European Commission's HFC Regulation Proposal

[Argus]

For those who are watching the EC's continuing efforts to regulate refrigerants in the EC, a new proposal was published in August.
The link will take you to the text in the OJ.
Note the leakage regulations in Article 3, Recovery in Article 4 and the limits on vehicle use in Article 9.


Best regards


http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/...3_0492en01.pdf
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[baker]

Very interesting. I don't understand why the cost of changing from R134a to HC would be as high as it is. I can understand that CO2 will be expensive due to the high pressures involved, but HCs can use cheaper and easier to handle oils.

[Argus]

Which part were you looking at in particular?
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[baker]

In Section 6.4 Page 20 they say:

Depending on the technical solution chosen by the car manufacturer the
increase in production costs is estimated to range between €15 and €40 if HFC-152a were
used as the refrigerant, between €30 and €50 per vehicle if hydrocarbons were used as the
refrigerant, and €40 and €150 if carbon dioxide were used as the alternative refrigerant.

[Argus]

I'm not in the mobile a/c line of business, but from my limited knowledge of the subject it would appear that CO2 in cars is still in the experimental stage, certainly some way off mass production.

The hazard for any new refrigerant is what happens in an impact, especially as the systems are engine driven and located in the front of the vehicle.

Whilst HC, appearing to offer a solution, comes with its own hazards. Not the least is the flammability issue (I know that the fuel is flammable but everyone knows that and it is not in contact with the interior of the car).

I suspect that secondary systems may be envisaged, but I will defer to others with more knowledge.

HCs in car a/c are, I believe, banned in other countries?

In any case the thrust of the regulation will still be emission controls of HFCs and the cost analyses tend not to influence the argument when it goes to the European Parliament.

The horse trading will come with the co-decision process in the next few months. If past experience is an indication, the so-called 'green' opinions in Europe will attempt to tighten the restrictions further.

It is worth watching this one because the EC is uniquely begining to control, restrict and phase out HFCs. They have already finished HCFCs.
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