A foremost art gallery is the first end-user in the UK to install Carrier chillers operating on the lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R-515B. Carrier is part of Carrier Global Corporation, the foremost global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable, and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.
Principal contractor SPIE UK specified two high-efficiency Carrier AquaForce® 30XW-VZE variable-speed screw chillers on the new refrigerant to align with the gallery's strict environmental protection policy. Carrier worked closely with SPIE to ensure the solution met the customer's requirements on carbon emissions and that the project was delivered within the tight timescale.
R-515B Refrigerants
Carrier has taken a leadership role in the testing and application of new refrigerants and was one of the first manufacturers globally to offer water-cooled chillers and heat pumps operating on refrigerant R-515B. R-515B does not require additional safety measures in the plant room
While traditional mainstream refrigerants have GWP ratings often measured in the thousands, the GWP of R-515B is less than 300. In addition, R-515B is both non-flammable and non-toxic and has been given the highest safety rating of A1.
As an A1 refrigerant, R-515B does not require additional safety measures in the plant room. This reduces upfront capital costs while leaving the option to convert the chiller and plant room at a later date without any loss of performance.
Energy-Efficient
Chillers and heat pumps operating on R-515B have been shown to be more energy-efficient with an improvement of up to 5% compared to R-513A, a different lower GWP option. This reduces operating expenses over the lifetime of the equipment.
Use of R-515B rates high under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certification process, boosting the environmental rating of buildings assessed under the scheme.
Reassuring client
"A key factor influencing equipment choice was that the Carrier chillers can be retrofitted to operate on the ultra-low GWP refrigerant R-1234ze, which has a GWP of less than 1, if this becomes necessary in the future,” said Andy Whitehead, SPIE Senior Project Manager who headed up the project. “This effectively future-proofs the installation and gives total reassurance to the client."
Delivering project on-time
Chillers were on site earlier than expected allowing to deliver the project on time for the client The equipment switch-out was carefully managed to ensure continuity of cooling to the gallery, with the two existing chillers replaced in stepped sequence, maintaining stable environmental conditions throughout the gallery's works of art.
"This project was the first time I have worked with Carrier,” added Andy Whitehead. “The company was very supportive and proactive. They ensured that the chillers were on site earlier than expected, enabling us to deliver the project on time for our client."
Reducing carbon footprint
Energy-efficient solutions using lower GWP refrigerants such as R-515B support Carrier’s aim to reduce its customers’ carbon footprint by one gigaton, part of its 2030 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Goals.
Refrigerant R-515B is both non-flammable and non-toxic and has been given the highest safety rating of A1.