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The refrigerant gas the highest global warming potential (GWP) are the HCFCs, the hydrochlorofluorocarbons. These chemicals have warming potentials ranging from 120 to 12,240 and are most often found in refrigeration and cooling systems. This means that one pound of HCFC is equal to 12,240 pounds of CO2.
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| Refrigerant Gases Have High Global Warming Potential |
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The global warming potential (GWP) refers to how much a chemical impacts global warming over a specified period of time in comparison with the same amount of carbon dioxide. Whereas carbon dioxides potential for global warming is 1.0, refrigerants are in the hundreds and sometimes thousands of times more warming potential, which means they stay in the atmosphere longer and can cause greater damage to the Earth’s climate.
A global warming potential value is assigned to all greenhouse gases (GHGs). This number is used by scientists to determine how gases, such as HFC, HCFC, and PFC refrigerants gases, will impact global warming within 20 years, 100 years, and 500 years. Most greenhouses gases stay in the atmosphere longer than 20 years, with many as high as 100 years. Unless action is taken to control carbon emissions and dangerous refrigerant gases, considerable harm will be done to the Earth.
In determining the global warming potential of a substance, three factors are considered. They are the amount of absorption of infrared radiation, the atmospheric location of where absorption takes place, and how long the substance remains in the atmosphere. A substance with a high potential has a greater impact of causing adverse climate change.
To maintain a healthy environment, the lower the global warming potential of a substance or chemical, the better it is. Mostly all refrigerants in use today are greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, which is why regulations are in place to limit their use and eventually phase them out entirely and replace them with alternative substances.
Chemicals with the highest global warming potential are hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), such as those found in refrigeration and cooling systems or HVAC-R equipment. The values for hydrochlorofluorocarbons range from 120 to 12,240 over their atmospheric lifetime. When these numbers are broken down, it takes only one molecule of refrigerant gas to cause harm to the ozone layer.
The refrigerant Trichlorotrifluoroethane (R-113) has one of the highest global warming potential values at 4800, while the refrigerant Dichlorotetrafluoroethane (R-114) has one of the lowest values at 3.9. The alternative SNAP refrigerants being developed by the EPA and various refrigerant gas manufacturers have no impact on global warming and are being used in the production of all types of new refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Because refrigerants used in commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, have a high global warming potential, facilities with this equipment in use are required to follow guidelines set forth by the U.S. Clean Air Act and other international treaties to track their usage of refrigerant gases and submit reports regularly to regulatory authorities.
Although emissions from refrigerants with a high global warming potential are declining due to new regulations, particular concerns still surround instances of refrigerant leaks and systems containing refrigerants that are not maintained properly.
By implementing leak reporting regulations and guidelines for fixing leaks, the U.S. is controlling the problem. The U.S. Clean Air Act is also well underway to phasing out harmful refrigerant gases by 2015 to ensure our environment remains healthy for years to come. It is important that facilities comply with the regulations to avoid substantial penalties, and more importantly, help sustain the future of the environment.
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