ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced it will present test results of the second phase of its Low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program (AREP) during a one-day conference on Jan. 21, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, the day before the start of the ASHRAE Winter Conference.
“AHRI’s research program is robust and forward-thinking,” said Stephen Yurek, AHRI president and CEO. “We are proud to play a part in bringing the industry together to address our most pressing issues.”
The first phase of the program concluded in December 2013. AHRI began a second phase in January 2014 to continue research in areas that were not previously addressed, including testing at high-ambient conditions, applications not considered in the first phase, and new refrigerants identified since the first phase. The program is managed by a technical committee reporting to the AHRI Executive Committee; the AHRI Research Department administers the program.
The one-day conference will include nearly 20 technical presentations by leading researchers, who will detail the results of tests in a variety of applications with a variety of refrigerants. Registration is available here.
The program began in 2011 as an industry-wide cooperative research initiative in response to environmental concerns raised by high-GWP refrigerants. It sought to identify promising low-GWP alternative refrigerants for major product categories including air conditioners, heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, dehumidifiers, chillers, ice makers, and refrigeration equipment.