Experimental evaluation of HCFC-22 replacement by the drop-in fluids HFC-422A and HFC-417B for low temperature refrigeration applications

The Regulation CE-1005/2009 has banned the use of virgin HCFC-22 in Europe from the 31st December 2009, because it contains chlorine, although its use is allowed up to the 31st December 2014 if it is recycled. Now, manufacturers are developing different free-chlorine drop-in solutions to replace the HCFC-22 in the existing equipment by non-ozone depleting substances in order to exhaust its remaining life. This work focuses on the experimental evaluation of two HCFC-22 drop-in solutions for low temperature applications, the HFC-422A and the HFC-417B, in a double-stage vapour compression plant driven by a compound compressor in an evaporating temperature range between −31 and −17 °C and in a condensing temperature range between 30 and 48 °C. The experimental results show that there is a reduction in cooling capacity and in COP with regard to the HCFC-22 operation, which is analysed and discussed in the paper.