OEWG 46 Montreal

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Current Situation of Energy Efficiency, Safety and Lower GWP Refrigerant

Refrigerant conversion Activities in Japan
Part 2: JRAIA’s activities
The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association

Miki Yamanaka
10, July, 2024

© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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Contents：
4. JRAIA’s Key activities
5. VRF system using A2L refrigerant

1) The way for safety measures2) Expansion of the maximum refrigerant amount3) Products to be launched in Japan

6. Challenges to be tackled for the safe use of A3 refrigerant1) Coverage area by Safety standard (IEC 60335-2-40)
2) Safety measures for RAC using A3 refrigerant

7. Development of alternative refrigerants
1) NEDO Projects
2) Performance of alternative refrigerants
3) LCCP: New environmental performance indicator

8. HFC Recovery and Reclamation
9. Conclusion© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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4. JRAIA's Key Activities
EnergyEfficiency

・Active involvement in the technical group of ISO for next generation performance evaluation method・Action for energy efficiency related regulations and standards in Japan (Top Runner Program), EU, etc.

Refrigerants

・Publish the guideline for the refrigerant leak detection monitoring for Japan market.
・Discussion for the next designated products of F-Gas Act in Japan

Environment

・Consideration of LCCP (Life Cycle Climate Performance)
・Action for environment related regulations especially in the EU; Ecodesign, F-Gas, PFAS, etc.

International
Activities

・ICARHMA meeting (International Council of Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Heating Manufacturers’ Associations):

Collaborate with 11 international industrial associations and contributed as advisorycommittee member for UNEP’s RDL (Refrigerant Driving License)

・Three Industry Association Meeting (China-Korea-Japan): Annual meeting to discuss common issues.
・ASEAN5＋J Workshop: Exchange information on energy saving and refrigerant conversion including global
environmental issues among industry associations of 5 ASEAN countries
・Seasonal Energy Efficiency(CSPF)Evaluation Method: Promotion in ASEAN countries© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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5. VRF system using A2L refrigerant
1) The way for safety measures (i)Appropriate measures to prevent ignition (Industry Guide line; GL-16, GL-20)
 To prevent ignition in the event of refrigerant gas leakage, oneof the measures specified in (1) through (3) must be taken.
 If measures (2) or (3) is selected, (4) must be installed.
(4) is not permitted as a stand alone measures in Japan.

(1) Refrigerant
amountlimitationor(2) Mechanicalventilation
system+(4) Detection andalarm system(3) Shut-off devices© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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5. VRF system using A2L refrigerant
1) The way for safety measures (ii)

Appropriate measures to prevent combustion (excluding refrigerant amount restrictions (1))
When refrigerant leak is detected, ((2) or (3)) and (4) shall be activated.
(2) Ventilator

Continue operation at all times, or automatically operate when detects refrigerant leakage.

(3) Shut-off valve

Shut off the refrigerant circuit by signal from the detector.

(4) Alarm

Light or blink with alarm sound(3) Shut-off valve
Leak occurs(2) Ventilator
Occupancy space
Increasing
Refrigerant
Concentration Detector(4) Light (or blink)& Alarm
Monitoringroom© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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5. VRF system using A2L refrigerant2) Expansion of the maximum refrigerant amountJapanInternationalInternational

IEC 60335-2-40 Ed.7

ISO 5149-1

Laws / Standards

High Pressure Gas Safety Act
with JRA GL-20, GL-16, etc.

