Carrier Transicold makes R452A standard refrigerant
Carrier Transicold is to make lower GWP refrigerant R452A the standard gas for all new transport refrigeration units in North America from October.
Sold by Chemours as Opteon XP44, R452A has a GWP of around 2141, which, although high, is a substantial reduction on the 3922 GWP of R404A, which is still widely used on US trucks.
The timing of the transition also coincides with announcements by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that will require all new transport refrigeration units to use a refrigerant with a GWP of less than 2,200 from next year. In addition, Canada will require refrigerants with a GWP of less than 2,200 in new transport refrigeration units from 2025.
Carrier Transicold truck and trailer refrigeration units have been available with R452A as an option since the end of 2020.
The previous significant cost differential between R452A and R404A are said to have diminished with changing demand and refrigerant production trends.
Customers can also transition newer existing Carrier Transicold equipment from R404A to R452A with relative ease. For all late-model Carrier Transicold systems – those with an electronic expansion valve – all that is required is a software upgrade along with purging the R404A and replacing it with R452A.
On Carrier Transicold truck units and older trailer units that use a mechanical expansion valve, the valve will require a manual adjustment or, in some cases, replacement based on the age of the model.