- Email: [email protected]
Chlorofluorocarbons and the environment
Chlorofluorocarbons and the environment E. O. Kenna
Les chlorofluorocarbones et I'environnement Une r#glementation plus stricte de rutilisation des
chlorofluorocarbones aura des effets importants sur rindustrie du froid. On #tudie ceux-ci et /'on examine des produits de remplacement possibles pour les chlorofluorocarbones.
Stricter regulations of the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) will have important effects on the refrigeration
industry. These are discussed and possible substitutes for the CFCs considered.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US has proposed stricter regulation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). These regulations and their possible impact will be discussed.
that this is not the case. Regardless of the real significance of fluorocarbon emissions, the amount that can be attributed to air conditioning and refrigeration equipment is very small. With specific reference to R 1 1 and R 12, less than 3% of total world emission can be traced to non-automotive cooling. If there is a problem, we as an industry contribute very little to it.
An Alliance for responsible CFC policy has been formed. This is a coalition of about 400 companies Which either manufacture or use CFCs. The Alliance believes, that in the absence of any international consensus on the science of the ozone depletion hypothesis, there should be no further regulation of this benign chemical family. It represents the public's interest in trying to ensure that the substantial risks and costs of CFC regulation do not outweigh the perceived benefits. Our society today w o u l d find it difficult to function w i t h o u t the benefits of air conditioning and refrigeration. We need only observe the 1 980 summer's intense heat wave which occurred in the US to fully appreciate the importance of comfort cooling. Many large office buildings in the US w o u l d be uninhabitable for a good part of the year w i t h o u t air conditioning. Many industrial processes depend upon refrigeration. Transport and storage of frozen and perishable foods would cease w i t h o u t mechanical refrigeration based upon CFC refrigerants. Computer installations demand air conditioning, as do hospitals. The list is apparently endless. There is considerable uncertainty about the seriousness of the ozone depletion problem in relation to CFCs. When a key industry such as air conditioning and refrigeration is to be regulated, it is imperative that the evidence used as a basis for regulation be incontrovertible. The industry suggests The author is former President,Carrier Corporation. PO Box 4808, Syracuse, NY 13221, USA. This is an edited version of a paper presented at the ASHRAE semi-annualmeeting in Chicago in January 1981, and is reprinted with permission. Paper received February 1981.
Volume 4 Num~ro 4 Juillet 1981
The US uses only a third of the world's CFCs and only three nations besides the US have even banned CFCs as aerosol propellants. None has plans to limit non-aerosol uses. The atmosphere does not respect geographical boundaries..Just as ash from M o u n t St Helens continues to circle the globe, CFCs are added to the atmosphere by countries other than the US. The EPA says as much in the advance notice of proposed rulemaking which outlines these CFC controls: "As is evident.., no single nation accounts for a large enough portion of world use or production to be able unilaterally to control ozone depletion. Even the US, which presently represents about one third of the world market, can have only a small impact on limiting ozone depletion when acting alone.' The EPA hopes its actions in capping CFC production and later reducing production will demonstrate to other nations that the US is convinced of the seriousness of the threat to the earth's ozone layer, even though the theory has yet to be proven. They hope this will move other nations to limit their CFC production as well. Such a diplomatic signal would, we believe, have little effect on the stratospheric ozone levels but a striking effect on the refrigeration industry and consumer. One effect of any such legislation may be to encourage foreign manufacturers to increase their production rather than reduce it, to replace some of the US export business. If refrigeration and air conditioning are essential, then manufacturers must have free access at a 01 4 0 - 7 0 0 7 / 8 1 / 0 4 0 1 7 9 - 0 3 5 2 . 0 0 © 1981 IPC Business Press Ltd and IIR
179
reasonable price to the CFCs that keep equipment running. In essence, the EPA regulations would restrict free access to CFCs. This, in turn, would have the effect of increasing their price. With increased prices, the EPA hopes that CFC users would be forced to seek alternative refrigerants. However, there are no alternative, safe, energy-efficient, low-cost refrigerants. The refrigerants we depend upon today are the result of 40 years of research and development. They offer us safety, energy efficiency, reliability and a relatively low cost. There are, of course, other refrigerants. Ammonia, sulphur dioxide, methyl chloride, propane, butane etc. but every one of these has a major drawback such as toxicity, corrosiveness, or flammability. None possesses all the attributes of CFCs. Other refrigerants which are not flammable or toxic, such as water or carbon dioxide, are thermodynamically inefficient. In an age of energy conservation, inefficient refrigerants cannot be tolerated. There have been suggestions that R 22 could be used more extensively in most centrifugal water chillers since it has less capacity for reacti.on with ozone. But certain refrigerants are only suitable for certain applications. Substitution of R 22 in most centrifugal chillers would necessitate a near total redesign of product lines. Heat exchanger surfaces would have to be greatly increased. Operating speeds and pressures would increase as well. This would dictate much closer tolerances and a near total re-tooling, being very costly to manufacturers of large equipment. A 1977 report prepared by Carrier Corporation showed that, up to that time. US manufacturers had produced approximately 67000 centrifugal chillers. Based on a 25-year life-span, more than 60000 of these machines are still in service. Most of them use R 11 and R 12. They could not be modified to accept R 22. Because of their long life-spans, it will be many years before the industry is called upon to replace them. But the machines would be of little value if the refrigerant to service them were not available at a reasonable cost. It is easy to say that if the price of CFC refrigerants were to increase, the marketplace would force manufacturers and users to change refrigerants. But that argument carries little validity when the lack of substitutes and the very real barriers to change are considered. So far, discussion has centred mainly on how such regulation would affect manufacturers. Seventy percent of the 760000 employees in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry are participants in small business. It is the small businessman, who sells and services these devices, who will be hurt the most.
188
One of the control strategies being considered is the auction of CFC use permits. Such auctions would have little effect on the large companies in this industry, The resources needed to obtain the necessary CFCs are available, although increased costs would probably be passed on to the consumer. However. the small businessman in competition with the large companies would have little chance of securing the refrigerant needed to continue his business. It is questionable whether or not an intensive costbenefit analysis has been conducted, tt is an analysis which needs to be prepared in an exhaustive and unbiased manner. Once such an analysis is prepared, it will be obvious that the threats of CFC limitation far outweigh the possible benefits. Reclamation and recycling of CFC refrigerants is also mentioned in the proposed EPA regulations. It is a topic which has already been discussed at some length by our industry. The Carrier Corporation has already introduced some new techniques to reduce emissions during manufacture and testing of new equipment. Others in the industry have also done so. Emissions can also be reduced through design techniques like leak-tight, reseatable relief valves instead of rupture discs, or improvements in gasketed, threaded, soldered and welded joints. These would take time to develop and would add up to $1000 to the price of each large machine. The largest decrease in emissions could be achieved through improved service techniques. However. this would require each service business to purchase several thousand dollars worth of equipment. In a small business with several branches. the investment would be prohibitive. It would also add several hundred dollars to the cost of each service call on larger equipment, because of the time involved. ARI's comments on the proposed regulations include a report which outlines the economic impact on small businesses should the recapture and disposal of CFCs be required. They are considerable. It would add an estimated $23 700 fixed annual overhead to the average service contractor's costs and would add 48.7% to each service call which already is being billed at $24-$35 an hour. Anything that raises expenses this much not only jeopardizes small business but would encourage machine owners to defer regular preventive maintenance, perhaps resulting in major failures. It is not easy to recover or recycle a refrigerant. Contamination by oil, water, grease, or dust is easy and if reintroduced into the machine, the consequences are reduced performance, lifespan and more service problems. Emissions from manufacturing and field service could conceivably be reduced almost to zero, but would this be cost-effective?
International Journal of Refrigeration
A recent study by Carrier Corporation showed that improved designs to eliminate leaks and improved service to eliminate emissions would still result in only a fraction of a percentage point reduction of world emissions, but at great cost. Our industry is doing what it can to contain refrigerants. It is a valuable commodity that is intended to stay inside machines and not be released to the atmosphere.
conservation goals are likely to be compromised should CFC production be capped. CFCs are also used as industrial degreasers. They are not flammable, their toxicity is low, they are stable and effective. CFCs are used in many other areas, from medicine to food freezing.
Conclusions
The effects of such CFC regulation on the air conditioning and refrigeration industry have been discussed. But the Alliance represents other industries including industries which would be placed in competition with us should CFC supplies be capped. Many CFCs are used as blowing agents in the manufacture of both flexible and rigid foams. These rigid foams provide packaging materials and energy-saving residential and commercial insulation. CFCs, when used as aerosol propellants were convenient but not essential, and substitutes were easily found. But CFCs impart special physical properties to these rigid foams which give them their high insulation values. Again, national energy
The wisdom of performing a regulatory experiment on an industry as important as ours is highly dubious, but it is likely to happen unless we can convince our elected representatives that such regulation would do far more economic and social harm than good. The desire to regulate must be more carefully weighed against the known risks to safety, health, our energy goals and our economy associated with CFC shortages or the use of currently available substitutes. Our customers, our elected representatives, should know how CFC restrictions would affect the nation. The Alliance is working to get that message across.
secondedition
THE ENERGYMANAGE HAND
'
K GordonPayne
A revised and updated edition of this highly regarded book which provides practical and systematic ways of reducing energy costs in industry and commerce. Comments on the first edition (1977) included: "With this book the erstwhile novice should be able to take the first steps in energy conservation with a feeling that he knows what has to be done, and why... even the expert will find this book useful." Energy World "Experienced consultants, university departments and other energy advisers will find the handbook a useful basis for management schemes and training programmes."
Applied Mechanics Reviews "(The) comprehensive checklists provide an excellent basis for effective action." EnergyDigest December 1980 168 pages/illustrated/£ 10.00 (cased)/£7.50 (paper)
Westbury House is the books imprint of IPC Science and Technology PressLimited A member of IPC Business Press Lid
PC)Box 63 Westbury HouseBuryStreetGuildford Surrey England GU2 5BH Telenhone: 0483 31251 Telex:859550 Scitec G
Volume 4 Number 4 July 1981
181
Les chlorofluorocarbones et I'environnement Une r#glementation plus stricte de rutilisation des
chlorofluorocarbones aura des effets importants sur rindustrie du froid. On #tudie ceux-ci et /'on examine des produits de remplacement possibles pour les chlorofluorocarbones.
Stricter regulations of the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) will have important effects on the refrigeration
industry. These are discussed and possible substitutes for the CFCs considered.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US has proposed stricter regulation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). These regulations and their possible impact will be discussed.
that this is not the case. Regardless of the real significance of fluorocarbon emissions, the amount that can be attributed to air conditioning and refrigeration equipment is very small. With specific reference to R 1 1 and R 12, less than 3% of total world emission can be traced to non-automotive cooling. If there is a problem, we as an industry contribute very little to it.
An Alliance for responsible CFC policy has been formed. This is a coalition of about 400 companies Which either manufacture or use CFCs. The Alliance believes, that in the absence of any international consensus on the science of the ozone depletion hypothesis, there should be no further regulation of this benign chemical family. It represents the public's interest in trying to ensure that the substantial risks and costs of CFC regulation do not outweigh the perceived benefits. Our society today w o u l d find it difficult to function w i t h o u t the benefits of air conditioning and refrigeration. We need only observe the 1 980 summer's intense heat wave which occurred in the US to fully appreciate the importance of comfort cooling. Many large office buildings in the US w o u l d be uninhabitable for a good part of the year w i t h o u t air conditioning. Many industrial processes depend upon refrigeration. Transport and storage of frozen and perishable foods would cease w i t h o u t mechanical refrigeration based upon CFC refrigerants. Computer installations demand air conditioning, as do hospitals. The list is apparently endless. There is considerable uncertainty about the seriousness of the ozone depletion problem in relation to CFCs. When a key industry such as air conditioning and refrigeration is to be regulated, it is imperative that the evidence used as a basis for regulation be incontrovertible. The industry suggests The author is former President,Carrier Corporation. PO Box 4808, Syracuse, NY 13221, USA. This is an edited version of a paper presented at the ASHRAE semi-annualmeeting in Chicago in January 1981, and is reprinted with permission. Paper received February 1981.
Volume 4 Num~ro 4 Juillet 1981
The US uses only a third of the world's CFCs and only three nations besides the US have even banned CFCs as aerosol propellants. None has plans to limit non-aerosol uses. The atmosphere does not respect geographical boundaries..Just as ash from M o u n t St Helens continues to circle the globe, CFCs are added to the atmosphere by countries other than the US. The EPA says as much in the advance notice of proposed rulemaking which outlines these CFC controls: "As is evident.., no single nation accounts for a large enough portion of world use or production to be able unilaterally to control ozone depletion. Even the US, which presently represents about one third of the world market, can have only a small impact on limiting ozone depletion when acting alone.' The EPA hopes its actions in capping CFC production and later reducing production will demonstrate to other nations that the US is convinced of the seriousness of the threat to the earth's ozone layer, even though the theory has yet to be proven. They hope this will move other nations to limit their CFC production as well. Such a diplomatic signal would, we believe, have little effect on the stratospheric ozone levels but a striking effect on the refrigeration industry and consumer. One effect of any such legislation may be to encourage foreign manufacturers to increase their production rather than reduce it, to replace some of the US export business. If refrigeration and air conditioning are essential, then manufacturers must have free access at a 01 4 0 - 7 0 0 7 / 8 1 / 0 4 0 1 7 9 - 0 3 5 2 . 0 0 © 1981 IPC Business Press Ltd and IIR
179
reasonable price to the CFCs that keep equipment running. In essence, the EPA regulations would restrict free access to CFCs. This, in turn, would have the effect of increasing their price. With increased prices, the EPA hopes that CFC users would be forced to seek alternative refrigerants. However, there are no alternative, safe, energy-efficient, low-cost refrigerants. The refrigerants we depend upon today are the result of 40 years of research and development. They offer us safety, energy efficiency, reliability and a relatively low cost. There are, of course, other refrigerants. Ammonia, sulphur dioxide, methyl chloride, propane, butane etc. but every one of these has a major drawback such as toxicity, corrosiveness, or flammability. None possesses all the attributes of CFCs. Other refrigerants which are not flammable or toxic, such as water or carbon dioxide, are thermodynamically inefficient. In an age of energy conservation, inefficient refrigerants cannot be tolerated. There have been suggestions that R 22 could be used more extensively in most centrifugal water chillers since it has less capacity for reacti.on with ozone. But certain refrigerants are only suitable for certain applications. Substitution of R 22 in most centrifugal chillers would necessitate a near total redesign of product lines. Heat exchanger surfaces would have to be greatly increased. Operating speeds and pressures would increase as well. This would dictate much closer tolerances and a near total re-tooling, being very costly to manufacturers of large equipment. A 1977 report prepared by Carrier Corporation showed that, up to that time. US manufacturers had produced approximately 67000 centrifugal chillers. Based on a 25-year life-span, more than 60000 of these machines are still in service. Most of them use R 11 and R 12. They could not be modified to accept R 22. Because of their long life-spans, it will be many years before the industry is called upon to replace them. But the machines would be of little value if the refrigerant to service them were not available at a reasonable cost. It is easy to say that if the price of CFC refrigerants were to increase, the marketplace would force manufacturers and users to change refrigerants. But that argument carries little validity when the lack of substitutes and the very real barriers to change are considered. So far, discussion has centred mainly on how such regulation would affect manufacturers. Seventy percent of the 760000 employees in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry are participants in small business. It is the small businessman, who sells and services these devices, who will be hurt the most.
188
One of the control strategies being considered is the auction of CFC use permits. Such auctions would have little effect on the large companies in this industry, The resources needed to obtain the necessary CFCs are available, although increased costs would probably be passed on to the consumer. However. the small businessman in competition with the large companies would have little chance of securing the refrigerant needed to continue his business. It is questionable whether or not an intensive costbenefit analysis has been conducted, tt is an analysis which needs to be prepared in an exhaustive and unbiased manner. Once such an analysis is prepared, it will be obvious that the threats of CFC limitation far outweigh the possible benefits. Reclamation and recycling of CFC refrigerants is also mentioned in the proposed EPA regulations. It is a topic which has already been discussed at some length by our industry. The Carrier Corporation has already introduced some new techniques to reduce emissions during manufacture and testing of new equipment. Others in the industry have also done so. Emissions can also be reduced through design techniques like leak-tight, reseatable relief valves instead of rupture discs, or improvements in gasketed, threaded, soldered and welded joints. These would take time to develop and would add up to $1000 to the price of each large machine. The largest decrease in emissions could be achieved through improved service techniques. However. this would require each service business to purchase several thousand dollars worth of equipment. In a small business with several branches. the investment would be prohibitive. It would also add several hundred dollars to the cost of each service call on larger equipment, because of the time involved. ARI's comments on the proposed regulations include a report which outlines the economic impact on small businesses should the recapture and disposal of CFCs be required. They are considerable. It would add an estimated $23 700 fixed annual overhead to the average service contractor's costs and would add 48.7% to each service call which already is being billed at $24-$35 an hour. Anything that raises expenses this much not only jeopardizes small business but would encourage machine owners to defer regular preventive maintenance, perhaps resulting in major failures. It is not easy to recover or recycle a refrigerant. Contamination by oil, water, grease, or dust is easy and if reintroduced into the machine, the consequences are reduced performance, lifespan and more service problems. Emissions from manufacturing and field service could conceivably be reduced almost to zero, but would this be cost-effective?
International Journal of Refrigeration
A recent study by Carrier Corporation showed that improved designs to eliminate leaks and improved service to eliminate emissions would still result in only a fraction of a percentage point reduction of world emissions, but at great cost. Our industry is doing what it can to contain refrigerants. It is a valuable commodity that is intended to stay inside machines and not be released to the atmosphere.
conservation goals are likely to be compromised should CFC production be capped. CFCs are also used as industrial degreasers. They are not flammable, their toxicity is low, they are stable and effective. CFCs are used in many other areas, from medicine to food freezing.
Conclusions
The effects of such CFC regulation on the air conditioning and refrigeration industry have been discussed. But the Alliance represents other industries including industries which would be placed in competition with us should CFC supplies be capped. Many CFCs are used as blowing agents in the manufacture of both flexible and rigid foams. These rigid foams provide packaging materials and energy-saving residential and commercial insulation. CFCs, when used as aerosol propellants were convenient but not essential, and substitutes were easily found. But CFCs impart special physical properties to these rigid foams which give them their high insulation values. Again, national energy
The wisdom of performing a regulatory experiment on an industry as important as ours is highly dubious, but it is likely to happen unless we can convince our elected representatives that such regulation would do far more economic and social harm than good. The desire to regulate must be more carefully weighed against the known risks to safety, health, our energy goals and our economy associated with CFC shortages or the use of currently available substitutes. Our customers, our elected representatives, should know how CFC restrictions would affect the nation. The Alliance is working to get that message across.
secondedition
THE ENERGYMANAGE HAND
'
K GordonPayne
A revised and updated edition of this highly regarded book which provides practical and systematic ways of reducing energy costs in industry and commerce. Comments on the first edition (1977) included: "With this book the erstwhile novice should be able to take the first steps in energy conservation with a feeling that he knows what has to be done, and why... even the expert will find this book useful." Energy World "Experienced consultants, university departments and other energy advisers will find the handbook a useful basis for management schemes and training programmes."
Applied Mechanics Reviews "(The) comprehensive checklists provide an excellent basis for effective action." EnergyDigest December 1980 168 pages/illustrated/£ 10.00 (cased)/£7.50 (paper)
Westbury House is the books imprint of IPC Science and Technology PressLimited A member of IPC Business Press Lid
PC)Box 63 Westbury HouseBuryStreetGuildford Surrey England GU2 5BH Telenhone: 0483 31251 Telex:859550 Scitec G
Volume 4 Number 4 July 1981
181