4 ms·

I haven't studied the new method in detail. But I will say they have an annoyingly poor understanding of the current state of vapor compression system refrigera

I haven't studied the new method in detail. But I will say they have an annoyingly poor understanding of the current state of vapor compression system refrigerants. Because from the technological standpoint this is a solved problem. Domestic refrigeration runs on hydrocarbons (your fridge is likely running on pentane). Supermarket refrigeration runs on CO2. Both of these have proven efficiency, safety and environmental aspects, with millions of units installed. Large commercial refrigeration (slaughterhouse etc.) runs on hydrocarbons or ammonia, the latter is of course toxic, but in a large factory you have adequate procedures to handle that safely. The two biggest challenges wrt. refrigerants today are to ensure that the old and bad solutions are phased out worldwide and not just in the richer countries, and to make sure the same transition happens for heat pumps, where the R1234-variants are being pushed now but are still problematic.

nirolo 4y ago
Just created an account to post exactly this. How such a statement could make it into the article is really baffling. Of the most efficient heatpumps in Europe, most are running on propane, which has negligible GWP ( global warming potential https://hydrocarbons21.com/ipcc-includes-gwps-for-hydrocarbons-in-new-report/ https://hydrocarbons21.com/ipcc-includes-gwps-for-hydrocarbo... ) see for example https://lambda-wp.at/ https://lambda-wp.at/ (only in German, sorry) Also, air conditioners for the private home can run on propane , see https://www.green-cooling-initiative.org/news-media/news/news-detail/2021/11/15/midea-sets-benchmark-for-more-climate-protection-with-first-r290-model-on-the-german-european-market https://www.green-cooling-initiative.org/news-media/news/new...
- stonogo 4y ago
  And here they've demonstrated an approach which uses a material that is zero GWP, non-toxic, non-hazardous, etc. I get that fridge techs are happy with the way things are, but research continues regardless.

nirolo 4y ago

Just created an account to post exactly this. How such a statement could make it into the article is really baffling. Of the most efficient heatpumps in Europe, most are running on propane, which has negligible GWP ( global warming potential https://hydrocarbons21.com/ipcc-includes-gwps-for-hydrocarbons-in-new-report/ https://hydrocarbons21.com/ipcc-includes-gwps-for-hydrocarbo... ) see for example https://lambda-wp.at/ https://lambda-wp.at/ (only in German, sorry) Also, air conditioners for the private home can run on propane , see https://www.green-cooling-initiative.org/news-media/news/news-detail/2021/11/15/midea-sets-benchmark-for-more-climate-protection-with-first-r290-model-on-the-german-european-market https://www.green-cooling-initiative.org/news-media/news/new...

stonogo 4y ago
And here they've demonstrated an approach which uses a material that is zero GWP, non-toxic, non-hazardous, etc. I get that fridge techs are happy with the way things are, but research continues regardless.