The Daikin engineering team worked closely with TOPS to address the following key requirements:

• A GWP of less than 1,500 to position TOPS with a sustainable solution for the useful life of the equipment in the event of any future climate related Regulatory policies;
• Equivalent or better energy efficiency and refrigeration capacity across the entire operating range;
• A close match in temperature, pressure, and volumetric flow rate properties to R-22, in order to utilize the same expansion devices, distribution system, and piping;
• Traditional chemistry, with proven material compatibility with legacy R-22 equipment; and
• Cost-effectiveness in long-term operation.

After the conversion from R-22 to Creard R-407H, the system was monitored for three months (March through May 2018). Throughout the test, data was collected related to operating pressures, temperatures, and the energy consumption of the system. The power consumption during the test months when compared to R-22 was 2 percent higher after the first fill and system shakedown, and then improved to 0.5 percent lower energy consumption after the controller was tuned. The cooling capacity remained the same between R-22 and R-407H.

TDH Refrigeration performed the retrofit during a single overnight shift, following traditional retrofit procedures.

Publication date: 10/18/2018

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