Laird Thermal Systems has launched an initiative to introduce the use of alternative refrigerants in refrigeration-based cooling systems to address global warming and changes in regulatory requirements in the cooling industry. Many years ago, the industry moved away from using flammable, environmentally friendly refrigerants such as R-290 propane in favor of higher performing but ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants. This new development initiative will focus on maximizing operational performance, cooling capacity and the safe use of alternative refrigerants to significantly reduce the Global Warming Potential (GWP) associated with these systems.
Alternative refrigerants have received significant consideration for use as future alternatives due to their performance and environmentally friendly characteristics. These characteristics include zero Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) and near zero GWP. However, these benefits come at the cost of some of these refrigerants being classified as flammable. Due to increasing concerns of global warming and the corresponding increase in regulatory requirement changes, demands for understanding and developing eco-friendly and safe systems using flammable refrigerants continue to rise.
Most refrigerants used today have an ODP of 0 and a GWP ranging from ~500 to ~4000. As a result, the scientists at Laird Thermal Systems undertook an initiative to develop a new approach to using R-290 refrigerant, which has an ODP of 0 and GWP of 3.
“The use of high GWP synthetic refrigerants during the past decades has had significant effects on global warming, which is why we are moving towards using environmentally friendly refrigerants that still safely deliver the desired cooling performance,” says Dr. Sang Muk Kwark, Staff Scientist at Laird Thermal Systems.
Access more information here on alternative refrigerant cooling systems at SEMI-THERM.
