Italy’s Art Serf selects R455A
BELGIUM: Art Serf, an Italian manufacturer of refrigerated display cases, is using Honeywell’s Solstice L40X (R455A) refrigerant in its new, commercial “plug-in” catering refrigeration cases.
Established in 1992, Art Serf is based in Vazzola, Treviso, 45km north of Venice. Its range of units are widely used in public areas like canteens and self-service restaurants.
A blend of 75.5% HFO R1234yf, 21.5% R32 and 3% CO2, R455A is an A2L gas with a low GWP of 146. It is said to match the capacity of R404A and has the same or better efficiency.
“Compared to propane, the safety of Solstice L40X (R455A) is very high and is a valid alternative to hydrocarbons,” said Graziano Uliana, Art Serf’s chief technical officer. “In most cases, Solstice L40X does not require investing in certification of components per EU’s directive on equipment in potentially explosive atmosphere.”
“Art Serf’s customers were asking for refrigerated display cases that were environmentally-friendly, and with performance comparable to units that used R404A,” said Carmine Marotta, chief executive officer of Honeywell’s Italian supplier General Gas.
R455A is designed as an alternative to high GWP R404A in commercial refrigeration applications, including plug-in cabinets, condensing units, monoblocks for cold and freezer rooms, heat pumps and chillers. The refrigerant has already been accepted for use in many leading compressor technologies, including Tecumseh, Bitzer, Emerson, Boyard and Frascold – with many other compressor and condensing unit OEMs having also approved or said to be in the final stages of testing.
