The Environmental Protection Agency approved the refrigerant for transport refrigeration applications earlier this week. Developed by the refrigerant manufacturing industry to reduce environmental impact, R-452A has a global warming potential (GWP) almost half of R 404A, the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant used in most land-based transport refrigeration applications.
David Brondum, Carrier Transicold’s director of product management and sustainability, says R-452A – a near drop-in substitute fr R 404A – offers similar levels of refrigeration performance, fuel efficiency, reliability and refrigerant charge in new equipment. R-452A is a refrigerant blend with a low-GWP hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) as one of its key components.
“Carrier Transicold has extensive experience with R-452A, having first offered it in 2015 to help Europe’s transport refrigeration industry respond to the European Union F Gas Regulation, which is driving down Europe’s use of traditional HFC refrigerants with higher GWPs,” Brondum says, adding extensive work has been done by Carrier Transicold in preparation for a similar transition in the U.S.
Brondum noted that the EPA has not banned R-404A for transport refrigeration applications, enabling refrigerated haulers to choose the option best suited for their operations. This allows for considerations of price and availability, fleet size and maintenance budgets.
“Going forward, fleets may want to consult with their Carrier Transicold dealers to determine which refrigerant solution is appropriate,” he says.
While Carrier Transicold will continue to offer R-404A, it will also provide R-452A as an option for new model Vector and X4 Series trailer refrigeration units, Supra truck units and direct-drive truck units that currently use R 404A. The new refrigerant can also be used as a drop-in replacement for Carrier Transicold units already in service, although certain older models may require component retrofits or software updates, which can be accommodated through Carrier Transicold’s network of authorized dealers.
CO2 refrigerant has a GWP of only 1, roughly 2,000 times better than R 452A and 4,000 times better than R-404A. It is also nonflammable, non-ozone-depleting, globally available and cost effective. Carrier says it has successfully applied CO2 refrigerant in CO2OLtec stationary commercial refrigeration systems widely used throughout Europe, in NaturaLINE container refrigeration systems used by major container shipping lines in support of global commerce, and prototype trailer refrigeration trials with two major European supermarket chains.
