A2L Refrigerant in Focus at ACCA “Subsequent Degree”

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) introduced the “NEXT LEVEL” 2023 convention in Indianapolis October 16-17. Among the many displays to be featured in coming editions of Contracting Enterprise and on ContractingBusiness.com was a panel dialogue on the ramifications of the swap to mildly flammable, A2L refrigerants, as HFC refrigerants proceed to be phased down over the rest of this decade.

Panelists had been Don Gillis, technical coach for A2L refrigerants, The Chemours Firm; Kate Houghton, vice chairman, gross sales and advertising and marketing for Hudson Applied sciences; and John Maiorana, gross sales and product help supervisor, Arkema.

What is going to A2L-friendly Gear Look Like?

Don Gillis: “I don’t see a giant change coming  internally on these merchandise. I got here from Copeland not too way back, and so far as the inner compressors are involved, you’ll begin seeing issues rated for A2L refrigerants, like instruments will likely be. On a circuit board for instance, you’ll begin to see coded spade terminals; something that would presumably trigger a spark has been thought of. So far as stress temperatures with R454B and R-410A, pressures/temperatures are virtually precise, and it’s the identical POE oil. The contactor will likely be encased.”

John Maiorana: if the A2L content material exceeds a sure poundage of cost, a sensor (a sniffer) will go off if it detects a threshold of a leak. You might technically nonetheless have a really small leak that won’t set off the sensor, however leaks inside the window will set off the sensor, and it’ll go to the motherboard as a sequence of operation. The largest technical change from a R-410A piece of apparatus to an A2L, is that the sensor will likely be positioned inside the air handler. However in some circumstances, a producer will mean you can transfer that sensor inside the coil, relying on if it’s a slant or an air handler or furnace.  We are able to’t see this tools proper now and can in all probability not see this tools in all actuality till the second quarter of 2024.

How Ought to Contractors Strategy the 30% Lower in HFC Manufacturing?

Kate Houghton: “It’s a giant deal. The brand new tools is not going to begin to be put in in direction of the tip of subsequent yr, so we are able to proceed to set up HFC tools  proper by way of in all probability the tip of 2024, whereas there may be 30 % much less HFC due to the discount that’s taking place on January 1, 2024.   [the contractors’] base of put in tools, you can set up a system in June of subsequent yr with a 10-15 yr lifespan, and also you’re nonetheless going to must service it with HFC refrigerant. Perceive that the AIM Act covers all HFCs. It’s not only a discount in R-410A, it can even be a discount in R-134A, R-404A, R-407, all of the assorted HFC refrigerants. It’s not going to be about who has allowances and the way these allowances are used, that’s going to have an effect on the assorted refrigerants in another way. We encourage you to consider reclamation.”

Reclamation Wanted

Kate Houghton: “We hear about how the refrigerant reclamation business has modified lately. We hear contractors are very apprehensive about combined refrigerants. Perhaps you’ve gotten just one cylinder in your van, or possibly you get to a system and also you don’t know who serviced it earlier than you. Was the refrigerant serviced accurately or not? The concern of handing over combined refrigerants has in all probability held again reclamation. Most applications now don’t cost for combined refrigerants, and in reality, many applications pay for combined refrigerants.

“So, in the event you’re being assessed prices below your reclaim program and the accomplice you’re working with I encourage you to go searching, as a result of there are many applications which have eliminated these prices.

“We additionally hear that it’s tough to do reclamation within the subject, and it takes time to arrange the tools. However serious about the methods and tools that was optimized for R-22 just isn’t essentially optimized for R-410A. It’s crucial to be taking a look at your tools and decide how you’re going to go about reclamation and offering coaching on restoration. There are methods to scale back restoration time, and methods to start out restoration earlier than you begin working on all the things else. Each pound of HFC refrigerant may be very, very useful, and is a part of getting your financial worth again, by doing restoration and the fitting issues will likely be crucial to have the ability to service that tools transferring ahead.

Gentle Flammability Defined

Don Gillis: “A2L refrigerant is nearer to an A1 (non-flammable) refrigerant than the rest. It had so low of a flame propagation or gentle flammability that they needed to make a brand new classification and put the “L” behind it. It simply means ‘decrease velocity’. The distinction between an A2L and an A2, fairly truthfully is, if it is lower than 10 centimeters per second, it is non-flammable. If it is extra than 10 centimeters per second, it is flammable. A2 refrigerants are flammable, A3 refrigerants – propane and different hydrocarbons – are extremely flammable. That is actually in a nutshell what it appears to be like like.”

John Maiorana: The Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) makes use of three measurements of flammability: how quick it burns (burn velocity); how a lot it’s essential to burn, which is the bottom flame restrict; after which as soon as it burns how a lot warmth vitality is created, which is crucial. Once we hear the phrase “flammability,” individuals categorize all the things collectively and there’s clearly a distinction. As Don talked about, [A2L refrigerant] had such a minute flammability that they needed to create a brand new class for it.”

