International. The Sporlan division of controls and component maker Parker Hannifin has given the go-ahead to R466A, Honeywell's low-GWP, non-flammable refrigerant that will replace R410A.
Marked by Honeywell as Solstice N41, the R466A has a GWP of 733 and is designed to replace the R410A in stationary air conditioning systems.
"We have completed material selection and extensive testing to optimize components for Solstice N41 applications in our evaluation of this refrigerant," revealed Dustin Searcy, marketing manager for the Sporlan Division. "These components have been found to optimize the efficiency, capacity and reliability of the HVAC system with Solstice N41. The benefits of Solstice N41 make it an attractive option for R410A replacement."
The refrigerant has already undergone successful testing with Chinese air conditioning manufacturer Midea and Toshiba Carrier described it as "promising" in testing. Last month, Chinese component manufacturer Sanhua claimed to have made "significant progress" in qualifying tests of critical components of the air conditioning system.
R466A is a mixture of R32 and R125, as in R410A, and includes a third component, the fire-suppressing trifluoroyodomethane (CF3I).
While not a direct replacement, the R466A is said to require minimal system design changes for OEMs looking to adopt the new refrigerant. It is currently the only refrigerant with lower GWP that could be suitable for use in larger VRF systems.
"The Solstice N41 has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it can meet industry challenges and comply with regulations as a safe, energy-efficient and environmentally preferable alternative to R410A," said Chris LaPietra, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Stationary Refrigerants. "Our partnership with Parker demonstrates the readiness of components with this refrigerant as we transition later this year."
Honeywell insists the new refrigerant will be commercially available before the end of the year.
