1

Environmental
Impact and Human
Health Impact of
refrigeration &
Air-conditioning
Training Material Reference

Environmental Impact - 2012.ppt

Target Group

Trainers and Technicians

Duration of the Session

30 minutes

Purpose of the Session

To make the participants aware of the environmental impact of refrigerants, ozone depletion and

global warming; and the imperative of moving towards HCFC-free refrigerants. Everybody must

know the phase out schedule of HCFC phase-out in Developed and developing countries.

Terminal Performance Objectives

At the end of the session, the participants should know:

a) What is ozone layer and how is it formed?

b) How is the ozone layer depleted because of HCFC refrigerants and other ozone depleting

substances (ODS)?

c) What are the harmful effects of ozone layer depletion?

d) What is meant by global warming and how is it caused?

Key Message being delivered through this Session

While HCFCs have been widely used as refrigerants for the past several years, their harmful

effects to the environment were notice in the past and has now been established that they have

a ozone depleting potential, as well as, high global warming potential. There is, therefore, no

alternative but to phase out of them for the sake of our future generations.

Tools & Equipments (if any) required for the session

None.

A video on ozone hole depletion and its harmful effects may be shown before/after the session.
 1 Environmental and Human Health Impact of
Refrigeration and Air-conditioning
Environmental Impact

This is the title slide. The slide shows the image of the earth showing the spreading
ozone depletion caused by the chlorine released by chlorine and bromine containing
chemicals and these compounds are also have high GWP cause of global warning.

The trainer may start with an overview of the overall programme outline, and then come
to this topic. It may be explained that the environmental impact of the existing HCFC
refrigerants has been the basis of changeover to non-HCFC refrigerants.

The full form of HCFC (Hydrochloroflourocarbons) may also be given at this stage.
Applications of ODS

The Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) have a variety of applications. HCFCs are used in
air-conditioners and other cooling appliances, as refrigerants or foam blowing agents. Another
typical applications of ODS is in foam manufacturing. These are used as solvents in precision
cleaning operations in industries. They are also used in non-Medical aerosol-based cosmetic
and health products and industrial products. Another important application of ODS is in fire
extinguishing systems. Lastly, they are used in quarantine and pre-shipment applications.
 1 Formation of Ozone
Environmental Impact

This slide explains how the ozone layer is formed. Normally, two atoms of Oxygen
join together to form an oxygen molecule, and oxygen is stable prevalent in this form.
Ozone, on the other hand, is constituted of three instead of two Oxygen atoms.

In the stratosphere where ozone layer is normally found, the UV rays from the sun react
with the existing oxygen molecules, and break them into oxygen atoms. In the following
reaction three oxygen atoms join together to form ozone molecules. Thus, oxygen is
partially converted into ozone all the time.

The reverse is also true; some ozone is also decomposed into three oxygen atoms,
which join together in twos to become oxygen molecules. Thus, a continuous equilibrium
is maintained between ozone and oxygen in that zone.
Distribution of ozone in the atmosphere

This slide represents that variations in temperature and pressure divide the Earth’s atmosphere
into layers and the mixing of gases between the layers happens very slowly. That is why this
90% of the ozone stays in the upper atmosphere. This stratospheric ozone contains 90% of
all ozone gas on the Earth but it is spread thinly and unevenly.
 1 Ozone absorbs Ultraviolet Radiation
Environmental Impact

This slide explains the role of ozone layer, which exists in the stratosphere - a band from
11 to 48 kms (6.6 to 28.8 miles) from the earth’s surface. Apart from the visible rays,
the sun radiation reaching the earth contains ultra violet (UV) rays which are harmful
to life on earth. This thinnest of the filters efficiently screens out almost all the harmful
ultra-violet rays of the sun. Fortunately, the ozone layer absorbs these UV-B rays and
prevents them from reaching the earth’s surface and causing damage.
While the stratosphere spreads over a height of 37 km, the actual content of ozone
is rather small. If all of the ozone were to be gathered around the earth’s surface at
atmospheric level, it would barely have a thickness of 3 mm.
Chain Reaction by HCFC-22

