International. Honeywell unveiled Solstice N41 (provisional R-466A), a non-flammable refrigerant with lower global warming potential (GWP) for use in stationary air conditioning systems.
The company explained that once on the market, Solstice N41 will be the lowest GWP non-flammable R-410A replacement refrigerant available worldwide. The refrigerant received a provisional number and a preliminary A1 designation from ASHRAE, a key milestone needed to bring the product to market.
The innovation comes after years of research and development by Honeywell scientists who set out to address one of the most complicated regulatory and safety challenges facing the HVAC industry. All other alternatives proposed to date as R-410A replacements are flammable and require cumbersome changes to safety standards and building codes.
"What we have invented and developed in Solstice N41 is a breakthrough," said Sanjeev Rastogi, vice president and general manager of fluoride products at Honeywell. "It's an incredibly promising product that's poised to solve a key problem and potentially become the next global breakthrough for refrigerants."
"Solstice N41 offers a unique combination of benefits. With a GWP that is 65% lower than R-410A, it is energy efficient and environmentally preferable," Rastogi said. "In addition, the costs associated with moving to Solstice N41 are less than those required for conversion to a flammable refrigerant. It's the logical economic choice."
In addition, early testing indicates that switching to Solstice N41 would require minimal equipment changes without additional training for installation and repair technicians. Preliminary data indicates that the refrigerant can allow OEMs to easily convert from R-410A.
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