Installation height
Air circulation

No Circulation if 1.5 m or more,with Circulation if less than 1.5 m

Less than 1.8 m, andNo circulation

1.8 m or more, orWith circulation

No circulation

CF < 0.25

None

None

None

None

0.25 - 0.52 measures

None

None

1 measure0.5 - 0.75

2 measures

1 measureNone

2 measures

0.75 < CF

2 measures

2 measures

2 measures

2 measures

SimpleOnce / 3 months

Full

Once / 3 years

Safety measurerequirement(CF* vs LFL)
* Concentration
FactorRefrigerant leakinspection

Refrigerant charge limit(R32)

150 kg (same value to A1)

Not specified

Not specified

LFL * 260 = 79.8 kg

LFL * 195 = 59.8 kg(150 kg for A1)

 The refrigerant charge limit is relaxed to 150 kg in Japan by double safety measures including ether
ventilator or shut-off valve and mandatory refrigerant leak inspections.
 The refrigerant charge amount for equipment using existing refrigerant piping is expected to be over 80 kg.
© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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5. VRF system using A2L refrigerant
3) Products to be launched in JapanDAIKINJohnson Controls
Hitachi AC

Mitsubishi Electric" VRV 7 " series" Flex Multi " series" Grand Multi " series※Press release

To be launched in Nov. 2024

Launched in Jun. 2024

※Press release※Press release

To be launched in Sep. 2024

© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

6. Challenges to be tackled for the safe use of A3 refrigerant

8/161) Limited Coverage by the International Safety Standard (IEC 60335-2-40)
Product lifecycle
Production

Transport& Storage

InstallUse

RepairDismantle

Transport& Storage

Disposal

Fully Coveredby
IEC60335-2-40
Limited coverage by IEC60335-2-40
Instructions in manuals

IEC 60335-2-40 DOES NOT COVER entire product life cycle!
Safety measures are required for the entire product lifecycle© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

6. Challenges to be tackled for the safe use of A3 refrigerant

9/162) Need Further Consideration for the use in Room Air Conditioners (RAC)

Safety Risks in each Product lifecycle Phase of RAC
Production

Leakage
Risks

Transport& Storage

InstallIgnition Risks

by tools/ breaker

Use

Repair

Leakage andIgnition Risks

Dismantle

Transport& Storage

Risk of Brazing
with refrigerant
still contained inthe equipment

Further Consideration is needed for various Safety Measures①Safety Measures for equipment
and facilities

JRAIA is considering measures tominimize the occurrence of accidents
to a once-in-a-century level②Sharing information withstakeholders and raising awareness
Coordination with over 50
stakeholders will be necessary, and it
is expected to take a lot of time.

Disposal

Inadequate
handling③Training

JRAIA is considering possible
certification scheme for
operators in Japan© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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7. Development of Alternative Refrigerants
1) Japan Government funded NEDO Project

NEDO Project (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization)
Aim: Development of high-efficiency refrigeration and air conditioning technology forthe practical use of next-generation low-GWP refrigerants

1) Duration： 2023 - 2027
2) Budget ： 500 million yen (fiscal 2023)
3) Objective: Development of next-generation low-GWP refrigerants
4) Project Details：- Narrow down the HFO mixed alternatives mainly for residential-use air conditioners.
- Develop fundamental technologies to utilize HFO alternatives in key components(heat exchangers and compressors)- Develop models and evaluation methods to assess safety and environmental impact
Selectionof thecandidate
alternatives

Set guidelineforthe design ofheat exchanger

Set guideline forthe design ofcompressor &R&D ofRefrigeration Oil

Develop
Evaluation
Equipment &Impact
Assessment

DevelopModelsandEvaluation
MethodProduct
R&D byprivatesector© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

7. Development of alternative refrigerants

11/162) Property of alternative refrigerants – Funded by NEDO※※NEDO: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization

New Refrigerants are under development – by end of 2027

In the NEDO project, new refrigerants, HFO-1123 and HFO-1132(E), have been under development.
Blends of HFO-1132(E)/1234yf and R32 have already been registered as R474A and R479A under ASHRAE andISO. Those blends of HFO-1132(E) have been under further investigation for safety and various applications.
Properties of alternative refrigerants

Possible applications
Current

Lower GWP (A2L)

R410A
GWP=2088

R32
GWP=675

New Alternative

RAC, PAC, VRV

R404A
GWP=3920
R407C
GWP=1770

R454C
R455A
GWP=148

Usage e.g.

