The Chemours Company announcedthat MEHITS, part of Mitsubishi Electric Group, has selected low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants Opteon XL41 (R-454B) for their multi-scroll platform and Opteon XP10 (R-513A) for their screw and centrifugal oil free platform, produced in Europe. This is part of an environmental initiative to provide efficient, sustainable, and long-term solutions to the chiller and heat pump markets ahead of the next 2021 European F-gas cap phase down and will be implemented starting in 2019.
MEHITS selected Opteon XL41 (R-454B), an A2L class refrigerant, because it offers the lowest GWP replacement solution, at a GWP of only 466, for R-410A. OpteonXL41 also reduces CO2 emissions by almost 80% when compared to R-410A,while providing improved energy efficiency, similar capacity, and excellent design compatibility. When compared to other alternative candidates for large fixed speed units, chillers, and heat pumps, adoption of Opteon allows a smoother transition and the extensive operating envelope makes its use in heat pump applications simpler to manage. The selection of Opteon XL represents the commitment by both MEHITS and Chemours to support the safe and proper transition of A2L class refrigerants in Europe.
Additionally, Opteon XP10 (R-513A) is a non-flammable A1 azeotropic refrigerant alternative to R-134a with a GWP of only 631, making it an ideal replacement for MEHITS at 50% less GWP when compared to R-134a.
“We are proud that MEHITS chose Chemours and Opteon XL41 and XP10 for their chillers and heat pumps. This collaboration will help the chiller and heat pump industry move towards more environmentally sustainable refrigerant solutions while meeting long-term regulatory requirements and delivering consistent performance”, said Diego Boeri, vice president of Chemours Fluorochemicals.
Opteon low GWP HFO refrigerants are a portfolio of sustainable and versatile refrigerants that meet the long-term needs of the refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump, and chiller markets. They have been developed to address increasingly stringent global regulations while maintaining or improving performance compared to the products they replace, as well as encouraging more sustainable refrigerant choices and equipment designs to reduce the carbon footprint of the HVACR industry. Specifically, in Europe, the very low GWP Opteon XL refrigerant portfolio supports the market transitions required by the F-Gas Regulation and enables customers to select their optimal solution – considering performance, safety, sustainability and total cost of ownership.
