Lower gwp refrigerants

Safety and reliable system designs are paramount in refrigerant applications. Environmental concerns about the global warming impact of refrigerants have led to development of new lower global warming potential (GWP) F-gases. Many of these lower GWP refrigerants are flammable refrigerants, and the risks of using flammable refrigerants have never been fully investigated. Lubricants' foaming qualities have also not been recently evaluated even though they relate to optimal system design. ASHRAE members have contributed to the research that closes knowledge gaps and enables the use of these refrigerants and lubricants. This article discusses two ASHRAE research projects in process and one tentative research project. © 2021 Amer. Soc. Heating, Ref. Air-Conditoning Eng. Inc.. All rights reserved.