1132(E) blend

Showcase
Refrigeration storage
AC for vehicle
etc

R22
GWP=1810
R134a
GWP=1430
R245faR123

R1234yf
R1234ze

MAC, Chiller
Low Pressure Chiller,ORC© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

7. Development of alternative refrigerants

12/163) LCCP: New environmental performance indicator

JRAIA LCCP Evaluation WG

LCCP(Life Cycle Climate Performance) evaluation for residential ACs
using R22, R290, R410A, R32, R454C
 Evaluate the followings in addition to evaluation based on IEA Annex 54

i. System performance simulation with accurate test verification of refrigerants
ii. Equipment operation time (calculated from IoT, big data, and outside air temperature)iii. Amount of refrigerant leakage

 Evaluate electricity demand scenarios for each temperature regions in order to be utilized globally(Covering tropical / subtropical / moderate / cold region)

Action items
May, 2023
Nov, 2023
Jul, 2024

14th IEA Heat Pump Conference Paper Submission, Presentation
Progress report at Kobe International Symposium
Paper presentation at IIR conference @Purdue univ.
© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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8. HFC Recovery and Reclamation

1) Current status of reclamation of HFC in Japan

Latest information and analysis(Information published on February 1st)

Rapid expansion of HFC reclamation

tonsReclamation HFC reclaimed

・ Approximately 1200 tons were reclaimed in 2022
・ 51% increase from the previous year
・2.2 times increase in 2 years

1.51x
1.47x

Estimation of the reasons(1) Improved recovery rate

Improved from 40% to 44%. This might be the effect of the revised Act on Rational

Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons?

(2) HFC ratio expands in the recovery(Expanded from 52% to 63% in 2 years; natural flow)(3) Recovered refrigerant is reclaimed(Increased from 20% to 35% in 2 years. Awareness-raising activities have beensuccessful??)There is a possibility that the ratio of reclamation will increase to around 60% as a trend from the current situation.
Refrigerant reclamation is expected to increase from 480 tons in 2019 to 3,234 tons in 2029.
In that case, just under 30% of the consumption can be covered by the refrigerant reclaimed. While realizing a refrigerant
circular economy, it also contributes to promoting the recovery of high-GWP refrigerants that are already on the market.
© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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8. HFC Recovery and Reclamation

2) Environmental Impact – Reclamation vs Destruction

・Environmental impact is less for reclamation than for destruction
・Avoiding the production of new refrigerants contributes significantly to reduce impact(per produced refrigerant)

R410A

R32

Source: Norihiro Itsubo et.al.Life-Cycle Assessment of Refrigerants for Air Conditioners Considering Reclamation
and Destruction, Sustainability,Volume15,Issue11,2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010473© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

9. Summery – The way forward to achieve the Kigali Target

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 In Japan, industry, academia and government are working together toachieve the Kigali Targets.
 JRAIA developed a guideline for VRF to use A2L and companies are going
to sell VRF systems with A2L following residential and light commercialproducts.
 Thorough lifecycle risk assessment is required for A3 refrigerants, andinfrastructure should be established to mitigate the associated risks.
Product standards such as IEC60335-2-40 are not comprehensive enough.
 Japan is developing new HFO refrigerants with low to ultra-low GWP.
 Reclamation plays an important role to achieve the target with less GHG
emissions and energy than destruction.
© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.

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Thank you for your attention
HVAC/R industry will contribute to the sustainable improvementof people‘s lives and wellfare throughcooling / heating / freezing / hot water supply
using the refrigeration cycle
JRAIA will continue to work together
with the government and academia
toward the realization of a carbon neutral society whileconsidering S+3Es(safety, environmental performance, energy conservation, and economic efficiency)© 2024 JRAIA The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.