The Montreal Protocol was introduced in 1987 where all countries agreed to discontinue the use of ozone depleting substances (ODS) thus protecting the ozone layer. ODS come in different forms but are mostly used as refrigerants for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. Some of the notorious refrigerants where CFS (cholorfluorocarbons) and were the first to be phased out. Next, there was the HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) which are continually being phased out with the expectation of total overhaul by 2020.
By 2020, no more HFCs should be developed or manufactured anywhere in the world. That refers to refrigerant R-22 which is commonly used for HVAC systems in both residential and commercial properties. However, there are a few concerns because the new refrigerants take a toll on the overall performance of the HVAC systems besides not harming the ozone layer. As a result, there has been a notable increase in energy performance by at least 5% to 30% depending on the refrigerant in use.
How Did TdX 20 Come Into Use?
After many years of research and experiments, TdX 20 was developed by Bluon as a refrigerant for HVAC use. So far, the use of this refrigerant has caused reduction in energy consumption by at least 5% to 25%, depending on the usage. To achieve this numbers, the refrigerant applies more heat at the lowest pressure possible. Therefore, it negates system losses by maximizing the usage of the entire coil. Here’s what you need to know about TdX 20 and how it works.
- Tetrafluoroethane R134a – It has a high temperature and removes the moisture found in compressed air that might prevent electric discharges. After vaporization it will absorb a large amount of energy.
- Difluoromethane R32 – Being insoluble in water, it also has a very high thermal stability.
- Basically, it is a fuel isolate and absorbs any energy coming from heat thus it can suppress fire.
- Hexaflouraopropane R227 – Known as organ fluoride, it is an organic compound that’s also viewed as a chain reactor isolator. It prevents electric discharges and can be used as a displacement drying agent.
- Heptafluoralpropane R326fa – It isolates oxygen and is used as a fire suppressant.
Finally, there is a proprietary lubricant that also brings the refrigerants together to create the most practical homogeneous liquid blend.
What Are The Benefits Of TdX 20 Refrigerant?
- The Performance Benefits
If your equipment is running on the TdX20 refrigerant, you should expect less consumption of energy, about 20% less on average. Also, the refrigerant has been known to reduce the usage of electricity especially during utility peak times. The refrigerant reduces amperage draw by 5% to 25% thus reducing the daily operation time considerably by about 20 minutes to 90 minutes. Compared to R-22 substances, TdX20 actually increases and preserves the cooling capacity. Finally, it is well-optimized to run in the high, medium and low temperature systems efficiently.
- Equipment And Installation Advantages
When you use the refrigerant, you can count on an extended lifespan of your equipment since it operates in the lowest compressor temperatures and with the lowest pressure too. Additionally, you don’t need an oil change because the refrigerant works with conventional compressor oils such as AB, POE and MO efficiently.
TdX20 works with any conventional metering device thus saving you a lot of money when it comes to changing the expansion devices. With the refrigerant, you can avoid a substantial financial investment with the R-410A equipment. Finally, it can be used efficiently on all the HVAC systems previously used with the R-22 substances.
- The Environmental Merits
The main reason for creation of TdX 20 was to prevent ozone depletion, compared to the R-22 substances previously in use and it has achieved exactly that. It has been adopted for various HVAC usage in both commercial and residential properties because it prevents ozone depletion. Also, it is not toxic or flammable thus it is suitable for application in different places. If you are a building owner who has adopted the use of TdX20 from www.bluonenergy.com, you can gain points towards an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
Take an instance where a 100,000 sq ft property replaces the old refrigerants and adopts TdX20. Reports suggest that within a year, such a building will reduce the overall carbon footprint immensely by about 60 metric tons of carbon (IV) oxide every year. Therefore, it’s a good fit for any commercial and residential property and helps reduce the overall ozone layer depletion among many other environmental benefits.
Conclusion
With the urge to fight climate change, TdX20 was developed to replace numerous other refrigerants currently in use. Note that, the refrigerant is considerably cheaper than R-22 substances and thus is serves as a good replacement on both ends. Since the production of TdX20 increased, the company reduced the price to about a wholesale charge of $13 per every pound. Note that, currently, a lot of manufacturers were hoarding the R-22 substances thus increasing the price to about $25 for every pound and it’s also expected to increase to $40 or more with time.
After the introduction of the Montreal Protocol, there was hope that everyone, both commercial and residential would invest in new HVAC systems that would employ different refrigerants that save the ozone layer, compared to what was already in use. However, the vision wasn’t so feasible for many people and that’s why there are still many R-22 HVAC systems still in use even with the 2020 deadline approaching. Statistics reveal that at least 60% of HVAC systems currently in use apply R-22 substances and may require a lot of replacement every year for maintenance and repair reasons.
However, there is a lot of hope with TdX20 since it provides all the benefits mentioned above and much more. The refrigerant allows the systems to run at compressor temperatures with low pressures. Therefore, they can last longer and require very few repairs and maintenance replacements. Whether for commercial or residential use, they make a good case because of the numerous benefits.
