Alternatives to HCFCs for new equipment and applications

Introduction

This list is a quick reference to raise awareness of National Ozone Units about available alternatives to replace or avoid HCFCs, which should be considered during the preparation of their countries' HCFC Phase out Management Plans (HPMPs).

The list indicates replacements for HCFCs for specific applications, based on references in the assessment reports of the UNEP Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) and its Technical Options Committees (TOCs). Only those alternatives which those reports identify as being commercially-available or being presently used by companies are included on this list. The list does not include alternatives that the TEAP/TOC reports indicate as being "future technologies" or in the research and development stage.

For many of the applications listed below, the HCFC and the non-HCFC options have co-existed for some time as replacements for CFCs. However, in light of the acceleration of the HCFC phase out resulting from Meeting of the Parties Decision XIX/6, this list places renewed attention on the non-HCFC options that are currently available.

Note:

• This table only presents non-HCFC options for new equipment. It does not address or conversion of existing equipment (retrofits) or drop-in replacements.
• In some cases, the alternatives indicated are for very specific applications.
• Some of the alternatives listed may not be available in all markets.
• The alternatives are listed in alphabetical order.
• Alternatives in blue are fluorinated options, those in green are natural refrigerants, those with no color are not-in-kind options or other chemical alternatives.
• Alternatives with (*) next to them are not mentioned in the TEAP reports.