This slide explains the release of Chlorine radical by HCFC due to UV rays and subsequent
reactions between the Chlorine atom and Oxygen atom from ozone molecules.
When a HCFC molecule somehow reaches close to the ozone layer, it triggers a chain of
reactions which initiate the ozone layer depletion. Firstly, on coming in contact with Sun’s
UV rays, a HCFC molecule decomposes and releases chlorine radical. This chlorine radical
reacts with a Oxygen atom from molecule of ozone, yielding an oxygen and a chloromono-
oxide molecule. The chloromono-oxide molecule, thus formed is unstable and breaks again
and releases a free chlorine radical. This chlorine radical now starts yet another cycle of
similar reaction with another ozone molecule. These repetitive cycles continually deplete the
ozone layer.
This slide shows that all the ODS would exhibit similar reactions. The presence of chlorine
atom in the ODS is what causes the ozone depletion. As the natural balance of quantity of
ozone in the stratosphere is limited, such reactions by chlorinated and brominated manmade
chemicals have raised serious concerns.
 1 Extension of Ozone Hole over the South Pole
Environmental Impact

Here is a photograph of the earth showing the thinning of the ozone layer (ozone hole)
over the South Pole. The image is colour coded depict the decrease in the ozone layer.
This thinning zone – the ‘OZONE HOLE’s’ area is larger than the area of Antarctica
which is more than 4 times the size of India. This hole covers the area larger than 5
times the size of India.
The ozone hole is not technically a “hole” where no ozone is present, but is actually a
region of exceptionally depleted ozone in the stratosphere over the Earth polar regions
that happens at the beginning of Southern Hemisphere spring (August–October).
Satellite instruments provide us with daily images of ozone over the Antarctic region.
This ozone hole image shows the very low values (blue and purple colour area) centred
over Antarctica. From the historical record we know that total column ozone values
of less than 220 Dobson Units were not observed prior to 1979. From an aircraft field
mission over Antarctica we also know that a total column ozone level of less than 220
Dobson Units is a result of catalyzed ozone loss from chlorinated and brominated
compounds. For these reasons, we use 220 Dobson Units as the boundary of the
region representing ozone loss. Using the daily snapshots of total column ozone, we
can calculate the area on the Earth that is enclosed by a line with values of 220 Dobson
Units or less (the white line in the figure in slide).
Consequences of damaging - The Ozone Layer

Ultra Violet radiation (UV) is classified in three ranges: UV-A, UV-B, UV-C. Of these, UV-A is
the least energetic and harmful. UV-B is energetic enough to cause biological interactions.
The component of UV-C in the solar spectrum itself is small, and that reaching the earth is
practically nil. With the loss of natural shield, this UV-B radiation, causes number of harmful
effects on all living organisms.
Firstly, it leads to an increase in the probability of incidents of skin cancer among human
beings. Secondly, it can also induce eye damage since the UV radiation is known to damage
the cornea and lens of the eye, leading to cataract. Thirdly, UV radiation results in suppression
of the immune systems of human bodies, making them prone to a number of infectious
diseases. The UV radiation also has a harmful effect on fish and other ocean life, since it
adversely influences the productivity of aquatic systems, leading to decreased reproductive
capacity and impaired development. An increased level of UV radiation is also known to
have adverse effects on synthetic polymers, naturally occurring biopolymers and some other
materials of commercial interest. Material used in buildings, paints, packaging and countless
other substances could be degraded by UV-B rays. This accelerates the photo-degradation
rates of these materials thus limiting their lifetimes. Typical damages range from discoloration
to loss of mechanical integrity. Increased UV-B radiation could also cause decreased crop
yields and damage to forest as well as increased cases of cancer.
 1 Another threat - Global Warming
Environmental Impact

Another important environmental impact of refrigerants relates to the phenomenon of Global

