Air conditioning systems use refrigerants to do the job of cooling an indoor space. These refrigerants, in the form of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), potentially contribute to climate change, and are currently being phased out of use in the United States. The phaseout approach, which was initially started in 2010, gives manufacturers time to develop ozone-friendly refrigerants as an alternative.
However, the regulatory environment relating to refrigerants is complex and ever-changing. A series of lawsuits has changed the trajectory of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) policies, making future requirements uncertain. For example, the EPA’s Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) Rule 20, which listed various HFC refrigerants as unacceptable in certain end-uses in the refrigeration and air conditioning markets, was initiated in 2016 and followed until the U.S. District court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C.) ruled to vacate it in 2020. That ruling, as well as several others, means the future of these regulations remains unclear. As such, some states are implementing their own guidelines, many based on the initial EPA SNAP Rule 20 and 21 guidelines. California, for example, passed the California Cooling Act in September 2018, mandates adoption of SNAP Rules 20 and 21 with provisions. Other states have begun to follow California’s lead and have formed the U.S. Climate Alliance. Eight of the U.S. Climate Alliance states have also adopted SNAP 20/21 regulations, while six others are in the process of adopting them.
Because of the uncertainty of future regulations and the inconsistency between states, manufacturers in the refrigerant industry are continuing to invest in the development of new refrigerants. While companies are developing more environmentally friendly refrigerant options, they’re finding that they must walk a line between environmental stewardship and safe, explosion-proof refrigerants, because many of these alternatives maintain some level of flammability. This volatility has introduced new challenges into their research and development procedures.
Refrigerators and air conditioners use a closed system under pressure to circulate refrigerant and lubricant. Traditional HCFCs are normally non-toxic and non-flammable, and the risk of fire and casualty hazards is minimal. Many new refrigerants, like hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants, present a risk of fire and explosion in the event of a leak. Explosion-proof technologies must now be considered throughout all phases of development.
Explosion-Proof Viscometers Measure Volatile or Potentially Flammable Refrigerants
Viscometers are an important and widely used instrument in the development of air conditioning and compressor systems. They’re used to achieve the right balance between the lubricant and refrigerant. An over-lubricated system won’t cool properly, while a system with too much refrigerant experiences high levels of bearing wear and reduced system life. Cambridge Viscosity's ViscoPro 2100 helps manufacturers manage the relationship between viscosity, temperature, pressure, and solubility to achieve the right balance between lubrication and refrigerant, and subsequently the highest levels of performance and efficiency.
Cambridge Viscosity offers several in-line explosion-proof sensors, which are installed in process fluids to provide continuous temperature and viscosity tracking. This makes them the best option for the refrigerant applications. Correlated to ASTM D7483 or ASTM D445, CVI’s explosion-proof viscometers are available in 13 different 20:1 ranges and offer viscosity measurement from 0.2 to 20,000 centipoise.