Sectors where HCFCs may be used	Specific application	Non-HCFC alternatives	Links to case studies
HCFC-22
Unitary air conditioning equipment	Small self-contained air conditioners	• HFCs (R-407C, R-410A, R422D*) • Hydrocarbons (R-290) •R723*, evaporation*, solar/ absorption*
Small water chillers of about 100 kW refrigeration capacity up to the capacity of centrifugal chillers	Screw chillers	• Ammonia (R-717) • HFCs (R-134a, R-410A) •R723*
	Scroll chillers	• HFCs (R-134a, R-410A, R-407C) • R744*
	Reciprocating chillers	• HFCs (R-134a, R-407C) • Hydrocarbons (R-290), Ammonia* • Propylene (R-1270), R723*
	Centrifugal chillers	• HFCs (R-134a)
Commercial refrigeration equipment	Large supermarket systems	• Ammonia (R-717) • Carbon dioxide (R-744) • HFCs (R-404A, R-407C, R-134a) • Hydrocarbons (R-290, HC-1270) • R723*
	Cold storage	• Ammonia (R-717), R744* • HFCs (R-134a) • R723*, air cycle systems*
	Ice cream freezers	• Carbon dioxide (R-744), R600a* • HFCs (R-404A, R-134a) • Hydrocarbons (R-290)
	Water fountains	• Hydrocarbons (R-600a)
	Ice making machines	• HFCs (R-134a) • R600a*
	Vending machines	• Carbon dioxide (R-744) • HFCs (R-134a) • Hydrocarbons (R-290, R-600a)
	Glass-door bottle coolers	• Carbon dioxide (R-744) • HFCs (R-134a) • Hydrocarbons (R-290, R-600a)
	Plug-in display cabinets	• HFCs (R-404A) • Hydrocarbons (isobutane)*
	Condensing unit systems (medium-sized commercial refrigeration)	• HFCs (HFC-134a, R-404A, R-507A) • Hydrocarbons, R744*
Heat pumps	Water-heating heat pumps	• Ammonia (R-717) • Carbon dioxide (R-744) • HFCs (R-134a, R-410A, R-407C, R-404A) • Hydrocarbons
Industrial refrigeration	Spiral, tunnel and blast freezers	• Ammonia (R-717) • Calcium chloride ("brine") • Carbon dioxide (R-744) • Ethylene glycol, air cycle systems* • HFCs (R-404A)
	Industrial heat pumps and heat recovery	• Ammonia (R-717) • HFCs (R-134a, R-404A, R-407C) • Hydrocarbons • Water (R-718) and lithium bromide (absorption)
	Cooling of blade server computers in data centres	• Carbon dioxide (R-744) • HFCs (R-134a, R-404A, R-407C) *
	Industrial chillers	• Water (R-718), Ammonia*, carbon dioxide*, absorption*, evaporation* • HFCs (R-422a, R-422d, R-134a) * • ice storage*
	Refrigerants for deep mines	• Ammonia (R-717) • HFCs (HFC-134a) • Water (R-718)
Refrigerated transport and mobile air conditioning (excluding passenger vehicles)	Reefer ships	• Ammonia (R-717) • HFCs (R-134a, R-404A, R-407C, R-410A, HFC-23) • air cycle systems*, passive refrigeration*
	Refrigeration and air conditioning on merchant marine, naval and fishing vessels	• Ammonia (R-717) • Ammonia/carbon dioxide (R-717/R-744) • HFCs (R-134a, R-507, R-404A, R-407C, R-410A)
	Intermodal refrigerated containers	• HFCs (R-134a, R-404A) • passive refrigeration*
	Refrigerated railcars	• Carbon dioxide (R-744) • HFCs
	Road transport (trailers, diesel trucks, small trucks)	• Carbon dioxide (R-744) • HFCs (R-404A, R-134a, R-410A) • Hydrocarbons (R-290, R-600a)
	Air conditioning in trains	• Air cycle systems • HFCs (R-134a, R-407C)
	Air conditioning in buses	• HFCs (R-134a) • Hydrocarbons*, carbon dioxide*
Foam	Extruded polystyrene foam	• Carbon dioxide (LCD) or with hydrocarbon blends • HFCs (HFC-134a, HFC-152a, HFO-1234ze*) • Hydrocarbons • Water
	Rigid polyurethane foam (various applications)	• Carbon dioxide (water) • HFCs (HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, HFC-365mfc), HFO-1234ze* • Hydrocarbons, natural oil* • Methyl formate
	Polyethylene foam	• Hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide*, natural oil* • HFO-1234ze* • Methyl formate
HCFC-141b
Foam	Rigid polyurethane foam (various applications)	• Carbon dioxide • HFCs (HFC-134a, HFC-152a, HFC-245fa, HFC-365mfc), HFO-1234ze* • Hydrocarbons (Pentane) • Supercritical carbon dioxide • Methyl formate
	Integral skin foam	• Carbon dioxide • HFCs (HFC-134a) • Non-halogenated alternatives, methyl formate
	Phenolic foam	• 2-chloropropane • HFCs (HFC-365mfc, HFC-227ea) • Hydrocarbons
Solvent applications	Cleaning	• HFCs (HFC-4310mee, HFC-245fa) • HFEs • Not-in-kind substitutes (no-clean, aqueous, hydrocarbon, oxygenated solvents) • PFCs • PFEs
Aerosols	Non-medical aerosol products	• HFCs (HFC-134a) • HFEs, HFO-1234ze* • Hydrocarbons • Not-in-kind substitutes (mechanical pumps, sticks, roll-ons, brushes, etc.) • Water
HCFC-142b
Foam	Extruded polystyrene board foam	• Carbon dioxide (LCD) or with hydrocarbon blends • HFCs (HFC-134a, HFC-152a), HFO-1234ze* • Hydrocarbons • Water
	Polyethylene foam	• Hydrocarbons •HFO-1234ze* • Methyl formate
HCFC-225 ca/cb
Speciality solvents	Precision cleaning and as a carrier solvent	• HFEs
	Cleaning implantable or surgical medical devices	• No information
HCFC-123
Low-pressure refrigerant in large air conditioning chillers	Centrifugal chillers	• HFCs (HFC-134a)
	Refrigerants for deep mines	• Ammonia (R-717) • HFCs (HFC-134a) • Water (R-718)
Fire extinguishant	Portable fire extinguishers	• AFFF • Carbon dioxide • Dry chemical (Potassium bicarbonate, Sodium bicarbonate) • HFCs (HFC-236fa, HFC-227ea) • Multipurpose dry chemical • Water fog • Water stream
Specialty solvents	Electronics cleaning	• Not-in-kind alternatives (no-clean processes; aqueous and semi-aqueous cleaning) • Oxygenated solvents (e.g. alcohols, glycols, ethyl lactate) •HFEs*
HCFC-124
Fire extinguishant	Total flooding applications	• Aerosol powders (Powdered Aerosol A, Powdered Aerosol B) • Carbon dioxide • Gaseous agents containing particulate solids (HFC227-BC) • Gelled mixture of HFC plus dry chemical additive) • HFCs (HFC-125, HFC-23, HFC-236fa, HFC-227ea, HFC Blend A) • Inert gases (IG-01, IG-100, IG-541, IG-55) • Iodofluorocarbon (FIC-13I1, FIC-217I1) • Perfluoroketone (FK-5-1-12)
	Local application fire protection	• Carbon dioxide • Dry chemical • Foam • HFCs (HFC-236fa, HFC-227ea) • Surfactant blend A • Water
Heat pumps		• No information
Special air conditioning equipment		• No information
Sterilant mixtures		• No information
General Information		•

UNEP, May 2008 Technology and Economic Assessment Panel Progress Report, Volume 1 (2008, Nairobi, Ozone Secretariat)

UNEP, Halon Technical Options Committee Technical Note #1 New Technology Halon Alternatives - Revision 3 (December 2007, Nairobi, Ozone Secretariat)

UNEP, 2006 Report of the Rigid and Flexible Foams Technical Options Committee 2006 Assessment (March 2007, Nairobi, Ozone Secretariat)

UNEP, 2006 Report of the Chemicals Technical Options Committee 2006 Assessment (March 2007, Nairobi, Ozone Secretariat)

UNEP, 2006 Report of the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps Technical Options Committee 2006 Assessment (2007, Nairobi, Ozone Secretariat)

UNEP, 2006 Report of the Rigid and Flexible Foams Technical Options Committee 2006 Assessment (March 2007, Nairobi, Ozone Secretariat)

UNEP, Report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel May 2003 HCFC Task Force Report (2003, Nairobi, Ozone Secretariat)