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

Koura’s R473A brings lower GWP for ultra-low temps

USA: Refrigerant manufacturer Koura has launched a refrigerant with a significantly lower GWP than existing HFCs currently being used in ultra-low temperature cooling applications.

The new refrigerant has been designated as R473A and proposed as an A1 classification by ASHRAE. To be branded as Klea 473A, Koura says it is designed to achieve high performance in ultra-low temperature cooling applications such as high value cold chains, vaccine storage, climate test chambers, transportation and other medical uses. It is said to be effective to at least -75°C.

The new gas has a GWP of 1830 which, although still relatively high, is significantly lower than the current low temperature refrigerants R23 and R508, with their respective GWPs of 14,800, and 13,396. In addition, R473A is said to offer better capacity and energy efficiency than R23.

Not that R23 is completely eradicated by the new refrigerant. R473A contains 10% R23, but blends this with 60% CO2, 20% of the HFO refrigerant R1132a, and 10% R125.

R1132a, with a GWP of <1 is relatively new to the refrigerant sector but is currently produced in large quantities as a major component in the manufacture of PVDF fluoropolymers.

Game changer

Koura describes the new refrigerant as “a game changing solution” to the ever- increasing demand for ultra-low temperature refrigerants across various industries. The company says it is currently in discussions with relevant stakeholders in a range of applications including deep sea shipping and bio-medical storage. This includes potential application in vaccine storage to support the fight against Covid-19. 

R473A has been designed for new systems but Koura says it is currently evaluating the feasibility of converting existing systems designed for R23 to use it.

“The launch of Klea 473A is an exciting milestone in our next generation refrigerant programme which aims to develop a new portfolio of sustainable, energy efficient, low GWP refrigerant solutions for a variety of heating, cooling and refrigeration applications,” said Koura downstream business director Dave Smith.

Latest News

22nd November 2024

Swegon acquires German AHU manufacturer

SWEDEN/GERMANY: Swedish HVAC manufacturer Swegon has extended its modular air handling unit interests with the acquisition of family-owned German company Howatherm Klimatechnik.
22nd November 2024

Low carbon funding helps school decarbonise

UK: Funding from the Welsh Government has helped a Ruthin secondary school decarbonise their heating by replacing gas boilers with air-source heat pumps.
21st November 2024

Ideal receives £5.2m government funding boost

UK: Heat pump manufacturer Ideal Heating and its hot water cylinder manufacturing sister company Gledhill have received almost £5.2m from the UK government.
21st November 2024

Poland seizes 115 tonnes of F-gas

POLAND: At least 115 tonnes of F-gas are said to have been seized in Poland as part of a European crackdown on the illegal F-gas trade.
21st November 2024

EU crackdown disrupts illegal HFC trade

BELGIUM: A six-month operation to disrupt the illegal trade in refrigerant gases has intercepted more than 400,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent material. 
21st November 2024

UK government boost for heat pumps

UK: The UK government has announced a boost for heat pumps with an extra £30m for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the relaxing of planning application rules.