FCT: Friulair’s Reply To The F-Gas Regulation

The refrigerant gases responsible for the degradation of the atmospheric ozone layer have been banned since years in several Countries and today only those with ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) equal to zero are employed. European Union, always attentive to environmental protection, has recently begun the fight to reduce the emission of greenhouse effect substances too, which are responsible for global warming. Refrigerant gases represent a huge part of this category; for this reason the EU F-GAS REGULATION 517/2014 has been issued requiring a gradual reduction of fluorinated greenhouse gases commercialized in the market, with the aim of reducing their environmental impact.

In particular, the regulation requires that by 2030 the quantity (in CO2 equivalent) of refrigerant gas that can be commercialized in Europe must be 21% of the average quantity of refrigerants on the Union market in the period from 2009 to 2012. It is important to note that the refrigerant quantities just mentioned are not expressed by weight: in fact, the EU assigns the annual quota of refrigerant that each producer or importer can market in Europe not by mass but rather as a mass of CO₂ equivalent. This value is obtained by calculating the product between the mass of the gas and its GWP (Global Warming Potential) value, which is a specific chemical characteristic of each refrigerant. In the light of this, in order to achieve these important targets set by the EU without reducing the total quantity (in mass) of refrigerants necessary for the needs of the refrigeration industries, it is essential to use new gases with lower GWP values, i.e. more eco-sustainable.

FRIULAIR has immediately decided to offer solutions to customers with the supply of products environmental friendly and the regulations to protect it. And it is precisely with the FCT - Refrigeration Air Dryers Series that Friulair intend to sensitise the market by offering refrigeration dryers designed and optimized for operation with the new R513A refrigerant gas with lower GWP (631 tons of CO2 equivalent, i.e. reduced by 56% compared to R134A and 64% compared to R407C).

• Use of innovative and eco-sustainable R513A refrigerant gas.
• Construction with highly recyclable materials.
• High performance due to the use of the patented Alu-Dry® heat-exchanger, completely made in aluminium, with vertical path. The efficiency is optimized and the pressure drops are among the lowest on the market.
• The series is equipped with electronic controllers (DMC34 up to FCT160, DMC24 - Industry 4.0 ready - from FCT180 to FCT1500) with a remote alarm contact. From the FCT180 the Modbus RS485 ASCII 7 Bit communication protocols and the remote ON / OFF function are available.
• All FCTs, from size 180 or larger, come for standard with the Zero Loss Drain(s) for improved efficiency, with test-function button integrated in the controller.
• The water-cooled version is available on request starting from size FCT55.

Visit the  FCT - Refrigeration Air Dryers product page and download the complete brochure.