Low-GWP Refrigerant Properties
Properties and characteristics of low-GWP refrigerants including R-32, R-454B, R-1234yf, R-1234ze, and R-290 - comparing GWP values, pressure-temperature relationships, and performance to legacy refrigerants.
- Compare GWP values of low-GWP refrigerants to legacy HFC refrigerants they replace
- Identify the safety classification (A1, A2L, A3) of common low-GWP refrigerants
- Explain how temperature glide affects system design and charging for zeotropic low-GWP blends
- Describe the operating characteristics of R-32, R-454B, R-1234yf, and R-290
Lesson 1
Why the Industry Is Transitioning to Low-GWP Refrigerants
The Problem With High-GWP Refrigerants
Global Warming Potential (GWP) measures how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere relative to carbon dioxide (CO2, which has a GWP of 1). Legacy HFC refrigerants have extremely high GWP values - R-410A has a GWP of 2,088, and R-404A has a GWP of 3,922. When these refrigerants leak into the atmosphere, they contribute significantly to climate change.
The AIM Act and HFC Phasedown
The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, signed in 2020, mandates an 85% phasedown of HFC production and consumption by 2036. This is not a ban on HFCs but a graduated reduction in the total amount produced and imported. The phasedown drives the transition to lower-GWP alternatives.
The AIM Act mandates an 85% phasedown of HFC production by 2036 - technicians must be prepared to work with low-GWP replacements like R-32 (GWP 675), R-454B (GWP 466), and R-290 (GWP 3) that are replacing R-410A and R-404A.