| Valeo has successfully developed an environmentally-friendly
air conditioning system which meets future EU regulations. The system
replaces the current HFC R134a refrigerant used in car air conditioning
systems with the R744 refrigerant and consequently eliminates the direct
impact of air conditioning systems on global warming due to refrigerant
leakage.
The Valeo R744 system - based on CO2 - was recently tested on
a demonstration vehicle by automobile experts at the SAE Alternate Refrigerant
Symposium in Phoenix, US and successfully concluded three days of formal
tests with ambient temperatures up to 43° C in both city traffic and
highway driving conditions.
"Valeo is leading the development of future air conditioning systems
in order to provide more well-being for all car occupants whilst minimising
the environmental impact. We expect to see these systems in the market
by 2009", said Thierry Morin, Valeo chairman & CEO.
The replacement of current refrigerants with R744 represents a significant
technology breakthrough due to the significantly higher pressure requirements
of the air conditioning cycle. The environmental benefits are achieved
due to the R744 refrigerant having a Global Warming Power more than a
thousand times lower than the current HFC R134a. In addition to the environmental
benefits, there are servicing cost benefits for the automotive industry
as there will not be a need to recover and recycle the refrigerant at
the end of life.
A European regulation is currently in the stages of finalisation that
will lead to a ban on the use of HFC R134a in 2011 model passenger cars
sold in Europe. The introduction of the R744 system will enable car manufacturers
to comply with this regulation for air conditioning systems.
See also Delphi Refrigerant air conditioning
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