“4th Generation”Refrigerants:Mexichem OverviewSIRAC Meeting21st November 2012

CONFIDENTIAL

Outline

• What is “the 4th Generation” of refrigerants?– Candidates

– Development targets

• Mexichem project activity• Future direction

4th Generation – what’s in a name?

• First generation – the pioneering fluids

Ammonia, ethyl chloride, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide…

• Second generation – the CFCs and HCFCs

Developed with “safety in use” as main driver

• Third generation – the HFCs

Developed in response to concern over the ozone depletion

potential of the second generation

• Fourth generation…

Drive to reduce the global warming potential (GWP) of fluids

compared to previous generations

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Low GWP refrigerant development overview

• Need to balance sometimes conflicting requirements

– Toxicology

– Flammability

– Technical suitability for application conditions

• Need to ensure that the carbon footprint of usage is the

focus

- Headline GWP value is not a reliable metric of environmental

impact

- Hydrofluoroolefins “HFOs” are an interesting family with

potential for reduced GWP

HFOs

• Leading candidates are;

R-1234yf (2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene)

CF3-CF=CH2

R-1234ze(E) and (Z) (1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene)

CF3-CH=CHF

R-1233zd(E) and (Z) (1-chloro,3,3,3-trifluoropropene)

CF3-CH=CHCl

R-1243zf (3,3,3-trifluoropropene)

CF3-CH=CH2

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Refrigeration

Air conditioning

Propellant/blowing agent

Solvent

R134a R245fa

R365mfc

R410A

R404A

R407A

R744 (CO2) R-1234ze(Z)

R-1233zd(E)

R-1233zd(Z)

R-1234yf

R-1234ze(E)

R-1243zf

R-717 (NH3)

R-32

Propane

Propene

Mexichem blend development programmeWhy blend?

• Whilst HFOs have very low GWP values (4-8) they have

limited boiling point range

Requirement to blend to reach other application areas

Scope for performance optimisation

• HFOs of current interest are flammable to some extent

Mostly ASHRAE A2L rated

May require blending to provide further reduction in

flammability for certain application areas

Mexichem blend development programme

• Three main classes of refrigerant in development by

Mexichem

– AC series: Medium temperature/pressure (R-134a

alternative)

– LTR series: Low temperature refrigeration (R-407/R-404

alternative)

– HP series: Heat pump (high pressure) fluids (R-410A

alternative)

• …but also

– R-32 (an HFC) also seen as an attractive R-410A alternative

with GWP around one-third of that of R-410A

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Mexichem blend development programme

• Currently major focus on blends using R-1234ze(E)

– Significantly weaker flammability than R-1234yf

– Potential for improved energy efficiency

– Production chemistry already proven on large scale

• ASHRAE A1 (non-flammable) and A2L (marginally

flammable) options within each family of fluids

• Strike appropriate balance between flammability, GWP

and efficiency

Reduced flammability generally associated with increased

GWP

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Future development & Regulation

• European F-Gas proposed HFC cap and phase-down

Whilst HFOs are likely to have a role to play in reducing

carbon emissions from use of refrigerants, there are things

we can, and need, to do now:

R-404A conversion to R-407A

R-32 as a heat pump/air conditioning fluid

• Development of regulation varies throughout the world

with significant uncertainty

GWP and flammability balance with GWP-based regulation?

Some applications require A1 ratings

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Future development

• Many barriers ahead before the next generation can be

clearly identified and commercialised

Large scale production capacity for HFOs does not exist yet

Complicated IP position

Blend proliferation

• Refrigerant development continuing

HFO-based blend and application technology development

through in-house research and participation in industry-

based programmes such as AREP, and industry groups such

as SAE

HFO manufacturing route development

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THANK YOU!

• Contacts:– COMMERCIAL: martyn.cooper@mexichem.com

– TECHNICAL: stuart.corr@mexichem.com

– TECHNICAL: bob.low@mexichem.com