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Global Comparative Analysis of HFC and Alternative Technologies for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Foam, Solvent, Aerosol Propellant, and Fire Protection Applications

Final Report to the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, March 21, 2002

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Table of Contents

Section E     Executive Summary
E.1     Objective
E.2     Key Findings
E.3     Safety Considerations
E.4     Value Provided to Society by HFCs
E.5     LCCP Results Summary
E.6     Aerosols
E.7     Fire Protection
       
Section 1     Introduction
1.1     Background
1.1.1     Objective
1.2     Methodology
1.3     Trace Greenhouse Gases and Energy -- The TEWI and LCCP Concepts
       
Section 2     General Policy Considerations
2.1     HFCs and Global Climate Change -- The Overall Greenhouse Gas Picture
2.1.1     Greenhouse Gas Emission Data
2.2     The Montreal Protocol CFC and HCFC Phase-Out Schedules for Developed Countries
2.2.1     The Montreal Protocol and the CFC Phase-Out
2.2.2     The CFC Excise Tax
2.2.3     The Montreal Protocol and the HCFC Phase-Out - Developed Countries
2.2.3.1     Developing Countries
2.2.4     The EPA Regulation of HCFC Consumption
2.2.5     The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
2.3     Allowing Market Forces to Operate to Limit Wasteful Use of HFCs
2.4     Existing Regulations That Prevent Wasteful Use of HFCs
2.5     HFC Responsible Use Principles
2.6     Safety
2.7     Environmental and Economic Cost of Managing the Safety Risk
       
Section 3     Value Provided to Society by HFCs
3.1     Domestic Refrigeration
3.2     Automobile Air Conditioning
3.3     Unitary Air Conditioning
3.4     Chillers
3.5     Commercial Refrigeration
3.6     Foam Building Insulation
3.7     Solvents
3.8     Aerosols
3.8.1     Medical Aerosols
3.8.2     Other Aerosols
3.9     Fire Protection
       
Section 4     Domestic Refrigeration
4.1     Decision to Replace CFC's
4.1.1     US
4.1.2     Europe
4.1.3     Japan
4.1.4     Developing Countries
4.2     Basis for These Decisions
4.2.1     Design
4.2.1.1     Refrigerant Options
4.2.1.2     Wall Insulation
4.2.1.3     Systems Design
4.2.1.4     Energy Efficiency
4.2.1.4.1     US Requirements
4.2.1.4.2     International Requirements
4.2.1.4.3     Developing Countries' Limited Resources
4.2.1.5     Warming Impact of Refrigerant Selection
4.2.1.6     Warming Impact of Foam Blowing Agent Selection
4.2.2     Manufacture
4.2.2.1     Workplace Safety
4.2.2.2     VOC Mandates
4.2.3     Warehousing and Transportation
4.2.4     Consumer Usage
4.2.4.1     Market Size
4.2.4.2     Safety
4.2.5     Service
4.2.5.1     Technician Training
4.2.5.2     Recovery/Recycling
4.2.6     Disposal
4.2.6.1     Disposal Safety
4.3     Conclusions
4.3.1     Different Circumstances, Different Decisions
4.3.2     One Size Does Not Fit All
4.3.3     International (Kyoto/Montreal) Protocols
       
Section 5     Mobile Air Conditioning
5.1     Technology Alternatives
5.2     Energy Impact
5.2.1     Comparison of Thermodynamic Cycle Coefficient of Performance
5.2.2     Results of System Energy Analysis
5.3     TEWI/LCCP
5.4     Results of the GMR/ORNL Study
5.5     Safety Considerations
5.5.1     Collision Fire Risk with a Flammable Refrigerant
5.5.2     CO2 Safety Issues
       
Section 6     Unitary Air Conditioning
6.1     Technology Alternatives
6.2     Energy Impact
6.2.1     Residential Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
6.2.2     Commercial Air Conditioning
6.3     LCCP
6.3.1     Residential Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
6.3.2     LCCP for Commercial Air Conditioning
6.3.3     Overall Perspective on LCCP Values
6.4     Safety Considerations
       
