1

MEMORANDUM: Recovered HCFC-22 Available to Meet Servicing Needs

This memorandum provides the estimated quantities of HCFC-22 (R-22) that can be recovered between 2012 

and 2020 under the current assumptions in the Vintaging Model (VM), as well as the estimated quantities if the 

model is adjusted to reflect the assumption that 100 percent of refrigerant is recovered at disposal (i.e., a 0% 

loss rate at the end-of-life). The assumptions used for these estimates are also provided.

* * * * *

Table 1 provides projected R-22 servicing need, estimated R-22 recovery based on the current Vintaging Model 

recovery rates, and estimated R-22 recovery assuming a 100% recovery rate. 

Table 1: Projected R-22 Servicing Need and Estimated R-22 Recovery Under Two Scenarios, 2012-2020 (in MT) 

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

R-22 Servicing Need

 

56,257 

 

51,190 

 

45,912 

 

40,767 

 

36,256 

 

31,697 

 

27,285 

 

22,798 

 

18,061 

Estimated R-22 

Recovery

a

 

19,329 

 

20,596 

 

21,396 

 

21,644 

 

20,733 

 

21,101 

 

21,075 

 

21,475 

 

22,042 

Estimated R-22 

Recovery (0% Loss Rate

at end-of-life)

b

 

35,344 

 

38,652 

 

40,510 

 

41,833 

 

40,097 

 

42,009 

 

41,016 

 

42,781 

 

46,264 

Source: EPA’s Vintaging Model (VM IO file_v4.4_3.23.12). 

a

The amount of R-22 that is recovered is based on the current VM’s end-of-life assumptions, as shown in Table 2.

b

The amount of R-22 recovered at end-of-life is based on a zero percent loss rate at disposal. 

Table 2 lists the assumptions used to develop the projections provided in Table 1. This table is similar in 

structure to Table A-1 of the Servicing Tail Report (STR). To that end, red font denotes assumptions that have 

changed in the model since completion of that report in December 2009 (see http://go.usa.gov/rn4W). 

Additionally, since completion of the STR, “R-22 Medium Retail Food” has been reconfigured into two smaller 

end-use categories, “R-22 Large Condensing Units” and “R-22 Small Condensing Units”. The table shows the 

historical end-use category in gray font, for reference purposes only.

Table 2. Input Assumptions, Years 2005 to 2020

Current

Refrigerant

Equipment Type and

Original ODS Refrigerant

Charge

Sizea

Loss

Rateb

Growth

Ratec

Recovery

Rated

Lifetime

(Years)

AC Equipment

R-22

R-22 Residential Unitary A/C (2005-

2006) 3 13.6% 0.8% 35% 15

R-22 R-22 Residential Unitary A/C (2006- 2020) 5 13.6% 0.8% 35% 15

R-22 R-22 Small Commercial Unitary AC 8 11% 2.5% 40% 15

R-22 R-22 Large Commercial Unitary AC 15 10% 2.5% 40% 15

R-22 R-22 Water & Ground Source Heat Pumps 4 5% 0.8% 57% 20

R-22 R-22 Dehumidifiers 0 1% 0.2% 50% 11

R-22 R-22 Packaged Terminal Units 1 5% 0.8% 35% 12

R-22 R-22 Window Units 1 1% 5.0% 50% 12

R-22 R-12 School & Tour Buses 5 10% 2.6% 50% 12

R-22 R-22 Transit Buses 8 44% 2.6% 50% 12

R-22 R-22 Trains 22 44% 2.6% 50% 5
2

Current

Refrigerant

Equipment Type and

Original ODS Refrigerant

Charge

Sizea

Loss

Rateb

Growth

Ratec

Recovery

Rated

Lifetime

(Years)

R-22 R-11 Centrifugal Chillers 700 5% 0.5% 80% 25

R-22 R-12 Centrifugal Chillers 721 5% 0.5% 80% 27

R-22 Reciprocating Chillers 230 1% 0.2% 80% 20

R-22 Screw Chillers 300 1% 0.5% 80% 20

R-22 Scroll Chillers 240 1% 0.5% 80% 20

R-22 R-500 Chillers 926 5% 0.5% 80% 27

Refrigeration Equipment

R-22 R-12 Cold Storage <0.01 20% 2.5% 80% 20

R-22 R-22 Cold Storage <0.01 20% 2.5% 80% 20

R-22 R-502 Cold Storage <0.01 20% 2.5% 80% 20

R-502 R-502 Cold Storage <0.01 25% 2.5% 80% 20

R-22 R-12 Large Retail Food 1,800e 30% 0.8% 80% 18

R-502 R-12 Large Retail Food 1,800 33% 0.8% 80% 18

R-502 R-502 Large Retail Food 1,800 33% 0.8% 80% 18

R-22 R-502 Large Retail Food 1,800 30% 0.8% 80% 18

R-22 R-22 Medium Retail Food 3 8% 1.7% 80% 18

R-22 R-22 Large Condensing Units (Medium 

Retail Food)

20 15% 0.8% 80% 20

R-22 R-22 Small Condensing Units (Medium 

Retail Food)

3 8% 0.8% 80% 20

R-22 R-12 Small Retail Food 1 1% 0.8% 35% 20

R-22 R-12 Transport 8 28% 2.5% 35% 12

R-402A R-12 Transport 8 28% 2.5% 35% 12

R-401A R-502 Transport 8 28% 2.5% 10% 12

R-502 R-502 Transport 8 33% 2.5% 10% 12

R-22 R-11 Industrial Process Refrigeration 952 10% 2.5% 80% 25

R-22 R-12 Industrial Process Refrigeration 992 10% 2.5% 80% 25

R-401A R-12 Industrial Process Refrigeration 850 5% 2.5% 90% 25

R-22 R-22 Industrial Process Refrigeration 9,100 12% 2.5% 80% 25

Source: EPA’s Vintaging Model (VM IO file_v4.4_3.23.12). 

a

Charge size presented in kilograms. Cold storage charge size presented in kilograms/cubic foot.

b The loss rates represent the percent of the total charge that leaks in a given year plus the amount, on an annual basis, emitted at 

service. This is expressed as a percentage of total chemical charge.

c

The growth rate applies to new consumption/virgin manufacture for products entering the market. The growth rate refers to the growth

of the equipment market for each end-use as a whole and is not specific to the refrigerant. For example, the growth rate for unitary AC 

units from 2006 to 2020 includes both R-22 and R-410A from 2006 to 2009 and applies to 410A units only (due to the R-22 new 

equipment manufacturing ban) between 2010 and 2020.

d

To adjust the model to assume a scenario in which 100% of refrigerant in equipment is recovered at disposal, all inputs in this column 

were changed to 100%. All other inputs remained the same to run this model scenario.

e

For CFC-12 Large retail food, a new vintage of R-22 has been added to the model that begins in 2000. This vintage has a charge size of 

1,360, but all other values are the same as the original R-22 vintage (with a 1,800 charge size).