The air-conditioning industry accelerates the phase-out of R22 refrigerant, how to balance safety and environmental protection

Share

Issue Time: Mar 6,2021

Summary

The air-conditioning industry accelerates the phase-out of R22 refrigerant, how to balance safety and environmental protection

This article comes from Pacific Computer Network

　　 Speaking of air-conditioning refrigerants, I believe that the first thing you think of is Freon, and its properties of destroying the ozone layer of the atmosphere. In order to protect the environment, the air-conditioning industry has been looking for more environmentally friendly refrigerants. In recent years, more environmentally friendly new refrigerants such as R32 and R410A have been gradually popularized. As the once mainstream refrigerant, R22 is safe and easy to use, but it damages the environment. The nature of it is being eliminated at an accelerated pace.

Ministry of Environment lowers quota, countdown to phase-out of R22 refrigerant

　　 On January 26, 2021, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Notice on Issuing 2021 Ozone Depleting Substance Production, Use and Import Quotas." In accordance with the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution”, the “Regulations on the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances” and other relevant regulations, 20 enterprises including Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Co., Ltd. and Shandong Dongyue Chemical Co., Ltd. will be issued in 2021. ) The production quota is 292,795 tons. Now, 46 units including Zhuhai Gree Electric Co., Ltd. and Guangdong Midea Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. have issued 31,726 tons of HCFC quotas for 2021.

Among them, HCFC-22 (that is, R22) is one of the main products for the issuance of production quotas for hydrochlorofluorocarbons. It is understood that the total production quota of HCFC-22 in 2021 is 224,807 tons, which is 364 tons less than the 225,171 tons in 2020. Comparing the production quota of HCFC-22, the total HCFC-22 usage quota of the household air-conditioning industry in 2021 is 31,726 tons, which is a decrease of 3,489 tons from the 35,215 tons in 2020, which is a greater decline. It can be said that the household air-conditioning industry is accelerating the phase-out of R22 refrigerant. According to data, HCFC-22 air-conditioners accounted for about 20% of the household air-conditioning industry in 019. This proportion will continue to decline in 2020. It is reported that China’s household air-conditioning industry It is estimated that 70% of HCFC-22 consumption will be phased out by 2026. The elimination of R22 refrigerant has entered a countdown.

Safety and convenient maintenance are the reasons why consumers prioritize R22 air conditioners

　　 R22 refrigerant will indeed cause irreversible damage to the ozone layer in the atmosphere, and the ozone layer as a barrier to protect humans from the sun's ultraviolet rays is worthy of our protection, so the elimination of R22 refrigerant can be said to be the general trend. But in all fairness, for consumers, R22 refrigerant is indeed a safe, reliable, and convenient refrigerant.

　　 Compared with the two new environmentally friendly refrigerants R32 and R410A, the advantages of R22 refrigerant can actually be said to be quite obvious. The first is R32 refrigerant. It is currently a refrigerant that our country focuses on promoting. R32 refrigerant will not cause damage to the ozone layer, and its global warming coefficient value is also very low. It can be said that this is a fairly environmentally friendly refrigerant. . However, the chemical name of R32 refrigerant is difluoromethane. We know that methane is a combustible gas. That is to say, R32 refrigerant is flammable, and its combustion grade is A2 (it will burn in case of open fire). This shortcoming can be said to be Quite fatal.

Explosions caused by the leakage of R32 refrigerant can be said to occur from time to time. Although the combustion of R32 refrigerant needs to reach a certain value in addition to an open flame, it can be said to be relatively harsh. However, this potential risk has dissuaded many consumers. Moreover, R32 air conditioners have higher requirements for installation. This is relatively unfriendly to many installers who have installed R22 air conditioners for many years. Coupled with its inherent dangers, many air conditioner repairers refuse to maintain R32 air conditioners.

Let's talk about R410A refrigerant, which is a mixed refrigerant composed of R32 (difluoromethane) and R125 (pentafluoroethane) in a ratio of 1:1. As a substitute for R22 refrigerant, R410A has a higher global warming coefficient, but it will not damage the ozone layer like R32. It is relatively environmentally friendly. Of course, the most important thing is that R410A and R22 are both non-flammable. substance.

But because it is a mixed refrigerant, it is not friendly to the subsequent fluorination work. It is necessary to empty the refrigerant and refill it, instead of leaking and adding as much as R32 and R22, so the cost of fluorination is higher. .

　　Compared with this, R22 refrigerant is not only safe, but also convenient for later maintenance, and the refrigeration efficiency is not low. This is why many consumers know that it is not environmentally friendly, but they still give priority to R22 when purchasing.

　　 The side effects of environmental protection should not be borne by consumers

With the increasingly severe form of global warming, R22 refrigerant is destined to be eliminated, and the refrigerant is bound to develop in a more environmentally friendly direction. At present, there is already a more efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerant than R32, called R290, also called propane. The mistake is liquefied petroleum gas. It can be said that, at present, the environmental protection and safety of refrigerants are opposed to each other and cannot be well balanced.

　　In fact, for our younger generation, we have been instilled in the concept of environmental protection since we were young, so we are the ones who support most environmental protection measures. However, environmental protection should not be at the expense of the interests of consumers, and the side effects of environmental protection should not be borne by consumers.

　　 Therefore, it is necessary to let consumers accept R32 air conditioners and dispel their worries about R32 air conditioners. In addition to quality control and after-sales guarantee, major air-conditioning brands must do a good job. The most important thing is to strengthen the training of installers. After all, the air conditioner has the principle of "three-point quality, seven-point installation". Many explosions are actually caused by installation problems.