HONEYWELL announced today that it has received a patent from the European Patent Office covering the use of its new low global-warming refrigerant, HFO-1234yf, in automobile air conditioning.
Honeywell worked jointly with DuPont to commercialize Hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO)-1234yf, for use in automotive air conditioning in response to the EU’s Mobile Air Conditioning Directive, which requires that all new vehicles produced starting in 2011 use a refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) below 150. Current mobile ac systems use R134a, a refrigerant with a GWP of 1,300. HFO-1234yf has a GWP of only 4.

“We are pleased that the European Patent Office has recognized Honeywell’s right to patent the use of HFO-1234yf as an environmentally preferable refrigerant for automotive air conditioning,” said David Diggs, global business director for Honeywell Fluorine Products.

“Honeywell has made significant investments to develop our intellectual property, and we will employ the legal means necessary to protect this important patent.”

Honeywell has filed more than 70 unique patent families worldwide. This includes two US patents related to the use of HFO-1234yf in air-conditioning systems. For more details on HFO-1234yf, visit www.1234facts.com