R424A gas is an HFC refrigerant that has been used (drop-in retrofit) to replace the HCFC refrigerant R22, which was an extremely useful refrigerant gas for many air-conditioning and cooling purposes in both consumer and industrial applications.
R22 was first introduced in the 1950s. – However, in 2010 legal restrictions were placed on its production and import, but its use for servicing will be permitted until 2020.
High GWP, low ODP
R424A gas is one of the HFC refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbons, fluorinated gases) that pose no threat to the ozone layer (ODP = 0) but have a high global warming potential. The GWP value of R424A is 2,440.
The use of refrigerants with a GWP > 2,500 for servicing will be prohibited from 1 January 2020 for the servicing and / or maintenance of refrigeration equipment with a charge size of at least 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Thanks to its GWP below 2,500, R424A is not among the banned refrigerants.
Banned refrigerants can no longer be added to systems from 1 January 2020. However, the use of reclaimed or recycled fluorinated gases for servicing will be permitted until 31 December 2029 (Article 13 of the Regulation). Reclamation refers to the processing of used refrigerant at a treatment facility so that it is almost equal to its original quality.
R424A gas applications and use
R424A has been used as a drop-in refrigerant to replace R22 in retail refrigeration systems and air-conditioning systems.
Alternative refrigerants to R424A gas
Replacement or alternative refrigerants are: R422D, R427A, R434A, R437A, R438A
