Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - April 2023 - 6

SPONSORED CONTENT
The Inside Story on Chemours
C
hemours, inventors of Freon™ and next-generation Opteon™ solutions, supplies refrigerants for applications including
automotive and stationary air conditioning, industrial cooling, and more. Adam Kimmel, Senior Principal
Technical Consultant, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, discusses the regulatory landscape facing the truck and
off-highway industry, and how R-1234yf helps ensure high-performance, sustainable solutions for the future.
How is the motor vehicle air conditioning
(MVAC) landscape changing for the truck and
off-highway industry?
The industry is experiencing the most significant
refrigerant transition since the 1990s, when
segments ranging from light-duty passenger to
heavy-duty on-road and off-road converged on
R-134a as a replacement for R-12, a chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC), to comply with regulations.
However, while R-134a is a non-ozone depletdeliver
the desired cooling load under all operating
conditions.
Adam Kimmel
ing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), it still has a relatively
high GWP and was included in several global phasedowns.
In 2006, Europe introduced the Mobile Air
Conditioning (MAC) Directive to enforce the use of refrigerants
with a GWP of less than 150. This raised the importance
of companies like Chemours developing a portfolio of refrigerant
solutions with minimal ODP and a low GWP, such as
Opteon™ YF (R-1234yf). The 2020 American Innovation and
Manufacturing (AIM) Act's aggressive HFC phasedown
schedule (85% baseline reduction by 2036) underscores the
importance of developing systems around this refrigerant.
AIM Act scheduled an initial 10% reduction in HFC consumption
and production from Jan. 1, 2022 through 2023, with an
additional 30% reduction to start in 2024.
Between March 2011 and May 2022, the EPA's Significant
New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program listed R1234yf as
" acceptable subject to use conditions " for new passenger
cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles,
heavy-duty pickup trucks, complete heavy-duty vans, and
certain heavy-duty nonroad vehicles.
What are the key differences and similarities between
R-134a and R-1234yf?
R-1234yf is a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO), which has a very
short atmospheric life and offers a zero ODP plus a GWP
of <4 (AR4) compared with R-134a's GWP of 1,430. With
its low-GWP performance, R-1234yf also offers comparable
performance, operating range, low toxicity, energy efficiency,
and thermal capacity to R-134a. R1234yf also has a
higher vapor density, enabling a smaller compressor that
reduces the system's energy consumption.
The major difference between these refrigerants is
that R-134a is nonflammable (ASHRAE Class A1), where
R-1234yf is mildly flammable, designated as an A2L.
R-1234yf is difficult to ignite but prevents it from being a
direct drop-in replacement for existing systems. New
system components must be rated for R-1234yf prior to
use. While there are no new types of components required,
an internal heat exchanger should be included to
6 April 2023
What market influences and trends are fueling
the transition to R-1234yf?
R-1234yf is the preferred R-134a replacement for
new equipment in heavy-duty off-highway vehicles
following the recent SNAP listing. With the
reduction of R-134a production and availability
under the AIM Act, OEMs are staying ahead by
designing equipment for R-1234yf. To meet the
demand, Chemours recently announced a 40% production
capacity expansion at our largest Opteon™ YF facility in
Corpus Christi, TX. Lastly, YF helps businesses achieve sustainability
goals for customers and end users to support their
own growth while remaining compliant to the regulations.
How much experience does the MVAC industry have with
R-1234yf?
Successful use of R-1234yf in light-duty vehicles paved the
way for the truck and off-highway segments. Nearly 30
manufacturers produce passenger vehicles charged with
R-1234yf, representing 90% of R-1234yf cars sold in the
U.S. and nearly 90 million vehicles on U.S. roads. The transition
in the truck and off-highway industry is well underway,
with increases in R-1234yf use from semi-cabin cooling
to heavy-equipment cabs. In the aftermarket, R-1234yf
components and service have been tested and refined in
passenger vehicles, providing a smooth transition when
the need arises for truck and off-highway.
What's next in cabin cooling for truck and off-highway
vehicles?
New original equipment charged with R-1234yf and the
need for maintenance will continue to increase. Light-duty
vehicles offer a strong indication of exponential growth
driven by the environmental benefits, regulatory compliance,
and sector controls. Continued HFC phasedowns and
increases in the manufacture of heavy-duty equipment for
R-1234yf will impact market pricing for both R-134a and
R-1234yf. And the move to EVs in this industry is already
well underway. R1234yf is dominating the growing hybrid
and EV market as the preferred refrigerant for heat pumps.
Moreover, as the industry demands longer driving range and
battery life, R-1234yf based technology will be increasingly
required for its superior thermal management properties.
To learn more about Chemours Opteon™ YF and its use in
the truck and off-highway industry, visit opteon.com/yf.
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

http://info.hotims.com/84502-705

Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - April 2023

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