PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Fluorinated gases (F-gases), such as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are a family of manmade gases widely used for such industrial applications as air-conditioning systems, industrial refrigeration and fire extinguishers. However, these gases are major contributors to global warming, with emissions increasing by 60% since 1990. Due to their contribution to ozone depletion, the Montreal Protocol mandated the phasing out of second-generation refrigerants. These were replaced by third-generation refrigerants (mainly HFCs), which are energy efficient and non-toxic, while having low flammability and not being harmful to the ozone layer. However, this new generation of refrigerants are potent GHGs, with a GWP of up to 23 000 times greater than that of CO2 and an extensive atmospheric lifetime of up to 50 000 years. Small atmospheric concentrations of these F-gases have a high impact on global temperature and climate change.
To address this problem, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol foresees the phasing out of HFCs. Furthermore, the EU Regulation No 517/2014 on F-gases implemented an EU-wide phasing out of HFCs, with the aim of cutting emissions in the EU by 67% by 2030 compared with 2014 values.
In the EU, the transition towards fourth-generation refrigerants, with low GWPs, is underway. Research has focussed on natural refrigerants (with toxicity and/or flammability problems), HFOs (with energy efficiency problems and risks associated to their flammability), HFCs with lower GWP, and on HFC-HFO blends (with low toxicity and low flammability). However, the current lack of developed technologies to recycle F-gases dramatically affects the refrigeration sector because most F-gases are incinerated, thereby increasing the atmospheric emissions of these gases. Moreover, the by-products of the degradation of F-gases in the atmosphere, HF and TFA, are dissolved in surface water, creating toxicity problems. There is therefore a need not only to reduce the release of F-gases into the atmosphere but also to separate and recycle their components.OBJECTIVES
The main aim of LIFE-4-Fgases is to help improve the sustainability of the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector by developing a concept-based prototype to show the feasibility of efficiently separating value-added HFCs from high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant mixtures contained in end-of-life refrigeration equipment. The separated substances can then be used in the formulation of novel environmentally-friendly refrigerant mixtures with low-GWP, thus minimising the impact of the RAC sector on climate change. The project will create and optimise an innovative Hybrid Adsorption and Membrane System (HAMSYS) installation for selectively recycling HFC blends, which can be applied to an industrial waste management facility.
The project goals are in line with Regulation (EU) no 517/2014 and the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment on fluorinated greenhouse gases. It also contributes to EU legislation on promoting the selective recycling of F-gases and reducing GHGs emissions.RESULTS
Expected results:
- Reduced GHG emissions as a result of the reduction of the amount of depleted F-gases sent to incineration and the volume of F-gases released into the atmosphere;
- Decrease GHG emissions generated by incineration (0.77-1.00 kg CO2/kg of studied refrigerant blend);
- Decrease in the release of HFC emissions (675, 3 170 and 1 300 kg CO2-eq/kg of R32, R125 and R134a, respectively);
- Lower use of resources due to a reduction in the production of virgin HFCs; and
- Demonstration of the cost-effectiveness of the HAMSYS recycling process compared to the conventional incineration, or other recycling processes based on other energy-intensive technologies.
