World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

DuPont’s new HFO could replace R123

8462221_sUSA: DuPont has announced it is to start small scale production of a new low GWP HFO for the foam industry which could ultimately also have applications as a refrigerant.

The chemical company says it has established firm plans to start-up small-scale production this year of HFO1336mzz and is also planning for world-class commercial capacity to meet the long-term needs of polyurethane foam customers for high efficiency, low GWP solutions.

To be marketed as Formacel 1100 foam expansion agent, the new gas is described as a non-flammable liquid at ambient temperature, with a boiling point better suited to polyurethane foam chemistry, processes and equipment. Unlike lower boiling HFC options, Formacel 1100 can be handled like HCFC-141b, eliminating some of the challenges presented by lower boiling points.

More significantly for the refrigeration industry, the Cooling Post has learned that HFO1336mzz is another refrigerant being considered as both a replacement for the HCFC R123 in centrifugal chillers and as a working fluid in high temperature heat pumps.

As a potential refrigerant, it is perhaps better known under DuPont’s development name of DR-2. On top of its low GWP (less than 10), it is estimated to be of similar efficiency to R123 in chiller applications but has a volumetric cooling capacity 21% lower.

Introduced in the early 90s during the CFC phase-out, R123 was seen as an ideal alternative to R11 in centrifugal chiller applications. Hugely efficient, it had a very low ODP and, although not deemed significant at the time, a GWP of around 77. Although widely adopted in the US and elsewhere, it was, however, largely shunned in Europe due to its B1 toxicity after long-term inhalation was found to cause an increased incidence of benign tumours in the liver, pancreas, and testis of rats.

Being an HCFC, however, albeit with a negligible ODP, R123 is ozone depleting and is thus destined for phase-out under the Montreal Protocol.

Although not a drop-in replacement for existing R123 chillers, HFO1336mzz could be considered as an alternative along with R134a, R1234yf, and another DuPont refrigerant DR-11 (a blend of R134a and R1234yf). In addition there is a further HFO foam blowing agent currently under consideration, R1233zd(E), as revealed by the Cooling Post in October.

The COP of HFO1336mzz is said to be 4.6% higher that R134a, 7.2% higher than DR-11 and 9.5% higher than R1234yf.

Announcing the initial production of 1336mzz, Kathryn K. McCord, DuPont Fluorochemicals’ global business director, said “DuPont Fluorochemicals will continue to develop new offerings based on our breakthrough HFO technology and will pursue investments in large-scale and lower-cost production to enable adoption of DuPont™ Formacel 1100.”

Latest News

22nd December 2024

Indoor units for large spaces

UK: Panasonic Jet Air Stream indoor units provide high air volume and long throw distance for large spaces.
21st December 2024

Hoshizaki takes 51% stake in Vietnamese company

JAPAN/VIETNAM: Hoshizaki, the Japanese manufacturer of commercial food and beverage refrigeration equipment, has acquired a majority shareholding in Vietnamese company Asia Refrigeration Industry (ARICO).
20th December 2024

Giles Pratt set to retire

UK: Giles Pratt, sales specialist at Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK, is set to retire after a career spanning 40 years in the UK air conditioning industry.
20th December 2024

Vertiv acquires centrifugal chiller technology

UK: Vertiv has invested in centrifugal chiller technology with the acquisition of certain assets of BiXin Energy Technology (Suzhou) Co (BSE).
20th December 2024

Mitsubishi Electric buys Irish agent

NETHERLANDS/IRELAND: Mitsubishi Electric Europe is to acquire all the shares of its Irish agent – air conditioning installation and maintenance company Crystal Air Holdings Ltd.
20th December 2024

Daikin joins green initiatives agreement

UK: Heat pump manufacturer Daikin has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to support jobs, skills training, warmer homes and more sustainable power.