Bitzer Approves Some HFOs for Its Screw Compressors
The company subjected the refrigerants to intensive testing
Compressor manufacturer Bitzer has approved the hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants R-1234yf and R-1234ze(E) for its CSH and CSW screw compressors. The two alternatives to R-134a have a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 10. The HFO/hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blends R-513A and R-450A, with GWPs of about 600 each, are also approved for the CSH and CSW series.
According to Bitzer, the volumetric refrigerating capacity and pressure levels of R-1234yf are comparable with those of R-134a, while the capacity figures and pressure levels of R-1234ze(E) are around 20 to 25 percent lower. Bitzer said it subjected the R-1234yf and R-1234ze(E) refrigerants to intensive testing, and the compressors performed well with both in all of the tests and laboratory experiments. The tested compressors achieved nearly identical isentropic efficiency values with R-1234yf and R-1234ze(E) as with R-134a. Due to differences in the thermodynamic properties, the COP measurement results were in some cases slightly lower.