MARKET INSIGHTS & OBSERVATIONS

Chemically speaking, a hydrocarbon [HC] is an elementary compound of hydrogen and carbon which occurs naturally and is found in large concentrations in crude oil. Used as a modern refrigerant, non-toxic hydrocarbons are an eco-friendly alternative to the CFC/HCFC/HFC fluorocarbons linked to ozone layer depletion and to global warming.

Hydrocarbons belong to the group of natural refrigerants and have zero ODP and negligible GWP.

The relative cost of a system using hydrocarbons largely depends on the application. In domestic and light commercial applications, the cost of the system is similar to that of systems with HFCs. In commercial and industrial refrigeration applications, systems with HCs tend to be relatively expensive due to the need for explosion-proof enclosures for electrical equipment, though for chillers placed outdoors the added cost for safety is more modest.

Hydrocarbon refrigerants from ECO-Freeze, however, will never contain R1270 or R1150.

Hydrocarbons are highly flammable and must be handled with care. If they are used responsibly, hydrocarbons can be employed in a variety of refrigeration and air conditioning applications.

Hydrocarbon refrigerants include:

• R50 (methane)
• R170 (ethane)
• R290 (propane)
• R600 (butane)
• R600a (isobutane)
• R1150 (ethylene)
• R1270 (propylene)
• E170 (dimethyl ether)

Furthermore, our products are completely sustainable: they do not contain chlorine or fluorine, which are considered as the most harmful substances for the environment by the Montreal and Kyoto protocols. Our products are considered ecological as they have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3 and an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of Zero.

Hydrocarbons are highly flammable and must be handled with care. If they are used responsibly, hydrocarbons can be employed in a variety of refrigeration and air conditioning applications.

In order to ensure safety, hydrocarbon applications are governed by various international, regional and national standards and through firm regulation. Hydrocarbons can only pose an explosion risk if the concentration is between the lower and upper flammability limits. Safety standards are developing rapidly nowadays which is necessary to exploit the full potential of these refrigerants.

The industry’s main standards are the IEC 60335-2-40, IEC 60335-2-89, ISO 5149 and EN378. ECO-Freeze also follows the ISO9001 and UN1950 regulations.

When following the safety standards the concentration of leaked refrigerant will not get above LFL where ignition sources can ignite it, even in extreme situations. The necessary safety precautions and system design depend on the refrigerant charge. In general ignition sources inside the application must be avoided. Most hydrocarbons are non-toxic, with the main safety risk coming from their flammability, although gaseous hydrocarbons are heavier than air and will displace air in the lungs.

ECO-Freeze hydrocarbon refrigerants have an atmospheric life of less than one year with no damaging effect to the ozone layer and they don’t contribute to global warming. In addition to these important properties, ECO-Freeze products have proven to be an extremely efficient and reliable choice for most (if not all) air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Our products are completely sustainable: they do not contain chlorine or fluorine, which are considered as the most harmful substances for the environment by the Montreal and Kyoto protocols. Our products are considered ecological as they have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3 and an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of Zero.

The exhaustion of our planet’s natural resources and the damage of the environment is widely discussed in society.

Companies can no longer ignore the calls for environmentally friendly business operations and are rapidly forced to make sustainable choices to minimize their harmful impact. With the obligation to save the planet’s climate for our future generations, political and grassroots pressure increases exponentially.

ECO-Freeze is ready to meet the global demand for organic hydrocarbon refrigerants and will actively contribute to save, preserve and improve our fragile ecosystem by informing and educating both the end-user of its products (consumers) and the distributors and resellers higher up the value chain.

The equipment currently used for existing refrigerants does not require any modification or alteration to be charged with ECO-Freeze refrigerants. Since no retrofitting is required, ECO-Freeze refrigerants are the perfect solution for any system that previously used gases such as CFC R12, HFC R134a, HCFC R22, R502, R11, and others.

Because of this compatibility, it’s easy for businesses to shift away from the harmful and destructive products they are using today and so they can start to downsize their environmental impact.

ECO-Freeze organic refrigerants consume significantly less energy than their chemical counterparts in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems but also in car air-conditioning systems. This results in factual electrical energy savings of up to 40%.

• Reduced overall operating costs (increase in profits)
• Decreased compressor loads
• Extending the component service life and minimizing leakage
• Minimized consumption of fossil hydrocarbon fuel
• Ozone-friendly and ecological – sustainable but still highly performant

The safety of ECO-Freeze refrigerants is assured, provided their application complies with all relevant and applicable industry safety standards.

ECO-Freeze refrigerants have been the subject of detailed studies and analysis by various organizations including:

• INFRAS – Chennai, Puducherry, India
• SwissContact S.M.E.P. – Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka
• European Natural Refrigerants Transition Board
• Arthur D Little – Risk Assessment Study Engineers
• Granherne P/L –  Risk Assessment Study Engineers
• Maclaine-Cross, I. L.., Usage and Risk of Hydrocarbon Refrigerants in Motor Cars for Australia and the United States, June 2004, International Journal of Refrigeration, Volume 27, No. 4, pages 339-345.