Section 7     Chillers
7.1     Technology Alternatives
7.1.1     Refrigerants
7.1.2     Absorption Chillers
7.2     Energy Impact
7.3     LCCP
7.4     Safety Considerations
       
Section 8     Commercial Refrigeration
8.1     Technology Alternatives
8.2     Energy Impact
8.3     LCCP
8.4     Safety Considerations
8.5     Comments on Self-Contained Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
       
Section 9     Foam Insulation
9.1     Technology Alternatives
9.1.1     Polyisocyanurate Board Stock (polyiso)
9.1.2     Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Board Stock
9.1.3     Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF)
9.1.3.1     SPF roofing
9.1.3.2     SPF Wall Insulation
9.1.4     Other Insulating Materials
9.2     Energy Impact
9.2.1     Insulation of Flat, Steel Deck Roofs – Commercial and Industrial Buildings
9.2.2     Insulation of Flat, Steel Deck Roofs – Commercial and Industrial Buildings
9.3     Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP)
9.3.1     Insulation of Flat, Steel Deck Roofs
9.3.2     Insulating Sheathing for Wood Frame Residential Construction
9.4     Safety Considerations
9.4.1     Foam Board Stock
9.4.2     SPF Roofing and Wall Insulation
       
Section 10     Solvents
10.1     Technology Alternatives
10.1.1     HFC-43-10 - CF3-CHF-CF2-CHF-CF3
10.1.2     HFC-365mfc - CF3-CH2-CF2-CH3
10.1.3     HFC-245fa - CF3-CH2-CHF2
10.1.4     Methyl perfluorobutyl ether - -CH3-O-CF2-CF2-CF2-CF3
10.1.5     N-propylbromide - CH3-CH2-CH2Br
10.1.6     Volatile methyl siloxanes (CH3)3-Si-O-[Si(CH3)2-O]n-Si-(CH3)3n = 0-2
10.1.7     Aqueous cleaning
10.1.8     Semi-Aqueous Cleaning System
10.1.9     Alcohols
10.1.10     No Clean Fluxes
10.1.11     No Clean - Inert Gas
10.2     LCCP
10.3     Safety Considerations
       
Section 11     Aerosols
11.1     Technology Alternatives and Applications
11.1.1     Metered Dose Inhalers
11.1.1.1     Social Utility – Metered Dose Inhalers
11.1.2     Tire Inflators
11.1.2.1     Social Utility – Tire Inflators
11.1.3     Electronics Cleaning
11.1.3.1     Social Utility – Electronics Cleaning
11.1.4     Dust Removal/Freeze Sprays/Signaling Devices
11.1.4.1     Social Utility – Dust Removal/Freeze Sprays/Signaling Devices
11.1.5     Mold Release Agents
11.1.5.1     Social Utility – Mold Release Agents
11.1.6     Formulated Consumer Products
11.1.6.1     Social Utility – Formulated Consumer Products
11.2     Energy Impact
11.3     LCCP
11.4     Safety Considerations
11.5     References
       
Section 12     Fire Protection
12.1     Technology Alternatives
12.1.1     Fluorocarbon Alternatives
12.2     Energy Impact
12.3     LCCP
12.4     Safety Considerations
12.5     Ways and Means
       
Section 13     References
       
Appendix A     Embodied Energy and GWP of Fugitive Emissions of Fluorocarbons
A.1     Embodied Energy
A.2     Fugitive Emissions
A.3     References
       
Appendix B     GWP Values

This report was prepared by Arthur D. Little, Inc. for the account of the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy. The material in it reflects Arthur D. Little's best judgment in light of information available to it at the time of preparation. Any use which a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on or decisions to be based on it, are the responsibility of such third parties. Arthur D. Little accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions taken based on this report.

Reference 75966

 
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