World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Chiller shown using new R410A replacement

Multiaqua
The Multiaqua chiller using Chemours R410A replacement XL55 on the stand at AHR Expo

USA: A US manufacturer is to exhibit a ductless air-cooled water chiller using Opteon XL55, a lower GWP replacement for R410A, at the 2016 AHR Expo which opens today.

XL55, a Chemours refrigerant with an expected ASHRAE number of R452B, is seen as a competitor to R32 in the battle to replace R410A. It has been adopted by Multiaqua, a South-Carolina-based manufacturer of a range of residential and commercial air hydronic systems, in a chiller being exhibited at this week’s AHR Expo in Orlando.

According to Chemours, the new gas has a very similar GWP to R32 but with better efficiency, lower discharge temperatures and a lower flammability. In tests on a Trane chiller, XL55 is said to have exhibited better performance than both R410A and R32 when used as a drop-in.

Opteon XL55 is said to be gaining significant interest from OEMs  and is awaiting approval under the US Environmental Protection Agency Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) programme.

When replacing R410A, XL55 is said to offer improved performance, while maintaining design compatibility. According to Chemours it also has the lowest flammability compared to industry tested R410A alternatives.

“The continued adoption of the products in our Opteon portfolio by major OEMs shows the significant shift that the industry has begun to make toward our HFO solutions,” said Diego Boeri, global business director of Chemours Fluorochemicals. 

Chiller manufacturer using R513A

During the AHR Expo, Smardt Chiller Group will also announce the commercialisation of high-efficiency centrifugal chillers using R513A, Chemours new XP10 refrigerant. Smardt is a global leader of the fast-growing oil-free centrifugal chiller market, with factories in Germany, the US, Canada, Australia and China. Smardt expects its magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers to be available in both air-cooled and water-cooled versions well before the end of 2016.

Earlier this month Johnson Controls announced that its R134a chiller portfolio was also now compatible with R513A.

Related stories:

DR-55 is 5% better as drop-in – September 16, 2015
USA: Chemours R410A replacement DR-55 is reported to have performed well in high ambient drop-in tests on a R410A rooftop air conditioner. Read more…

York chillers compatible with R513A – January 20, 2016
USA: York centrifugal and screw chillers from 440 to 21,100kW are now compatible with R513A, the lower GWP alternative for R134a. Read more…

Latest News

10th September 2026

Modine to become Modexus Solutions

USA: Modine is to change its name to Modexus Solutions after completing the spinoff of its Performance Technologies business.
10th September 2026

ASHRAE and UNEP renew environmental agreement

USA: ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have renewed their longstanding memorandum of understanding to advance sustainable refrigeration and air conditioning.
10th September 2026

UK half-year heat pump installs down 22%

UK: The number of retrofit heat pump installations in domestic properties in the UK in the first half of this year were 22% down on the first six months of…
9th September 2026

Tesco selects R454A refrigerated trailer units

UK: Carrier Transicold has delivered five Vector HE 19 low CO2 emissions multi-temperature trailer refrigeration units to Tesco.
9th September 2026

Cooling towers suspected in Spanish LD outbreak

SPAIN: Investigations are centred on local cooling towers following a legionnaires’ disease outbreak which has infected 31 people in the Pamplona/Iruña region.
9th September 2026

Trane upgrades Sintesis Advantage

BELGIUM: Trane upgraded its Sintesis Advantage CGAF and CXAF chillers and heat pumps with new features and options to reduce sound levels and improve seasonal efficiency.