Conclusions of these organizations support the use of ECO-Freeze refrigerants. Scientific papers published by various organizations in Belgium, Australia, and other countries frequently attested to the efficiency and safety of hydrocarbon refrigerants across a wide range of their applications, in challenging and extremely heavy conditions.

ECO-Freeze products have a higher resistance to humidity. No acids are formed due to water and humidity. Some products are being produced using a special technology that provides optimal lubrication for new and existing compressors.

The unique formula of ECO-Freeze hydrocarbon refrigerants produces a 30%-to-50% increase in heat conductor efficiency, compared to other refrigerants.  In practice, it means that ECO-Freeze refrigerants give off heat faster and have a lower boiling point than fluorocarbon refrigerants.

For example, Coca Cola or Pepsi drinks refrigerated shelves that use ECO-Freeze refrigerant instead of HFC, chill the cans to the desired temperature approximately 15% to 30% faster. In the summertime with higher store traffic, it is a definite advantage for store owners, as well as for manufacturers of the products being sold.

ECO-Freeze hydrocarbon refrigerants have a unique advantage stemming from the fact that each kilogram of our refrigerant replaces three kilograms of fluorocarbon refrigerant.

That means you only require a third of the refrigerant by weight.

This provides a big advantage and extends the service life of the equipment while simultaneously increasing its performance. Ultimately this will positively impact the financial results of your business as well.

Initially, chemical companies developed HFC refrigerants as replacements for CFCs to address the problem of ozone layer depletion but still, they contained blends of gases with a high impact on the process of global warming. In fact, they have been found to be poor substitutes for performance under extreme operating conditions.

Additionally, the high contribution of HFCs to global warming coupled with the unacceptable volume of greenhouse gas emissions released during manufacturing as well as their adverse effect on human health made it necessary to phase them out as soon as possible.

HFC refrigerants were found to be a poor substitute for CFC refrigerants because their application required extensive modifications to or even replacement of existing systems and installations. Retrofitting is a very costly procedure.

Various industries are now looking for alternatives to stay compliant with increasingly stricter regulation and legislation. The growing global concern and rise of grassroots awareness movements are putting significant pressure on companies and businesses to shift towards ecological and organic solutions to drastically reduce their negative impact on the environment.

ECO-Freeze products are not only more efficient and cost-effective, but they also perform better than any of the existing alternatives on the market

ECO-Freeze products do not require any modifications to your existing installations and are completely safe to use.

For over twenty-five years now Greenpeace has been promoting the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants under the name “Greenfreeze Technology“.

A thorough study of each application for refrigerant replacement showed that a hydrocarbon refrigerant had proven to be the perfect environmentally safe alternative.

As a result, in 1991 a small German company specializing in refrigerators was sponsored by Greenpeace to develop a small refrigerator that used the best possible solutions for refrigeration systems. This project gained much momentum in the face of challenges stemming from fluorocarbon refrigerant manufacturers and distributors. In August 1992, a German company placed an initial order for 20,000 Greenfreeze refrigerators.

Within just a three-month period, the order quantity exceeded 50,000 units.

By the end of 1993, after the acceptance of Greenfreeze Technology, most of Germany’s major refrigerator manufacturers announced that their production lines would be adapted to hydrocarbon technology in an expeditious manner.

By 1996, almost 100% of refrigerators produced for the German market were designed with Greenfreeze Technology.

Due to this fact and other positive changes, the number of refrigeration systems being charged with ECO-Freeze refrigerants is constantly increasing. The combination of high-end products and environmental responsibility has provided a strong boost to demand ECO-Freeze refrigerants.

Relying on a robust network of distributors, ECO-Freeze trades with countries from across the globe and makes supplies in cylinders or bulk containers.

Implementing advanced technologies with the focus on quality and attention to detail, ECO-Freeze is able to offer a worldwide service. ECO-Freeze will deliver its products to any destination striving to provide the very best high-quality advanced hydrocarbon refrigerants playing a vital role in protecting our environment and reducing energy consumption.

ECO-Freeze unique production technology coupled with a developed distribution network en­ables the company to remain a leader in the hydrocarbon refrigerants market. The tailor-made technological solution allows the high output of quality products, with each batch being tested to ensure compliance with stringent standards. Processing and packaging of all orders are done in-house and distributed using efficient distribution systems.

ECO-Freeze’s unique production technology coupled with a developed distribution network enables the company to remain a leader in the hydrocarbon refrigerants market. The tailor-made technological solutions allow a high and constant output of quality products, with each batch being tested to ensure compliance with stringent standards.

Processing and packaging of all orders are done in-house and products are shipped using efficient distribution systems, ensuring on-time delivery. We can supply top quality safe natural refrigerants regardless of your location.

ECO-Freeze can supply top quality natural refrigerants regardless of your location.