Lead Performer: Arkema Inc. – King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Partner: Trane U.S. Inc — La Crosse, Wisconsin
DOE Total Funding: $597,943
Cost Share: $157,849
Project Term: September 2017 – September 2019
Funding Type: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2017 (DE-FOA-0001632)
Project Objective
Certain refrigerants are flammable, causing significant safety concerns in their application, and require associated safety measures for manufacturers and end users. Arkema and its partner, Trane U.S. Inc, are working to develop and validate new low-cost, low-toxicity additives for A2L refrigerants to reduce flammability and lower global warming potential (GWP). This proposed refrigerant formulation would be more difficult to ignite, minimizing the probability and severity of any events and lessening existing safety concerns. The project aims to increase the lower flammability limit, and reduce the burning velocity and minimum ignition of R-32 and R-1234yf blends.
The existing safety concerns surrounding flammable refrigerants for commercial and residential uses have limited the widespread adoption of low-GWP, but flammable, refrigerants. An increase in acceptable refrigerant charge would allow manufacturers to provide more product offerings with lower GWP.
Project Impact
This project will develop a refrigerant with reduced flammability by using flame inhibition additives. The product will also help to reduce storage and transportation costs.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Antonio Bouza
Lead Performer: Laurent Abbas, Arkema Inc.