There are approximately 64 million domestic refrigerator-freezers
manufactured worldwide each year. The annual growth rate in the
refrigerator sector, especially in rapidly developing countries like
China, India and Indonesia is 15 per cent, while the growth rate in
industrialized countries is 7 per cent. In addition, there are hundreds
of millions of domestic refrigerator units in use worldwide.
Until recently, most domestic refrigerators were manufactured with the
use of ozone depleting substances --CFC-11 in the insulation, and CFC-12
as the refrigerant. In 1990, the combined total of CFC-11 and CFC-12
used in domestic refrigerators was approximately 40,000 metric tonnes.
During 1993/94 the natural refrigerants, hydrocarbons R290 (propane) and
R600a (isobutane), or blends of R290/R600a, have emerged as the major
contenders against the synthetic compound HFC-134a for market
acceptance as refrigerant substitutes to CFC 12. Similarly, another
hydrocarbon, cyclopentane, is successfully competing for market share
against HCFC-141b in insulation foam blowing.
The main benefit of hydrocarbons over their synthetic counterparts is
that they do not deplete the ozone layer, and their global warming
potential is insignificant. Additional advantages are: *
In the spring of 1992 Greenpeace initiated the production of the
world's first 'Greenfreeze' domestic refrigerator, totally free of any
fluorocarbons. Greenfreeze uses hydrocarbons for both the insulation
foam blowing agent and the refrigerant. A mixture of propane (R290) and
isobutane (R60Oa), or isobutane as a pure gas is used for the
refrigerant, and cyclopentane is used as the blowing agent. Hydrocarbons
are flammable but their flammability can be easily mitigated through
adequate safety measures in production and product design. The content
of propane or butane in a domestic 'Greenfreeze' refrigerator equals
roughly the content of two cigarette lighters.
|
In the past two years cyclopentane has emerged as the most promising
zero Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) alternative to CFC-11 as a blowing
agent for rigid i 4ulation foam." ** --United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) |
"Cyclopentane technology is commercially proven and is the most cost
effective of the zero ODS technologies." *** --Ozone Operations Resource Group (OORG) |
The energy efficiency of Greenfreeze refrigerators has proven to be as
good as, or better, than those cooled with CFCs or HFC-134a, and
insulated with foam blown with CFCs or HCFC-141b. For example, the
Bosch-Siemens 1993 Annual Report writes: "A new line of
refrigerators/(freezers) are distinguishing themselves with the thick
'super-insulation' as well as with a specially designed refrigeration
cycle and compressor. With this (technology) an energy saving of up to
50per cent has been realized. The most energy efficient unit, with a
capacity of 360 liters (12.7 cu. ft) unit is complete CFC and HFC free
and has an energy consumption of .10kWh/100 liters. This is the
equivalent of the energy consumption of a 15 Watt light bulb." ***
The efficiency of hydrocarbon refrigerators will continue to improve
with new generations of technology. Electrolux and Zanusso have both
developed a new hydrocarbon compressor that is approximately 40% more
efficient than previous models.
There is a consensus of informed opinion that if energy
efficiency is an important goal, then hydrocarbons such
as propane are the right way to go for small scale
refrigeration." ****
--John Missenden, South Bank
University, UK
Greenfreeze has now become the dominant technology in Europe. Many
models of 'Greenfreeze' refrigerators are now on sale in virtually all
European countries, including Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, Italy,
Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Bekgium, Norway, Czech
Republic, Slowenia, Hungary and Britain. All of the major European
companies, Bosch-Siemens, Electrolux, Liebherr,Miele, Quelle, Vestfrost
, Whirlpool, Bauknecht, Foron, Zanussi, AEG are marketing
Greenfreeze-technology based refrigerators. Over 90per cent of new
fridges sold in Germany now use isobutane as the refrigerant.
Hydrocarbon refrigeration technology has also spread to other
continents.
In Australia, Email began selling their first line of Greenfreeze
refrigerators in early 1995 and will supply all the fridges for the
Sydney 2000 Olympics village with this technology.
This hydrocarbon technology revolution is also spreading to developing
countries. They can least afford the two step phase-out promoted by the
chemical industry.
Three of the four largest factories in China have converted to
hydrocarbon based refrigeration and foam production, in collaboration
with Liebherr or Bosch-Siemens. Funding support for the conversion has
come from the USEPA and German Government, as well as the Montreal
Protocol Multilateral Fund.
India is also taking a keen interest, where an expert on CFC substitutes
has said "We think that hydrocarbons are attractive for India, because
this technology implies minimum changes of the compressor and the
manufacturing process. India already has all the technology to produce
and manage hydrocarbons, which are cheap, and we have the appropriate
lubricants. So, with hydrocarbons we would not be constrained by
technological dependence. The situation would be totally the opposite
with HFC 134a".
Argentina is set to move into hydrocarbon based refrigeration (see case
study).Training programmes for hydrocarbon refrigerants have been set up
in Ghana, Kenya and Pakistan, the advantage being that with relatively
minor adjustments, hydrocarbons can be directly used as drop-in
replacements for CFCs, avoiding the "double conversion" problem posed
by HCFCs and HFCs.
The Dutch organization ECOZONE has been working with the Pakistan
Holland Metal Project (PHMP) in Peshawar on a training course for fridge
technicians in the use of hydrocarbon technology. A local refrigerator
repair workshop charged 10 refrigerators with Fongas (a local name for
Liquid Propane Gas) and monitored the results over 10 months. No
complaints were received from customers and the fridges are still
working well. The company "Quite Cool Engineering" lists costs as (one
twentieth compared to CFCs) and the fact that no technical changes are
necessary, as major advantages of Fongas. The owner, Mr Qureshi, added
that with HFC-134a "....we [would] have to replace the compressor and
the lubricant. That would mean I can close my business, because no
customer will be willing to pay me the cost of repairs of that kind.
They would be better of buying a new fridge." *****
** United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Industry and the Environment: "Cyclopentane : A Blowing Agent for Polyurethane Foams for Insulation in Domestic Refrigerator-Freezers": Information Paper, OzonAction Information Clearinghouse, OzonAction Programme, July 1994: p.1 [return]
*** OORG, Refrigeration Working Group, "Major Recommendations and Outcome of Recent (May 9, 1994) OORG Working Group Meetings", [return]
**** Waide, Paul & Herring Horace, "Refrigerators, Energy, & Climate: Mandatory Energy Efficiency Standards for Domestic Refrigeration Units in the European Union: Analysis of the Draft EU Directive and Alternative Proposals for a Standard", Report commissioned by Greenpeace International, December 1993, p.56 [return]
***** 'gate' No. 2/94, June 1994, p. 29 "Ecozone: Ozone Safe Cooling in Developing Countries", Publisher: GATE Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), GmbH (German Agency for Technical Cooperation), Post Box 5180, D-65726 Eschborn, Germany, Tel: 49 61 9679-0 [return]