Carrier Transicold ready to offer R-452A refigerant

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Carrier Transicold will make R-452A refrigerant an option in both new and existing models beginning in the first quarter of 2021, covering trailer and diesel truck equipment alike.

The new refrigerant is comparable to R-404A in terms of refrigerant capacity, pulldown, fuel efficiency and reliability, the company says.

While not yet required, there is an option to upgrade to a refrigerant with a lower global warming potential. (Photo: Carrier Transicold)

The key difference is that R-452A has about half the global warming potential of R-404A, with respective GWP ratings of 2140 and 3922.

Canada is banning high-GWP refrigerants in new transportation refrigeration systems beginning in 2025. South of the border, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is looking to do that beginning in 2022 – potentially making it a de facto national standard because of the large volume of refrigerated traffic in the state.

The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) continues to allow R-404A, however.

Those who want to use R-452A in an existing Carrier unit with an electronic expansion valve can do so with nothing more than an update to operating software. Mechanical expansion valves on older units would need to be manually adjusted or replaced, depending on the model.

While the change is more environmentally friendly, it would come at a cost. The R-452A costs three to four times as much as R-404A.

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John G. Smith is Newcom Media's vice-president - editorial, and the editorial director of its trucking publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, and Transport Routier. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.


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  • This environmental stuff it’s all propaganda nature takes care of its own. You look back at the history back in 1816 and 1940s the temperatures were just as high as they are now check the history thank you.