![www.lifefront.eu!
BACKGROUND
In 2016 the EC published a report indicating that:
Ø [...standards (at international, European and national level) regarding the use
of flammable refrigerants appear to be an important barrier to the uptake of
climate friendly alternatives to HFCs. ]
In current standards – charge limits are not established on a basis of scientific
assessment, the “worst case” assumptions do not reflect the reality in the field
Source: GIZ Proklima, HEAT GmbH
The limit of 150g in
commercial refrigeration
does not allow to fully
exploit the potential of
energy efficient HFC-
free technology](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifefrontf-gasconsultation-forum-180319092131/85/LIFE-FRONT-project-6-320.jpg)
LIFE FRONT project
- 2. Accelerate America © — All rights reserved! www.lifefront.eu! LIFE FRONT: FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANT OPTIONS FOR NATURAL TECHNOLOGIES 06/03/2018 Klára Skačanová Market Development Manager shecco
- 3. www.lifefront.eu! AGENDA • Project Overview • Objectives • Standards Action Group ”Front” • Current Status • Next Steps
- 5. www.lifefront.eu! PROJECT OVERVIEW Full Title: Flammable Refrigerant Options for Natural Technologies – Improved standards & product design for their safe use (FRONT) Ø Funded under LIFE, the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects throughout the bloc. Ø Submitted under LIFE Climate Action - Climate Change Mitigation 2016 call Ø Structured in 7 Actions (6 Work Packages (WP)) that run in parallel and build on each other DURATION: Ø Start: 15/06/2017 - End: 31/07/2020 Project Partners:
- 6. www.lifefront.eu! BACKGROUND In 2016 the EC published a report indicating that: Ø [...standards (at international, European and national level) regarding the use of flammable refrigerants appear to be an important barrier to the uptake of climate friendly alternatives to HFCs. ] In current standards – charge limits are not established on a basis of scientific assessment, the “worst case” assumptions do not reflect the reality in the field Source: GIZ Proklima, HEAT GmbH The limit of 150g in commercial refrigeration does not allow to fully exploit the potential of energy efficient HFC- free technology
- 7. www.lifefront.eu! OBJECTIVES LIFE FRONT aims to remove barriers posed by standards for flammable refrigerants in HVAC&R. Key objectives: Ø Support the EU and international standardisation process for flammable refrigerants Ø Reduce safety risks from improved system design for air-conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump applications using flammable refrigerants Ø Increase availability of alternatives to replace HFCs Ø Engage in technology capacity-building for EU equipment manufacturers Ø Remove non-technological knowledge barriers Ø Improve Europe’s competitiveness for RACHP equipment using non-fluorinated refrigerant alternatives Ø Support an effective and timely achievement of the EU 2030 climate targets
- 8. www.lifefront.eu! EXPECTED IMPACTS Accumulated climate impact by project end (2020) and by 2023 Ø avoid 378,374 tCO2eq by 2020 and 1,467,338 tCO2eq by 2023 Ø avoid 3,046 tHFC by 2020 and 12,973 tHFC by 2023 Increase new HC market penetration Ø by 17% by 2020 and 50% by 2023 for HPs and plug-in commercial refrigeration Ø by 6% by 2020 and 18% by 2023 for split AC and remote commercial refrigeration units
- 9. www.lifefront.eu! EXPECTED PROJECT OUTPUTS Ø publish 6 public reports / guidelines for draft requirements for standards on flammable refrigerants Ø participate in 20 standardisation meetings (working groups, technical committees) at the EU specific, strategic and international level Ø Conclude a 2.5 years field study on leak hole size and type per application + establish a leakage size and simulation database Ø Create and lead an EU-wide standards action group (“FRONT”) on non- fluorinated flammable refrigerants, gathering 50 experts in the RACHP industry and providing capacity-building and activation of relevant stakeholders Ø Provide 3 leading EU-based manufacturers (AHT, ait, NIBE) with a quantitative risk assessment and prototypes of enhanced product safety features for 5 different units of commercial refrigeration and heat pump models, as demonstration units for other manufacturers to follow Ø reach 20,000 stakeholders worldwide with information on improved requirements for flammable refrigerants
- 10. www.lifefront.eu! STANDARDS ACTION GROUP ”FRONT” LIFE FRONT aims to create the Standards Action Group "FRONT”: Ø a voluntary group of stakeholders interested in the development of EU and international standards on product, environmental or safety requirements for flammable refrigerants The main expectation from participants will be to : Ø join an online working group Ø exchange valuable input vital to crucial stages and deliverables in the project Ø contribute to draft requirements for standards. The action will result in: Ø high replicability and transferability of project results into members’ business activities via dissemination of best-practice methods. A membership of at least 50+ experts is targeted, including international experts to allow for knowledge transfer from other world regions to Europe.
- 11. www.lifefront.eu! PROJECT ACTIONS Literature Review & Market Study: Standards & Technology for Flammable Refrigerants Ø Mapping and analysing the current state of relevant European and international standards Ø Market study mapping available technology and product groups using hydrocarbon refrigerants, their expected future availability, and the impact of standards on such market development Leak analysis, gas concentrations & consequences Ø Field study of types/cause/size of leaks and an online leak hole size & leak simulation database Ø Laboratory study of leak mass flow rates and gas concentration measurements
- 12. www.lifefront.eu! PROJECT ACTIONS Improved product safety design & quantitative risk assessment Ø Re-design of prototype models according to the ”best practice” principles established Ø Risk assessment to identify improvements in risk reduction associated with the implementation of new mitigation measures and sensitivity especially concerning incremental increase in charge sizes Standardisation action & capacity-building Ø Standards Action Group ”Front”, a voluntary group of stakeholders interested in the development of EU and international standards on product, environmental or safety requirements for flammable refrigerants Ø Draft requirements for flammable refrigerant standards
- 13. www.lifefront.eu! CURRENT STATUS Ø The consortium is currently working on a market study. v The goal of the study is to map available technology and product groups using hydrocarbon refrigerants, their expected future availability, and the impact of standards on such market development. ! Ø Basic framework, model and calculation methods for technical components regarding mass flow rates and leak hole size analysis are established Ø A first initial Standards Action Group is being developed from currently interested participants Ø Project partners’ participation to the CEN/CENELEC Working Group for standards was established
- 14. www.lifefront.eu! NEXT STEPS Ø an EU-wide survey has been launched recently to directly exploit the results of the literature review by investigating the impact of current (restrictive) standards on the European RACHP industry and its customers. v Survey responses will be gathered and analysed in the next few months v Interviews will be conducted with market leaders v The literature review and market study should be published as a public report by the end of August 2018. Ø Data for mass flow rates and leak hole size analysis will be gathered. Ø An online leak hole size and leak simulation database will be developed Ø First webinar with the Standards Action Group ”FRONT”, shall be soon organised Ø Standardisation work relevant to hydrocarbons will be followed closely
- 15. THANK YOU!