1. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
The quest of a new low GWP refrigerant:
the reason behind an industry choice
Massimiliano Mandrile
Fiat Group Automobiles

2. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
BACKGROUND
The European Union directive 2006/40/EC
•SCOPE: Mobile Air Conditioning systems (M1 and N1 classI)
•AIM: reduction of the atmosphere emissions of high Global
Warming Potential refrigerants.
•ACTION: ban of refrigerants with GWP>150 for MAC purpose.

3. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
HOW DID INDUSTRY MOVE
• Established teams involving manufacturers, MAC
components suppliers, national laboratories, universities
from all around the world.
• Investigated several fluids with the potential to be the
alternatives
GOAL
Find refrigerants
• The most environmental friendly
• As safe as the R-134a

4. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
• R-744 (GWP=1)
• R-1234YF (GWP=4)
THE LAST SURVIVORS

5. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
DIFFERENCIES
1,00
10,00
100,00
140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440 460 480 500
Pressure[bar]
Enthalpy [kJ/kg]
R134a vs R744 vs HFO1234YF
R134a
R744
HFO1234YF
Parameters R-1234yf R-744
Minimum operational pressure (MPa) 0.3 3
Maximum operational pressure (MPa) 3 12
Operating maximum temperature (°C) 120 170
Compressor displacement range (mini to
premium vehicles)
60cc – 170cc 15 - 30cc
Compressor’s number of piston 5 – 7 9
System weight (delta vs R-134a system) (kg) Zero 5 – 10
R-744: transcritical refrigeration
cycle at a very high pressure
R-1234YF: very close to the
R-134a.

6. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
TxV
EVAPORATOR
CONDENSER
COMPRESSORRefrigerant
loop
BURST DISC
12MPa
ACCUMULATOR
EVAPORATOR
GAS COOLER
COMPRESSOR
Refrigerant
loop
INTERNAL HEAT
EXCHANGER
DIFFERENCIES
MAC system for R-1234yf
(same as R-134a) MAC system for R-744

7. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
INDEXES: Global Warming Potential

8. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
INDEXES: Total Equivalent Warming Impact

9. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
INDEXES: Life Cycle Climate Performance

10. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Green-MAC-LCCP©
www.epa.gov/cpd/mac/compare.htm
2017 Global CO2eq by Region [Mton]
R-744 CO2 emissions are always worst than R-1234yf.
The gap is higher in the hotter countries where the emissions are
even worst than those of R-134a.

11. XV EUROPEAN CONFERENCE MILANO 7th
-8th
JUNE 2013 CSG
Latest Technology in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Under the Auspices of the PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
CONCLUSIONS
• Automotive Industry spent a lot of efforts during several
years looking for a refrigerant that could have a better
environmental impact
• LCCP take into consideration both direct and indirect
emission. It has been judge to be a more comprehensive
parameter to evaluate a refrigerant capable to thoroughly
meet the final expectation.
• Through a model built to evaluate LCCP for MAC, it has
been seen that R-1234yf is the best choice for the
environment and for that reason it has been chosen to
substitute the R-134a.