POST 00999E : REFRIGERANT GASES

POST 00999E : REFRIGERANT GASES Follow-up on Post00993E 23 October 2006 ___________________________________________ This posting contains three short contributions from : 1. Michel Zaffran (mailto:[email protected]) now with GAVI in Geneva 2. Steve McCarney (mailto:[email protected]) 3. Soren Spanner (mailto:[email protected]) from UNICEF/India. Note : Isobutane is the name recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry for methylpropane. When used as a refrigerant it is known as R-600a. It may not be necessary as Soren says, to know all the specifics of refrigerants, but decisions must be taken with a good deal of knowledge of these gases. Their ODP and greenhouse effects have to be well established? Are these characteristics part of the specifics? On the other hand, security is a real concern. Isobutane is highly flammable and explosive. Michel says that these concerns have now been addressed, but how? For those interested, you can view the ILO security data for Isobutane at : http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/icsc/dtasht/_icsc09/icsc0901.htm ___________________________________________ Just to point out that, if I am not mistaken, WHO specifications now clearly allow for the use of Isobutane or equivalent as a refrigerant gas (as well as blowing agent for the insulting foam). This is a departure from some years ago when WHO was advising against these gases because of safety concerns- which have now been addressed. However I do not know whether the WHO specs (PQS) could actually go much further (such as banning R134a?) since the international conventions are still allowing for its use? Michel ------------------------------- Dear Anthony, Thank you for the up date. The proposed PQS refrigeration standards have expanded to allow alternate gases, including isobutane. The proposed language for all compression refrigeration units now reads "Refrigerant type: Must be CFC-free (chlorofluorocarbon-free) with HFC (hydro fluorocarbon) or HC (hydrocarbon) refrigerant. The acceptability of alternate refrigerant gases will however continue to be assessed." Steve McCarney --------------------------------- I agree with Anthony, however I do not think there is need of knowing the specifics of the refrigerants. The important thing is what are the consequences of using the different refrigerants. HCs are commonly used in household appliances Soren ______________________________________________________________________________ All members of the TechNet21 e-Forum are invited to send comments on any posting or to use the forum to raise a new discussion or request technical information in relation to immunization services. The comments made in this forum are the sole responsibility of the writers and do not in any way mean that they are endorsed by any of the organizations and agencies to which the authors may belong. ______________________________________________________________________________ Visit the TECHNET21 Website at http://www.technet21.org You will find instructions to subscribe, a direct access to archives, links to reference documents and other features. ______________________________________________________________________________ To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message to : mailto:[email protected] Leave the subject area BLANK In the message body, write unsubscribe TECHNET21E ______________________________________________________________________________ The World Health Organization and UNICEF support TechNet21. The TechNet21 e-Forum is a communication/information tool for generation of ideas on how to improve immunization services. It is moderated by Claude Letarte and is hosted in cooperation with the Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement, Québec, Canada (http://www.ccisd.org) ______________________________________________________________________________