Compressed air specialist reduces global warming potential

Kaeser Compressors has announced that all its refrigerant dryers will use the non-ozone depleting R-513A refrigerant by the end of 2019. Shifting to the climate-friendly refrigerant will assist compressed air users in futureproofing their systems as Australia transitions to low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants as part of the Australian hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) phase-down.

R513A is a low-GWP hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant blend used as a replacement for R134a in medium- and high-temperature refrigeration applications. It is suitable in new systems and for retrofit of existing systems.

The national HFC phase-down, introduced by the Australian federal government, commenced in January 2018 as part of Australia’s international commitment to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which sets a quota on the import of specified high-GWP refrigerants. The phase-down will significantly reduce high-GWP refrigerants in Australia by gradually reducing the import quota from 100% in 2018 to 15% by the end of 2036.

Nearly every compressed air station uses refrigeration dryers, which are required to deliver a dependable supply of quality dried compressed air. When planning the purchase of a new dryer, consideration should be given to make sure that the unit uses a refrigerant that will be easy and cost-effective to source for future service work. Some manufacturers use materials that are legal today, but that will eventually become prohibited in some countries, or which will simply no longer be offered due to their high GWP. Kaeser is aware of this issue and is taking preventive countermeasures accordingly.

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