Lab Q&A
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Question:
What is HFO-1234yf?
Answer:
HFO-1234yf is a next genera-
tion, energy efficient refrigerant that has been specifically developed for mobile air conditioning in vehicles.
Starting in January 2011, all new vehicle types must have an air conditioning refrigerant as green as HFO-1234yf, with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) below 150. GWP is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a period of time (e.g. 20 years) expressed as a factor of CO2, which has a GWP of 1. So, the EPA is requiring that all new vehicle types have A/C refrigerant that traps less than 150 times the amount of heat in the atmosphere than CO2.
Here are some other key benefits of HFO-1234yf:
- Near drop-in replacement for R-134a –HFO-1234yf can be used without requiring a complete redesign of current air conditioning systems, leading to faster adoption by automakers.
- HFO-1234yf has higher energy efficiency, which results in less fuel consumption.
- It takes HFO-1234yf just 11 days to break down when disposed of, compared to 13 years for today's R-134a.
- It performs as well or better than other options in all climates.
- Estimated to cut the cost of an auto air conditioning system by 50 percent
Domestic production of HFO-1234yf by Honeywell and DuPont will begin in 2011. General Motors announced that it would be installed in 2013 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models in the USA. Current testing with PAG 46 oils has shown excellent compatibility promise with HFO-1234yf. And don't worry; approval for the use of BG Universal Frigi-Quiet® II, Part No. 701, in HFO-1234yf systems is under review.
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