Global chemistry company Chemours has announced that the U.S. EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program has listed low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants Opteon XP44 (R-452A), Opteon XP40 (R-449A), and Opteon XP10 (R-513A) as acceptable for use. The U.S. EPA SNAP program supports the transition away from ozone-depleting compounds.
OpteonXP44 (R-452A) is now listed as acceptable for use in new and retrofit equipment for refrigerated transport and remote condensing units used in retail food refrigeration. Opteon XP44 has a GWP approximately 50 percent lower than R-404A and was specifically designed for applications where low compressor discharge temperatures are required. XP44 provides the closest discharge temperature match to R-404A, which makes it an ideal replacement for applications such as transport refrigeration and hermetic compressor systems, especially in low temperature conditions. Many leading global equipment manufacturers have made public announcements regarding their approval, adoption, and use of Opteon XP44 (R-452A) as a low GWP replacement for R-404A.
In addition to the new listing of Opteon XP44, the approval of Opteon XP40 (R-449A) has expanded to include use in new and retrofit cold storage warehouse and industrial process refrigeration equipment. The EPA previously had listed XP40 as an acceptable refrigerant in several commercial and retail food refrigeration applications. Opteon XP40 provides equipment owners and contractors with an excellent solution to replace R-22 or R-404A in retrofits or new equipment, with up to 12 percent improvement in energy efficiency and a 67 percent lower GWP than R-404A. Opteon XP40 has been tested and approved by major equipment manufacturers and is being widely used in thousands of systems globally. Its optimal balance of properties, particularly its non-flammability, energy efficiency, and design compatibility to R-22 and R-404A equipment, gives Opteon XP40 a distinct advantage over other low GWP options.
Finally, the acceptable use of Opteon XP10 (R-513A) has been expanded to include use in new and retrofit residential dehumidifiers. Opteon XP10 is already acceptable for use in numerous applications, including chiller and retail food refrigeration applications. As an azeotropic, non-flammable replacement for HFC-134a, Opteon XP10, offers a 55 percent reduction in GWP compared to HFC-134a, while also maintaining comparable properties and performance. This optimal combination of properties, particularly its non-flammability and design compatibility to R-134a equipment, gives Opteon XP10 a distinct advantage over other refrigerant options. Several major global chiller manufacturers have announced equipment designed for Opteon XP10, and leading OEMs and retailers in the commercial refrigeration space have approved and begun to adopt XP10 as well.
Diego Boeri, vice president of Chemours Fluorochemicals, commented: “Our customers require us to be on the cutting edge of new technology so that they can meet the evolving challenges they face. These new EPA SNAP listings ensure that low GWP refrigerants by Chemours are available for applications our customers need.”
The Opteon portfolio of fluorochemicals from Chemours represents a breakthrough line of low GWP solutions. They were developed to help meet increasingly stringent global regulations while generally maintaining or improving performance compared to the products they replace. As the leading supplier of more environmentally sustainable refrigerants, Chemours continues to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to develop this portfolio of new products and additional capacity, as the need for low GWP solutions grows throughout the world.