Responsible use of HFCs

On July 27 2004, EPEE and EFCTC organized in Brussels a workshop on the theme «Responsibleuse of HFCs ». The aim of the workshop was a practical presentation –including a live demonstration of equipment- of the principles ofcontainment, maintenance operations and monitoring of HFCs inrefrigeration and air conditioning applications.

Existingpractical approaches for HFC emissions reduction as well as theindustry initiatives already in place in the Netherlands and UK werepresented. Another presentation about the recovery of HFCs forrecycling, reclamation and destruction showed what happens in realityand what impedes the potential for increased re-use of HFCs.

Membersof the European Commission and several representatives of various ofthe 25 EU member states took part to the event and to the discussionwith industry representatives which followed the workshop and thedemonstration.

Agenda

Short overview presentations and demonstrations

1. Dany Chalmet of Daikin made the opening comments very well stressingthe need for responsible use and the fact that industry already hasgood examples and experience of this. Industry is ready to meetrequirements of the future Regulation. He also introduced the speakers;
   
2. Tim  Vink,Honeywell spoke on containment - he also put GWP in perspective. Healso explained the split system that had been installed in the centre of the room.
   
3. Joop Hoogkamer (Association of contractors and manufacturers, NL) and Robert Heap (Science and technology Council of the Internbational Institute of refrigeration, UK) gave the examples of STEK and work in the UK respectively, sticking strongly to their slide presentation;
   
4. The machine exhibition then started with the commentary of Tim Vink(Honeywell) and Henk van der Maaten (Honeywell Technical Servicemanager) there were also two technicians (Stefan de Pauw TechnicalServices Engineer and Kurt Vanieuwenhuysen Dehon Service presentcarrying out the work. The demonstration also showed the accompanyingequipment such as safety gloves, scales to weigh canisters emptying thesystem and leak detectors. The demonstration covered leak checking,system shut down (emptying/recovery) and restart
   
5. Hans- Jurgen Korte, Solvay, made a very clear and concise presentation on recycling on HFCs
   
6. The meeting then regrouped for a further 10 minutes to see the finalpart of the presentation since technical hitch had been sorted –Jacques de Gerlache then spoke about different uses of HFC and whythey are used ( a short video on use in preservation of books fromacidic autodestruction  was shown)
   
7. Tim Vink closed the meeting thanking attendees for their timeand mentioning key facts about why HFCs are used. He mentioned theEPEE and EFCTC positioning on the Council discussion stating that ithad been shared with attendees on regular basis and any member would behappy to answer any further questions attendees had