At the recent Purdue University Compressor and Refrigeration Conference, some 500 attendees from 26 countries heard presentations of more than 200 papers on a wide range of HVACR topics. Dozens of those dealt with ways to make HFC refrigerants work better. But an even greater number of papers looked at alternatives to HFCs, with CO2 being the most talked about.
In effect, the four days of sessions was a cautionary tale. Many wanted HFCs to remain viable refrigerants long after HCFCs are phased out. But many sensed a long life for HFCs is not a sure thing.