Sustainability is a top priority for BOGE. The company is aware of the current environmental challenges and is therefore committed to making environmentally-friendly products. With this in mind, BOGE has converted its DS-2 refrigerant dryer in the lower power range to the refrigerant R 513 A. This has much lower global warming potential than the refrigerant previously used but does not compromise on performance in any way. The result is an energy-efficient dryer series with one of the lowest CO2 footprints on the market.
Meeting the European climate objectives set out in the Kyoto protocol means finding solutions that are environmentally-friendly and, most importantly, reduce greenhouse gases. This applies to the compressed air industry too. In order to optimise the CO2 footprint of its refrigerant dryers, BOGE will be using the new refrigerant R 513 A instead of R 134a, for its DS-2 series in the power range up to 10 m³/min. This reduces the GWP value (global warming potential) by around 60% from 1,430 to 573. The CO2 equivalent (the impact the substance has on the climate compared to carbon dioxide) also decreases accordingly.
“The greenhouse effect of the new refrigerant over a 100-year study was shown to be much lower than before. Additionally, BOGE refrigerant dryers generally require less refrigerant than similar models by other manufacturers, which also has a positive effect on the environment,” said Nalin Amunugama, general manager, BOGE KOMPRESSOREN Asia Pacific.
The refrigerant circuit of the DS-2 series is also hermetically sealed. This means that the mandatory testing stipulated in F-Gas Regulation EU 517/2014 is not required, which, in turn, means that the refrigerant dryer not only offers environmental benefits, but financial ones too.
Significance of the F-Gas Regulation for the compressed air industry
The F-Gas Regulation aims to reduce emissions from the industrial sector by 79% by 2030. One of its focal points is reducing the emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) in the EU. A phase-down process is underway, where the fluorinated greenhouse gases emitted in the EU are to be reduced from 100% (based on the annual average from 2009 to 2012) to 21% by 2030.
In the first phase, refrigerants with a GWP value greater than 2,500 have been prohibited since January 2020. In the second phase, F-gases with a GWP value over 750 may not be used from 2022; in the third phase F-gases with a GWP value above 150 must not be used from 2030.
As refrigerant dryers fall into the category of stationary refrigeration equipment, special rules apply to them. For example, the refrigerants currently used must only have a GWP value below 2,500. However, by converting to R 513 A, BOGE is replacing the old refrigerant before it is legally obliged to do so. The regulation also stipulates if and how often the stationary refrigeration equipment has to undergo a leak tightness test. Depending on the category, this ranges from quarterly to annually and can be costly. As BOGE DS-2 refrigerant dryers both feature a hermetically sealed refrigerant circuit and have a CO2 equivalent below 10t, they are not subject to mandatory testing.
Sustainability combined with high efficiency
The heavy-duty aluminium heat exchanger is highly efficient. The coolant circuit is also designed to the highest quality standards. Low losses together with a low coolant requirement means low operating costs that are unmatched. This makes the refrigerant dryers from the DS-2 series the most energy-efficient on the market compared to systems with the same flow capacity by other manufacturers.
“By converting to refrigerant R 513 A, BOGE has demonstrated its clear commitment to climate protection and sustainability. The approximately 60% lower global warming potential of its DS 4-2 to DS 100-2 refrigerant dryers speaks for itself. Moreover, operators will not have to compromise on performance,” Amunugama added.
