R22 Legislation
After many years of widespread use, R22 is being replaced in line with EC Regulation 2037/2000
Events to date:
- Since July 2002 cooling-only air conditioning equipment using R22 has not been manufactured
- Since January 2004 no more heat pump equipment using R22 has been manufactured
Regulatory requirements still to come:
- After 1st January 2010 no more virgin R22 refrigerant gas can be used in existing systems
- After 1st January 2015 no more recycled R22 refrigerant gas can be used in existing systems
Alternatives to R22
There are presently 3 main alternatives to R22: R407C, R134a and R410A.
R407C is the most similar to R22 in terms of pressure and performance but has an operational temperature span of 5K.
R134A has a lower pressure than R22 and gives good performance as an air conditioning refrigerant. There are modifications required with this gas as a larger displacement compressor is required, and the system has to accommodate larger volume flows.
R410A operates at a significantly higher pressure than R22 and special systems have to be designed for this reason. Benefits of using this gas are superior heat transfer properties, lower pressure drops and a minimal temperature span. Also, because of its higher heat transfer properties the evaporator and condenser can be smaller.
Energy Efficiency
The energy efficiency of systems can be assessed by comparing the kW electrical input against the kW cooling capacity. The ratio of cooling capacity to input power is known as the coefficient of performance (COP). This should be as high as possible.
How we can help
We are fully conversant with the legislation and can help you modify existing systems to accommodate a different gas or can design a new system with you if replacement is not possible. Guidance can be given on using the ECA to help provide tax relief for this spend.
