The online versions of Austria’s leading TV channel ORF and liberal newspaper “Der Standard” have joined the growing row of international media to report about CO2 as a next-generation refrigerant in MAC. Both highlighted the dedicated work on R744 by the Virtual Vehicle Competence Center in Graz.
In a bid to also recognise the dedicated work of Austrian research institutes in the ongoing discussion about the future use of R744, both leading media published articles early June to highlight the achievements of the Virtual Vehicle Competence Center (ViF) in Graz. As Klaus Martin, lead researcher at ViF for R744 MAC systems confirmed to R744.com, the Austrian press agency APA contacted him on its own initiative to inquire about ViF’s research on CO
2 systems. This shows the still growing momentum for CO
2 systems also beyond Germany’s borders, where the debate and media attention have reached a level not seen in the years before.
The VIRTUAL VEHICLE Competence Center, for more than two years R744.com engineering services partner, addresses the gap between academic research and the needs of industrial research and development departments. The working group on Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC), initiated to simulate and analyse CO
2 air conditioning, will be active until the end of 2009, when the project ends.
“Enormous potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”
Asked by the Austrian media about the motivation to carry on with the research, Rene Jugert, member of the MAC working group, cited recent studies confirming that the MAC system accounts for at least 7% of all vehicle CO
2 emissions. 60% of that would come from the normal refrigerant use. For Jugert it is clear that there is an “enormous potential here to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Moreover, the burden put on the climate in case of an accident, where the currently used refrigerant R134 is completely released, would equal 7,400 kilometres driven with an average car (165 g/km CO
2 emissions).
More information, including the calculations mentioned above and other findings, can be found in an article published in ViF’s internal magazine attached to this article (page 6 ff).
About the Virtual Vehicle Competence Center
The ViF project addressing R744 MAC systems is focused on simulating CO
2 components and complete systems by analysing key parameters in the refrigerant cycle: system performance, efficiency levels, heat transfer, and stability. The ultimate goal is to improve the efficiency of CO
2 systems using different parameter variations, and develop a simulation model based on the AirConditioning Library.
Founded in 2002, ViF is established as a well-known player in the area of vehicle research and development. As a main shareholder, the Graz University of Technology links the Center with more than 20 institutes, enabling technical innovations in virtual vehicle creation. ViF's cooperation network comprises more than 45 industry partners, including Audi, AVL, BMW, MAN and Magna.