“The EPA has allowed hydrocarbons for use at 55 grams or much less in home fridges. Does that imply {that a} home fridge producer has to go in that route? No, however they’ll select to. The place discovering that the majority home fridges will likely be utilizing hydrocarbons, whether or not it be propane, isobutane, or a mix, however you’re not going to be seeing them in window air-con models or packaged models or unitary tools.”

Don Gillis: “One of many greatest misconceptions I’ve seen since I got here on board at Chemours, is about hydrocarbons in A2L refrigerants. It’s blown me away how many individuals are below that perception. There are NO hydrocarbons or propane in A2L refrigerants.”

Is Refrigerant Testing Going to be Required for Technicians?

Don Gillis: “There’s speak of that. If you wish to hear “journeyman Don’s” tackle it, there hasn’t been a license for A3s R-290 because it got here out. You may go to True, ACCA, or Emerson, and take a take a look at, however it’s not acknowledged on the federal or state degree. I consider that earlier than you take a look at an A2L, you’d virtually assume that there can be an A3 refrigerant take a look at in play. And the factor I perceive, when John mentions that it’s the identical R-290 we use in gasoline grills, sure, it’s the identical flammability ranking, however they take away the stench [for refrigeration uses], as a result of when you’ve gotten stench, that causes impurities. In order that’s a special slippery slope for individuals who stroll right into a mechanical room, can’t odor it if it’s leaking, and activate a lightweight swap. It takes rather a lot much less propane within the air to trigger a flame.”

John Maiorana: There isn’t a consensus on if testing will likely be required or not. EPA Part 608 does have questions and terminology relating to flammability, however Sec. 608 just isn’t a security examination, it’s an examination to check environmental consciousness. The OEMs and wholesales aren’t going to require you to take a take a look at to purchase that piece of apparatus that makes use of an A2L refrigerant, however code officers greater than seemingly will.

Don Gillis: “[Any required testing] will come from your native jurisdiction, equivalent to a hearth division. Issues might change if individuals begin to ignore good practices. It boils all the way down to getting again to the fundamentals, what we must always have been already doing and is now, in some circumstances, going to be required. Should you’ve adopted good practices earlier than, you’re going to be alright.”

Will There be a Change in Find out how to Deal with A2L Cylinders?

Kate Houghton: “The cylinder code continues to be being finalized, however there will likely be totally different cylinder markings. There will likely be variations associated to these cylinders by way of stress aid and a burst disc. With any cylinder, it’s essential to deal with it with care and deal with it safely. The valve threads will likely be totally different; they are going to be left-handed, not right-handed. So, you’ll be capable of distinguish an A2L mildly flammable cylinder from a normal cylinder. (Ed. be aware: A2L refrigerant cylinders will even bear a pink marking, equivalent to a band or pink higher part. They will even have a stress launch valve. If the cylinder turns into over-pressurized, the valve will launch an quantity of refrigerant that may cut back the surplus stress.)

One thing else that’s essential: not one of the A2L refrigerants are drop-ins for R-410A. You probably have an current R-410A system, there is no such thing as a drop-in alternative refrigerant. There’s nothing that you would be able to put into that system aside from R-410A.  And when you’ve gotten an R-410 and an A2L cylinder — whether or not or not it’s R-32 or R-454B — you are going to have that separation.

John Maiorana: The Division of Transportation dictates the development of the cylinder, and so they do say you won’t be able to put the A2L cylinders down. The brand new stress valve is the place the burst disc was positioned, possibly nearer to the neck. That may’t and shouldn’t be seeing liquid, as a result of if that had been to activate, all of the liquid would come out.

Don Gillis: Nothing’s modified in regards to the vehicles. There continues to be a most of 440 kilos of pressurized tanks in your truck. That features acetylene [tanks] and the rest that’s extra flammable; and, no air flow [is allowed] in your vans.

You may petition UL for having tanks on their facet. That’s what Chemours did, and that will likely be stamped on the facet of the tank if allowed.

Good observe has all the time been to have the rupture disc or the new aid valve within the 12 o’clock place. The thought is to not have an unintentional rupture. You’re additionally speculated to have a vapor barrier there. Comply with the rules that seem on the field transferring ahead.

Has the Provide of Restoration Cylinders Gone Again to Regular?

Kate Hougton: The provision of 30- and 50-pound restoration cylinders was very, very tight. I’d typically hear from contractors that they can’t do recoveries as a result of they couldn’t get cylinders or swap cylinders. The business has moved previous that. Restoration cylinders are available.

Temperatures in Arizona or Comparable Climates Can Trigger Van Temperatures to Attain as Excessive as 160 levels. Is that going to be a difficulty with the A2L cylinders?

Don Gillis: With A2L refrigerants, particularly R-454B, it’s going to be set at a a lot greater stress, about 600 psi or so. The temperature threshold, is roughly 160 levels Fahrenheit. However the cylinder will launch [excess] stress. Should you haven’t had a rupture disc pop on  you earlier than, you’re in all probability not going to have a difficulty right here. [The pressure relief valve] is simply one other security step.”