| Refrigerants Pose Significant Global Warming Potential |
| Written by Daniel Stouffer | |
| Thursday, 23 April 2009 | |
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The global warming potential of chemicals is well documented. This is usually documented by referencing how much a chemical will impact global warming as compared to a similar amount of carbon dioxide. Refrigerants typically outrank carbon dioxide by a factor of 100 or even 1000 and stay in the atmosphere longer to our climate's detriment.
The global warming potential of chemicals is well documented. This is usually documented by referencing how much a chemical will impact global warming as compared to a similar amount of carbon dioxide. Refrigerants typically outrank carbon dioxide by a factor of 100 or even 1000 and stay in the atmosphere longer to our climate's detriment. Greenhouse gases are given a global warming potential value, which scientists use to determine how they will impact our atmosphere. Different values are allocated to the gases, mostly refrigerants, to determine their impact on the atmosphere over the space of 20, 100 or 500 years. the gases typically stay in the atmosphere longer than 20 years and many are around for up to a century. Controlling emissions and dangerous gases is essential to offset the considerable harm that will occur to the earth and its inhabitants otherwise. Three factors are considered when determining the global warming potential of a substance. These include the atmospheric location of the absorption point, the amount of infrared radiation absorbed, and the length of time that the substance remains in the atmosphere. A substance with high potential has a greater impact. In order for us to maintain a healthy environment, dangerous chemicals should maintain a lower global warming potential. As most of the refrigerant in use are greenhouse gases, known to contribute to global warming, regulations are in place to limit use and eventually replace with alternate substances. Chemicals with the highest global warming potential are hydrochlorofluorocarbons, such as those found in refrigeration and cooling systems. The values for hydrochlorofluorocarbons range from 120 to 12,240 over their atmospheric lifetime. When these numbers are broken down, it takes only one molecule of refrigerant gas to cause harm to the ozone layer. One of the most dangerous refrigerants in terms of global warming potential is R-113, Trichlorotrifluoroethane, which has a value of 4800, whilst conversely the refrigerant R- 114, also known as Dichlorotetrafluoroethane, has a very low value of 3.9. Alternative refrigerants, now in development, have no impact on global warming and are to be found in the latest refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. Because refrigerants used in commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, have a high global warming potential, facilities with this equipment in use are required to follow guidelines set forth by the U.S. Clean Air Act and other international treaties to track their usage of refrigerant gases and submit reports regularly. emissions from refrigerants with a high global warming potential are on the decline due to new regulations, particularly those which refer to leak reporting and leak fixing. The United States has led the way and harmful refrigerant gases should be phased out by 2015. Facilities must comply with the appropriate regulations to avoid penalty, but more importantly help to sustain the future of the world's environment. The Article Author: Daniel Stouffer has much more data about the importance of global warming potential values and how refrigerant-tracker will aid you. |
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