Warming. This slide explains and illustrates this phenomenon, also known as “Greenhouse
Effect”.
• The solar radiation interacts with earth’s surface in several ways. Out of the total solar
radiation, nearly 20% is reflected from the earth’s atmosphere, 20% is dispersed into
the atmosphere, and 9% is reflected from earth’s surface or dust. The remaining, nearly
51%, penetrates the atmosphere and reaches the earth’s surface.
• Most of the solar radiation reaching reaches the earth’s surface are reradiated to the
atmosphere.
• As the reradiated radiation leaves the earth, it once again interacts with the atmosphere.
Some of this manages to escape (about 17%), but majority of reflected radiation is
returned back to the earth’s surface by the presence of greenhouse gases. This
reflected energy further warms the surface of the earth, leading to what we call the
“Global Warming” or “Greenhouse Effect”.
A limited amount of Global warming is necessary to sustain life on the earth. Absence
of global warming would have rendered the earth temperatures so low that human life
would not have existed on the earth. However, some of the green house gases such as
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO), sulphur hexafluorides (SF6),
Halocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs), essentially emitted through the human
activities, cause an increase in the global warming and this is harmful to mankind.
In the last hundred years, the mean global temperature has increased by 0.3 to 0.6°C.
Because of this, the sea water thermally expands and the icecaps melt, leading to rising
sea levels. An increase in global sea level of 4 to 10 inches has been observed over the
last 100 years. This also affects rainfall pattern on the earth, leads to climate changes and
thereby alters the bio-diversity. It also has a negative effect on human health.
According to experts, the world will see a definite impact of global warming in the next few
decades. Increase in global temperatures, coupled with burgeoning population, will make
society more vulnerable to climate change. It will lead to climatic disorders, droughts, famine,
floods and longer heat waves spreading to newer areas. Tropical islands and low-lying coastal
areas will face the threat of being submerged.

Contribution to Climate Change from Air-conditioners

The energy-related contribution is represented by the emissions of GHGs (mainly CO2) that
arise from the production of electricity, for example, fossil fuels. In most of the countries
electricity generation is by fossil fuel. Over the entire life cycle of refrigeration and air
conditioning equipment, considerable amount of electricity is consumed. If we see the carbon
intensive electricity production, emissions can be around 1 Kg. of CO2 per kWh. Various
experiments and calculations have shown that the indirect contribution of thermodynamics
systems to the greenhouse effect is significantly higher than the direct contribution associated
with the rejection of HCFCs. Direct & indirect contributions are both taken into account in a
coefficient called TEWI (Total Equivalent Warming Impact).
 1 Environmental Characteristics
Environmental Impact

In this slide, comparative information on the ozone depleting potential (ODP) and
the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of some of the prominent refrigerants has been
provided in a tabular form. The table also provides the atmospheric life of each of these
refrigerants in number of years.

ODP and GWP

Refrigerants are evaluated for their environment friendliness on the basis of their Ozone
Depleting Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP). Here it is important
that the trainer explains what ODP=1 and GWP=1 mean.

ODP is the measure of the ozone depleting capability of a refrigerant compared to that
of CFC-11, which has an ODP of 1.0.

The values of ODP have been colour coded, in the table, in green - blue - red to
distinguish visually the increasing values. As can be seen, the baseline reference of
ODP values has been taken as 1.0 for CFC-11. For HCFC-22 (used as refrigerant in
Air-conditioners), the ODP value is 0.055, and for HFC-134a and Hydrocarbons (both
propane and butane), the ODP is zero.

GWP is an index which compares the warming effect over time of different gases,
relative to equal emissions of CO2 by weight.
Like in the case of ODP, the GWP values in the table have also been colour coded in green -
blue - red to distinguish visually the increasing values. The highest value is 10900 for CFC-12,
and it is minimum only <1, for the Ammonia & 3 for Hydrocarbons (both propane and butane).
For HFC-134a, the GWP value is still high - at 1300. This indicates that though HFC-134a
is environmental friendly as far as ozone depletion is concerned, it is still not environment-
friendly when its global warming impact is considered.

The table also gives ODP and GDP values for various other refrigerants.
As mentioned earlier, ideally ODP should be zero and GWP should be relatively very low.
GWP is also proportional to the atmospheric lifetime. The longer the atmospheric life time, the
larger the GWP. HCFCs have very high GWP compared to their alternatives i.e. HFCs and
HCs. HFCs have very high GWP compared to Ammonia, CO2 and HCs. HCs are ideal with
zero ODP and negligible GWP.

