# Updates on Alternative 

# Refrigerants and MVAC Servicing

Yaidi Cancel U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SAE ICCSC Meeting January 17, 2012

# Overview

• Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)

– Regulatory activities

– Other rules on alternative refrigerants


### • Light - duty Vehicle Proposed Rule



## • Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 609 regulations

– Update on future regulatory revisions


### • Blends of R - 134a/R - 40

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# SNAP: Regulatory Actions

• SNAP/MVAC rules status

– HFO - 1234yf final rule published March 29, 2011 (76 FR 17488)

• Acceptable subject to use conditions

• Passenger cars and light - duty trucks only

– CO 2 final rule - anticipate publication 2012

– HFO - 1234yf service container fittings

• Adopting revised SAE J2844 standard (October 2011 version)

• Anticipate publication 2012

– HFC - 134a

• Petition to reconsider for MVAC in new light - duty vehicles complete

• Next steps: pre - proposal e.g., meeting with stakeholders, consider timing for alternatives and lead time for OEMs 3

## Other Rules on HFO - 1234yf

• SNUR

– Final rule published on October 27, 2010 (75 FR 65987)

– Addresses potential health concerns

– Requires SNUN submission 90 days before using HFO 1234yf for:

• Distribution in commerce of consumer products for servicing, maintenance, and disposal
• Uses other than charging MVAC by OEMs in new vehicles



### • Volatile organic compound (VOC) exemption

– Petition granted to exempt HFO - 1234yf from VOC status

– Proposed rule published in October 17, 2011 (76 FR 64059)
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## EPA/NHTSA Light Duty 

## Proposed Rule

• 2017 - 2025 MY light - duty vehicle GHG emissions and CAFE standards

– Published December 1, 2011

• Public comment period extended to February 13, 2012

– 163 g/mi (54.5mpg) fleet - wide emission compliance targets

– A/C credit program to continue (both efficiency and leakage)

– NHTSA to incorporate efficiency credits into CAFE

• Maximum of 5g/mi car & 7.2g/mi truck

– Max leakage credit is 18.8g/mi car & 24.4g/mi truck

• Mostly for low GWP refrigerants

– Credit program will be similar to that in 2012 - 2016 final rule 5

## EPA/NHTSA Light Duty 

## MVAC Efficiency Test

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

0 1800 3600 5400 7200 Time (seconds) - 2 hour block of site time EPA 74 Preconditioning and MAC Cycle - Solar ON and AC ON

Vehicle and Site Preparations 30 minutes Site Conditions: 77 F, 50% RH Road Speed Fan Vehicle Conditions: Windows open or closed Interior 77 ± 2 F Cold or Hot Start

Solar and AC OFF
SC03 Phase 3 Bag 1 Analyze Data

HWFET Phase 4 Bag 2 Hot Solar Soak Solar Load = 850 W/m 2 for 53 minutes OFF

Phase 1 Preconditioning 505 s Phase 2

866 s EPA 74

Fan Speed at 4 mph Fan at Road Fan at Road Speed AC ON Speed (mph)

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## CAA § 609: MVAC Servicing 

## Current Regulation

• Technician training & certification

• Refrigerant sales restriction

– Only R - 12 (<20lbs containers)


### • Approved refrigerant handling equipment

– Certified by UL/ETL to meet SAE stds (e.g. , SAE 2788)

– Submit form to EPA
– shop/equipment owners

• Demonstrating that has acquired and is properly using equipment


### • Recordkeeping

• CAA No venting applies, all refrigerants including all substitutes unless specifically exempted (e.g. CO 2 

### )

– No venting HFO - 1234yf during service, repair and disposal 7

## CAA § 609: Potential Regulation



## Updates

• Potential adoption of SAE standards for HFO - 1234yf

– Revised SAE J2843
– R/R/R

– Revised SAE J2851
– Recovery - only

– Anticipated proposal 2012



### • Non - regulatory update

– Technician training covering SNAP - approved MVAC refrigerants

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## R - 40 SNAP Illegal

• Selling R - 40 or blends containing R - 134a and R - 40 is illegal under the Clean Air Act (CAA)  The use and introduction into interstate commerce of R - 40 or blends of R - 134a/R - 40 for MVAC is a CAA violation 

# R - 40

910 • SNAP & MVAC servicing Yaidi Cancel (202 - 343 - 9512) http://www.epa.gov/snap/ http :// www.epa.gov/ozone /title6/609/

• HFO - 1234yf SNUR Ken Moss (202 - 564 - 9232)

• HFO - 1234yf VOC exemption Dave Sanders (919 - 541 - 3356)

• Light - Duty GHG rule (A/C section) 

### Brian Nelson (734 - 214 - 4278) 

## For Additional Information

## Additional Slides

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# Taking Action for



# Sound ODS Phaseout • CAA § 612 – SNAP program

▫ Evaluates/lists substitutes that reduce overall risk to human health & environment

▫ Considers health, environmental factors including:

 e.g., ODP, GWP, toxicity, flammability



### ▫ Lists substitutes for specific end uses

 Acceptable, acceptable w/restrictions, or unacceptable

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# SNAP: Identifying Safer



## Alternatives

Notice Rulemaking required 13  13 

## Motor Vehicle Transition Yesterday: high - GWP/ODP CFCs 

### Today: high - GWP HFCs Tomorrow: low GWP alternatives

CFC - 12 HFC - 134a HFO - 1234yf CO 2

## EPA/NHTSA Light Duty 

## Proposed Rule

• EPA/NHTSA indicates the MY 2017 - 2025 standards can be met with a wide range of technologies

– Advanced gasoline engines (turbocharged/downsized) and transmissions (8 - speed transmission and high efficiency gear box)

– Vehicle mass reduction

– Lower tire rolling resistance

– Improved aerodynamics

– More efficient vehicle accessories

– Improved air conditioning efficiency & alternative refrigerants

– Some increased hybrids, EVs, PHEVs

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## Proposed MVAC Cycle 

## Modifications

• Test site at 25 oC and 50 %RH

• One test sequence

• One test report

– Bag 1 = SC03 A/C ON

– Bag 2 = HWY A/C ON

– Bag 3 = SC03 A/C OFF

– Bag 4 = HWY A/C OFF

– Δ SC03, Δ HWY, and Δ Total [gm CO 2 /mile]
• Increased accuracy and repeatability

– Solar and A/C ON after initial vehicle soak

– A/C OFF after shortened and consistent soak between Bag 2 and second Preconditioning

– Same site, same fuel, same preparation, and same driver.

– Realistic amount of time to prepare vehicle, calibrate test site, and rest for driver 15