Low GWP refrigerants era has started – Compressor manufacturer experience.

Embraco for many years is present as a one of the more active companies in promoting hermetic compressors for use with natural refrigerants worldwide. Apart of isobutane in household type of appliances, propane is becoming the main option in light commercial plug-in systems as R404A and R134a natural alternative. Recent F-Gas EU regulation as well as similar legislation in other parts of the planet, in order to mitigate climate change, are considering ban of high GWP refrigerants in next few years in majority of categories of commercial refrigeration applications.
Apart of hydrocarbons many alternative synthetic refrigerants are becoming available. Embraco performed a number of activities to assess their capacity to replace high GWP refrigerants presently in use. This paper will summarize present state of art in alternatives testing in A1 class as well as new A2L class refrigerants and will demonstrate clear superiority of natural refrigerants over synthetic options. Focus will be given to reliability aspects rather than to cooling capacity and efficiency. An update of the progress of international legislation related to use of higher charges of flammable products will be presented..