Fluorocarbons have long been used as refrigerant in air conditioning equipment, including control panel cooling unit. Although the name "Freon" is widely used, it is a common name derived from a Japanese trademark. In law, the term "fluorocarbon" is used.
refrigerant transition
CFC
Chlorofluorocarbons (compounds of carbon, fluorine, and chlorine)
Research into chemical substances as an alternative refrigerant to ammonia was advanced, and CFCs were successfully developed in 1928. The problem of ozone layer depletion became apparent after the 1980s, and CFCs were identified as the causative substance (due to the confirmation of the expansion of the ozone hole over Antarctica).
1987: Regulations adopted through the Montreal Protocol.
<Total abolition> Developed countries 1996, Developing countries 2010
CO2
Carbon dioxide (natural refrigerant)
Although it is known as a greenhouse gas, its global global warming potential (GWP: "1") is much smaller than that of HFCs, making it extremely environment friendly and highly safety (non-toxic and non-flammable), and it is increasingly being adopted as an alternative refrigerant to fluorocarbons. CO2, which exists in nature, is a natural refrigerant that can be purified through the natural circulation cycle, making it extremely advantageous from environment perspective.
HFO
Hydrofluoroolefin (a compound of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon)
Developed as a new alternative refrigerant to HFCs, it has a low global global warming potential (GWP: < 1), is non-toxic, and is mildly flammable. It is beginning to be widely adopted, including as refrigerant for automobile air conditioners.
HCFC
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (compounds of hydrogen, carbon, fluorine, and chlorine)
It was developed as a new refrigerant in response to the ozone layer depletion problem caused by CFCs. It was used because it decomposes easily in the troposphere and has a low ozone depletion potential (1/20 of CFCs). However, because it still has a small amount of ozone depletion capacity, its use was reduced or even phased out due to environment concerns.
1992: Consumption limits are adopted under the Montreal Protocol (amended).
1999: Production volume restrictions are adopted under the Montreal Protocol (amended).
<Total elimination: planned> Developed countries: 2020 Developing countries: 2030
HFC
Hydrofluorocarbons (compounds of hydrogen, carbon, and fluorine)
It was introduced as a substitute for CFCs and HCFCs, ozone-depleting fluorocarbon gases.
⇒ Ozone depletion potential "0 (zero)"
Although the ozone layer protection has been solved, another issue is the high greenhouse effect that affects global warming (GWP: hundreds to thousands).
1997: The Kyoto Protocol adopts a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
2015: The Paris Agreement establishes an international framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 onwards.
2016: HFCs are added to the list of substances covered by the Montreal Protocol under the Kigali Amendment.
