrigerants have unique properties that require adherence to proper safety protocols in system design, manufacturing and handling. Because CO2 is a high-pressure refrigerant, system piping, valves and equipment must be rated for these pressures and allow for built-in pressure relief. R-290 is flammable and requires equipment to be designed to minimize the potential for ignition potential. Because of its potential toxicity, R-717 leaks must be quickly detected so that building occupants can be evacuated. Modern refrigeration technologies have evolved to ensure equipment safety and enable the use of these refrigerants in designated applications.
Natural refrigerants have evolved to fill very specific niches in commercial and industrial refrigeration applications. CO2 is more common in centralized refrigeration systems, such as CO2 transcritical booster. R-290 is mostly limited to lower charge limits and is typically found in stand-alone, self-contained display cases. R-717 delivers excellent performance in large cold storage and industrial refrigeration applications.
Natural refrigerants have very low-global warming (GWPs) and ozone depletion potentials:
