Number
129-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Manufacture of food products
Manufacture of bulk, large scale chemicals (including petroleum products)
Electricity, steam, gas water supply and sewage treatment
Scientific research and development
Function
Refrigerants
Process
Use of functional fluids in small devices
Product category
other
Application
Cooling systems
Abstract
A Danish company has developed a cooling method based solely on CO2 with the support of the Danish environmental protection agency. The environmental benefits are large and the market is promising.
Substituted substances
Hydrofluorocarbon gases
CAS No. EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Hydrofluorocarbon gases
Other adverse effects
Strong greenhouse gases
Alternative Substances
Carbon dioxide
CAS No. 124-38-9 EC No. 204-696-9 Index No.
Chemical group
Carbonyl compounds
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
other reasons
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: HFC gases have a strong greenhouse effect. Hydrocarbons are toxic and flammable. Alternative substance: Carbon dioxide has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation).
Description of Substitution
With CO2 cooling, the company has found a method based on natural refrigerants. CO2 cooling does not emit ozone-depleting gases. CO2 is a much less powerful greenhouse gas than HFC. It is not toxic, does not include flammable liquids, requires less energy and can be placed anywhere. Cooling is a widely applied technical process. It is relevant in household refrigerators and deep freezers as well as in food production, storage and sale, in the pharmaceutical industry, in air-conditioning systems, computer server rooms and many other places. This extensive use of cooling implies that the environmental impact of the technology is potentially very significant. Cooling systems have traditionally relied on artificial gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These substances have negative environmental effects as they deplete the ozone layer in varying degrees and have a strong greenhouse effect. CFCs have been banned in the EU since 1995, while HCFCs are currently phased out. In Denmark HCFC, have been completely phased out since 2010. Ozone-depleting gases have been replaced to a large extent by non-ozone depleting refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), partly by hydrocarbons. Both alternatives are, however, not without problems: HFC have a strong greenhouse effect and are covered by the Kyoto Protocol, and hydrocarbons are toxic and flammable. Therefore a durable alternative has been long time searched for. The alternative is, in this case, cooling based on CO2. CO2 does not deplete the ozone layer. In this use the discharge in the atmosphere is quite small compared to other discharges of CO2. Therefore the greenhouse effect is limited. In addition, CO2 has two very important advantages compared to hydrocarbons: it is non-toxic and non-flammable. Therefore there is no need to establish special alarms, emergency ventilation, fire protection, etc. in connection with cooling systems. It is of even more importance that CO2-based cooling systems can be established in all places where HFCH/HCFC and HFC-based refrigeration systems are located today. Energy consumption of CO2 plants is also favourable. Measurements in supermarkets show that the installations can save 10-20% of the power consumption compared to traditional installations . Similar results apply in cooling areas for comfort zones, but this is not officially documented yet. One disadvantage is that CO2 systems are 30-40% more expensive than the cheapest HFC systems.
Case/substitution evaluation
The alternative is not included in the database of hazardous substances according to SUBSPORTplus screening criteria (SDSC). CO2 is a greenhouse gas, but far less potent than HFCs and HCFCs. Therefore, this case study shows a successful substitution of toxic chemicals.
State of implementation
Full capacity
Date and place of implementation
2008, Denmark
Producer/Provider
Type of information supplier
Authority
Producer / distributor
Contact
Miljøstyrelsen - The Danish EPA http://www.mst.dk
Further information
http://www.ecoinnovation.dk/Emneoversigt/Danske_cases_og_resultater/Danske_succeshistorier/Case_advansor_koeling.htm Advansor cooling
Type of publication and availability
Freely available, but only in Danish
Date, reviewed
December 11, 2020