The attention being paid to so-called natural refrigerants is showing a shift toward hydrocarbon refrigerants, even as CO2 gains a stronger foothold and ammonia maintains a high profile. But, whether or not there will be a dominant natural choice remains unclear even in Europe, much less North America.
There has been some jockeying of positions. Ammonia is being tried more and more in smaller applications. CO2 first hit North American shores a decade ago and has grown in applications including transcritical. Now hydrocarbons (HCs) are gaining more attention.