Says it embraces global move to hydrocarbon refrigerants

Tecumseh Products Company, manufacturer of hermetic compressors, condensing units and systems for use in residential and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning applications, has announced that it has become a recent signatory to “The Natural Voice”, a global call for action supported by industry and research, which points to the environmental, economic and social potential of natural refrigerants in heating, cooling and refrigeration.

Based on the avowed objectives of The Natural Voice, it believes that the heating and cooling industry using natural refrigerants has a role to play in the fight against climate change, and has called for policy and trade barriers to diminish so that natural refrigerants can become the ideal replacements in the post-HCFC era. Its campaign underlines cooperation with signatories from an entire supply chain, with signatories supporting natural refrigerants.

In this context, Tecumseh claimed that it was focused on developing compressors utilising hydrocarbon refrigerants R290 (propane) and R600a (isobutane), which have ozone depletion potential factors of zero, and a fraction of the global warming potential (GWP) of those refrigerants they are intended to replace.

Tecumseh said that hydrocarbon refrigerants are already being utilised successfully in many parts of the world, and are expected to be authorised in the United States for use in commercial and residential refrigeration applications this year, due to approval of the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Tecumseh added that it has launched its “Green Technology” initiative by committing cross-functional resources to design, develop, manufacture and market compressors and condensing units that are optimised for use with low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. It added that it has been producing compressors that utilise hydrocarbon refrigerants for more than 10 years, with a family of 150 models of eco-friendly compressors