Rink

May / June 2018

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D o you still have an R-22 (Freon) refrigeration system? If so, it's time to think about how you will address the impending phase-out of the R-22 refrigerant. Although R-22 is still available, owners will eventually have no choice but to consider either dropping in a replacement refrigerant or installing a new system. This article looks at the replacement options and brings forward some considerations and details you should consider in determining your R-22 replacement strategy. Why do we have to replace R-22? In 1987, an international summit known as the Montreal Protocol brought countries from all over the world together to discuss a global strategy to eliminate refrigerants harmful to the environment. The Protocol deemed certain refrigerant blends such as R-22 to be phased out based on or their effects on the thinning Ozone layer. Based on the Ozone depleting characteristics of R-22 the participating countries agreed and adhered to the phase-out schedule below: Important Dates for North American R-22 Phase-Out Schedule Pre-2010: • R-22 production limited to 1989 production levels. Jan 1, 2010: • No new R-22 systems can be installed. Existing system components can still serviced or replaced. • R22 production limited to 0.5% of 1989 production levels. Jan 1, 2020: • No more R-22 permitted for production. The laws of supply and demand tell us that we can expect the price of R-22 to explode! Experience with other, previously phased-out refrigerants such as R-12 leads us to expect that the price will increase by 50 times the pre- 2010 price. Replace the Refrigerant or Install a New System – Which One Makes Sense? To help point you in the right direction we have developed a quick questionnaire that will aid you in determining whether it is more advantageous to replace the refrigerant or install a new system. Questions (Yes/No): 1. Would decreasing my refrigeration capacity by 10% cause operational issues? 36 / MAY.JUNE.2018 USICERINKS.COM PHOTO: RINK ARCHIVES R-22 PHASE-OUT: What rink owners should consider when deciding to replace the refrigerant or the system

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