HVAC tech here. Can confirm it has been steadily decreasing.
Most AC brands have now fully switched over to R32 wich is most common.
There are also rumors of Critical CO2 systems that could roll out soon but the problem with these more natural gasses is
For R32 it’s flammable. So on bigger systems there us an additional cost to put metering devices.
As for Critical CO2 units, they work under pressures that even frighten me.
R32 systems are tested with 40bar pressure. Thats 20 times more than a tire to put in a perspective.
Though R32 is still a burden to the environment (Global warming potential of around 625) its way better than for example R410A or the even worse R134A. Wich is in or beyond the thousand.
For the uninitiated, GWP is a calculation made around how much kilograms of CO2 would be needed to released in the atmosphere to have the same effect as 1 kg of the gas. So R32 has a GWP of 625, that means releasing 1 kg of R32 equals to releasing 625kg of CO2
Here is my vice with refrigerant uses though.
While I as installer have to account for literally every gram I put on a system, it seems that car manufacturers and garages don’t seem to be under the same restrictions as we are.
Yes the technician has to be certified but honestly I see them regularly just blatantly lying about a car AC being broken and just add more gas without fixing a leak.
Where if I would to that I potentially can lose my certificate and thus my job.
Cars also haven’t made the switch yet to less harmful gasses. Their excuse seems to be “fire hazard”
While it’s true R32 can be flammable, it’s in catagory L2. Wich means it’s lightly Flammable (x% has to be gas and x% needs to be oxygen for a explosion or fire to start)
It’s less flammable than gasoline and carries less potential than a EV-battery.
In other words, they don’t want to change because R&D costs money.
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HVAC tech here. Can confirm it has been steadily decreasing.
Most AC brands have now fully switched over to R32 wich is most common.
There are also rumors of Critical CO2 systems that could roll out soon but the problem with these more natural gasses is
For R32 it’s flammable. So on bigger systems there us an additional cost to put metering devices.
As for Critical CO2 units, they work under pressures that even frighten me.
R32 systems are tested with 40bar pressure. Thats 20 times more than a tire to put in a perspective.
Though R32 is still a burden to the environment (Global warming potential of around 625) its way better than for example R410A or the even worse R134A. Wich is in or beyond the thousand.
For the uninitiated, GWP is a calculation made around how much kilograms of CO2 would be needed to released in the atmosphere to have the same effect as 1 kg of the gas. So R32 has a GWP of 625, that means releasing 1 kg of R32 equals to releasing 625kg of CO2
Here is my vice with refrigerant uses though.
While I as installer have to account for literally every gram I put on a system, it seems that car manufacturers and garages don’t seem to be under the same restrictions as we are.
Yes the technician has to be certified but honestly I see them regularly just blatantly lying about a car AC being broken and just add more gas without fixing a leak.
Where if I would to that I potentially can lose my certificate and thus my job.
Cars also haven’t made the switch yet to less harmful gasses. Their excuse seems to be “fire hazard”
While it’s true R32 can be flammable, it’s in catagory L2. Wich means it’s lightly Flammable (x% has to be gas and x% needs to be oxygen for a explosion or fire to start)
It’s less flammable than gasoline and carries less potential than a EV-battery.
In other words, they don’t want to change because R&D costs money.