ODP & GWP

A comparative graph of the ODP and GWP for various refrigerants is shown here. For example,
R-22 has approximately 1,820 times the global warming effect as compare to CO2. HFCs
do not have chlorine, and in this way, don’t destroy the ozone layer, but they do contribute in
global warming (such as HFC23, which is by-product in the process making HCFC-22,has a
GWP value of 12000). For this reason, they are in the basket of green house gases, controlled
under Kyoto Protocol.
 1 Environmental Degradation & Mitigation
Environmental Impact

This flow chart summarizes the key environmental impacts of refrigerants. HCFC
refrigerants are the source of ozone depletion, as they contain chlorine atoms. HCFC
and HFC refrigerants are a source of global warming, besides other greenhouse
gases, namely, carbon dioxide(CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO), sulphur
hexafluorides (SF6), Halocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs). Thus, use
of these refrigerants is a heritage from our previous generations. The net result of
this is environmental degradation through threat to life and climate change, which will
adversely influence our future generation. So we should switch over to HCFC free
appliances and also to use more energy efficient appliances to save the environment.

HCFC Phase-out schedule – Non-Article 5

(Developed) Countries
At the 20th anniversary meeting of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer, in Montreal, agreement was reached to adjust the Montreal Protocol’s schedule
to accelerate the phase-out of production and consumption of HCFCs. This decision will result
in a significant reduction in ozone depletion, with the intention of simultaneously reducing the
global warming impact. In addition to the HCFC accelerated phase-out schedules, the 2007
Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol approved a decision to encourage Parties
to promote the selection of alternatives to HCFCs that minimize environmental impacts,
in particular impacts on climate, as well as meeting other health, safety and economic
considerations. To keep this intact the developed countries will follow the schedule of phasing
out 75% by 2010 and 90% (another 15%) by 2015. And by 2020 they will phase out to 100%
(another 10%) but 0.5 % will be allowed to service technicians’ upto 2030.

HCFC Phase-out schedule – Article 5 (Developing)

Countries

This slide is meant for developing countries and different phase-out schedule. To keep this
on track the developing countries will follow the schedule of freeze in 2013 to the baseline
of 2009-10. 10% reduction will take place in 2015 of the baseline and another 35% in 2020,
67.5% in 2025 and 100% by 2030. But 0.5 % will be allowed to service technicians’ upto 2040.
 Save Mother Earth

SAVE MOTHER EARTH BY: In this slide Trainers’ role is very

important to take out the complete
• Not releasin the refrigerant and feeling of technician to ground reality.
chemical into atmosphere. Trainers have to make them aware
• that now it is the moral and social
• Recover the refrigerant and re- responsibility of all of us not to release
use. the refrigerant and other chemicals
• in the environment and to recover
• Switch over to natural or low GWP and reuse the same. There is a need
refrigerants to change mindset for release of
refrigerants and to promote natural or
low GWP refrigerants.
Evaluation Questions
1. What are the ODP values of
a) Hydrocarbons
b) CFC-11
c) HFC-134a
d) HCFC-22

2. Looking at these ODP values in slide, please state whether the following statements
are true or false:

a) The refrigerant with highest ODP is CFC-11

b) Hydrocarbons have no ODP
c) HCFC-22 refrigerant has more potential to deplete ozone than HFC-134a

3. Which refrigerant appears to be most desirable from the point of view of both GWP
and ODP? Why?

4. Why is global warming harmful to human life?

5. Which element in HCFCs triggers the formation of ozone hole? How?

6. Please state whether the following are ozone depleting substances:

a) CFC-11
b) HFC-134a
c) HCFC-22
d) Isobutane
e) Propane
f) Ammonia
g) CO2

7. How does the use of more energy efficient air-conditioners help in reduced global
warming?

8. Compared to carbon dioxide, what is the global warming impact of HCFC-22?

9. Is there any difference between greenhouse effect and global warming?