As the industry braces itself to meet demands from users still reliant on HCFCs in the run up to the ban, Eaton-Williams Service (EWS) is warning that at current reclaim rates there will not be sufficient quantities of recycled refrigerants available to meet maintenance demands between now and the total phase out in January 2015.

 

Eaton-Williams is also advising customers that although there are alternative “drop-in” refrigerants available, care needs to be taken choosing the right one for their application and what is ok for an air conditioning system may not suit a refrigeration application.  “Many users will be under the impression that ‘drop-ins’ are an instant solution and don’t realise that they cannot simply ‘drop’ in an alternative refrigerant on top of the old one. The system will, as an absolute minimum, need to be thoroughly purged of all traces of R22 and the oil replaced with a compatible alternative,” warns Ray Paice, EWS National Sales Manager. “Users need to consider the best option for them,” says Ray. “For example, it may be better to replace an existing piece of plant if significant energy savings can be made, rather than incur the costs of upgrading existing plant and using a drop-in.” It has to be noted that there may be a drop in performance of some systems that are retrofitted with a drop in refrigerants. sers can use Virgin HCFCs up to the end of 2009 and recycled HCFCs up to 2015 allowing them time to decide what is best for them. Recycled HCFCs are likely to become increasingly difficult to obtain and their cost will increase significantly.

 

The British Refrigeration Association (BRA) says only 200 tonnes of R22 were reclaimed last year (just 12% of the current demand). Unless users have built up their own bank of refrigerant, they may find using recycled HCFCs is not really an option. With 2010 just around the corner, those users who have not got a strategy in place to deal with the phase out of HCFCs need to start planning now as a matter of urgency. According to the company’s press release, EWS is well placed to help users decide the best solution for them and to implement the plan with minimal disruption to the business. And the initial consultation is free.