PFAS used in commercial refrigeration
Commercial refrigeration refers to applications using the refrigeration process to remove heat from a given industrial process. That is why they are a critical for many industries, varying from cold food storage, pharmaceutical production and storage, to manufacturing and chemical processing facilities.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) are widely used F-Gases in Commercial refrigeration, since they are highly energy efficient, and are characterised by low levels of toxicity and flammability. These F-Gases allow the refrigeration cycle, meaning the transfer of heat from one place to another, to work in a safe and energy efficient manner.
When looking into alternatives, it is important to not only look at the level of emissions through leakage into the environment. The largest contribution to climate change over the life-time of a refrigeration system is normally the indirect emissions produced from electricity generation. Therefore, system performance and energy efficiency potentially have a far greater effect than the Global Warming Potential of the refrigerant itself.
HFO refrigerants offer the optimal balance of environmental sustainability, performance, safety and cost, to help meet both new regulations and sustainable business goals.
