In an exclusive interview to R744.com, Professor Chen, lecturer at Shanghai Jiaotong University and adviser to the Chinese Government, reveals latest developments concerning the use of R744 in the Asian giant.
With an extensive background on automotive and stationary applications, Professor Chen is deeply committed to reduce ozone depletion and global warming impacts from refrigerants. He has hence been instrumental in the switch from R-12 to R-134a in China, together with the Chinese Environmental Agency (SEPA) and the support from UNEP.
Now, as he sees R744 cooling and heating developing in China, he is giving advice to the government on the adoption of an international legal framework for the next-generation refrigerant.
R744.com: What is the current position of Chinese industry and public authorities concerning refrigerants for mobile air conditioning (MAC)?
Prof. Chen: The Chinese automotive industry has completed the replacement of R-12 by R-134a in order to reduce ozone depletion impacts. However, it is still possible today to replace R-134a by R-12 during a vehicle's life. China tries to follow the world’s environmental leadership coming from California and European Union (EU). In the past, China has taken over the fuel consumption testing standards from the EU and a leading region like Shanghai has also adopted green legislation from California. Global warming is a huge global challenge, so China has to act quickly, too. The next step for China is to decide whether it wants to implement the EU MAC directive regarding the phase out of R134a and by when.
R744.com: How do you see the current discussion about the choice of the next refrigerant for vehicles?
When choosing the next refrigerant one should choose a long term sustainable global solution. Issues like ozone depletion potential (ODP), efficiency, Global Warming Potential (GWP), decomposition products of a new substance, toxicity, flammability and generally the knowledge about the substance should be some of the key factors when making that choice.
In China we would like to make sure we choose a sustainable, long-term solution. We need to avoid phasing-out yet another refrigerant in 5 or 10 years because we did not understood the substance in the first place (i.e. concerning risks related to decomposition into Trifluoroacid (TFA) and other by-products).
R744.com: What do you think will be the choice of refrigerant by the Chinese automotive industry?
Prof. Chen: All major manufacturers and suppliers players have started to investigate R744 for the above reasons, since R744 (carbon dioxide) is a very well understood substance. It has no ODP and a GWP of 1. The efficiency results of some major international market players have shown that R744 MAC systems can reduce the fuel consumption of the AC system also under Chinese climatic conditions.
We, at SJTU, encourage Chinese companies to work with R744, and have completed several development projects.
R744.com: And what about stationary applications?
Prof. Chen: We see that different developments are underway with R744 in the stationary market, too. For example, Coca Cola will have vending machines using R744 at the Chinese Olympics, and the R744 Hot water Heat pump business is starting soon. All in all, I am confident that China is prepared to develop R744 Technology for different applications.
R744.com: Do you think that China should be supported by CDM (carbon trading) projects in order to phase out R-134a.
Prof. Chen: In many ways China has made substantial progress in improving technology and reduce emissions. However, China is a fast growing economy still having a huge potential to increase market size. Therefore we have to make sure that China can realize this potential in a sustainable manner, by investing in environmentally friendly and efficient technologies. To achieve this, it is clearly needed to work together with international technology leaders. But other support, such as funding within the frame of Kyoto Protocol, will also mean a key incentive for Chinese companies willing to move to sustainable solutions, like R744.
R744.com: We thank very much Prof. Chen
