The Chemours Company has announced that its Opteon XL55 refrigerant has passed a major milestone towards commercialisation by completing the flammability and toxicology review required by ANSI/ASHRAE.
XL55 was given a preliminary ASHRAE number of R-452B and was recommended for an A2L safety classification. Final approval and assignment of the ASHRAE classification is expected in June 2016.
Opteon XL55 helps deliver an optimal balance of performance, safety and design compatibility to replace R-410A in air conditioning, chiller and heat pump applications. Chemours says that XL55 is a non-ozone-depleting refrigerant, with a global warming potential 65 per cent lower than R-410A and lower flammability properties compared with other R-410A replacements. In addition to combining low GWP with high efficiency and low flammability, Opteon XL55 matches R-410A capacity, making it compatible with R-410A equipment. This, combined with lower compressor discharge temperature than R-410A alternatives such as R-32, will help enable equipment manufacturers to transition their R-410A equipment platform to XL55 with minimal re-design and capital expenditure.
Joseph Martinko, global business manager, Opteon products, said: “The preliminary ASHRAE classification of Opteon XL55 is an exciting next step toward providing the industry with a safe and sustainable low GWP replacement for R-410A. Successful completion of the flammability and toxicology testing review means that Opteon XL55 commercialisation for the HVAC market is now on the horizon.”
Chemours initially unveiled Opteon XL55 at the 2015 International Congress of Refrigeration show in Yokohama, Japan. This involved Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort and process solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand. At the show, Trane exhibited the first air-cooled demonstration chiller, AquaTrine, designed for use with Opteon XL55. Trane expects high performance HVAC systems to be available with next generation refrigerants like Opteon XL55 within the next 12 months, pending regulatory approval and product commercialisation.
Chemours’ Opteon fluorochemicals were developed to help meet increasing global HFC regulations while maintaining or improving performance compared to incumbent products. Chemours has invested millions of dollars to bring these new products to market and says it will continue to invest in new products and additional capacity as the need for low GWP solutions grows worldwide.