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Industrial Greenhouse
Gases - Fact Sheet |
Three
fluorinated compounds, HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 (collectively
F-gases), are the “new industrial greenhouse gases"
of the basket of six gases addressed under the Kyoto
Protocol. A given mass of these gases has between hundreds
and tens of thousands as much global warming potential
as a similar mass of CO2. While they are emitted in
relatively small quantities now, their use is ballooning.
Left unchecked, F-gases could equal at least 15% of
total GHG emissions in 2040 and 40% by 2100. There are
alternatives available for most applications at prices
competitive either currently or in the near future,
though resistance by F-gas industry is strong and policy
guidance will have to be proactive.
Fluorinated
Gases facts
HFCs
HFCs are primarily
replacements for ozone depleting substances (ODSs) like
CFCs and HCFCs. There is recent, sharp growth in
their use and high anticipated growth through the next
decades.
Main
uses, emissions sources, and alternatives:
Emission of HFC-23
from the production of HCFC-22: from 1.5-3% of the product
is HFC-23, which is still sometimes vented.HCFC-22 is
used as a refrigerant and as a feedstock for fluoro-organics
like the plastic PTFE.
Alternatives:capture
and burning can reduce 98% of emissions; reducing theHCFC-22
market.
Refrigeration and
air conditioning (stationary and mobile): historic annual leakage
of around 1% for a domestic refrigerator, 10% for chillers,
25% for commercial systems, 30% for refrigerated transport
and mobile air conditioning.
Alternatives:natural
refrigerants like ammonia, hydrocarbons, CO2/water,
and air; systems like absorption, Stirling cycle, and
thermoelectric refrigeration; leak reduction combined
with reduction in the charge of refrigerant, most significantly
through an indirect, secondary loop system; elimination
of the need for cooling through passive design, ambient
cooling.
Foams:emitted
directly to the atmosphere when used as blowing agent
to make the foam, released over time from within the
cell structure, and emitted upon destruction at end
of life.
Alternatives:CO2
and water, hydrocarbons; not in kind (NIK) insulations
like mineral wool, fibreglass, cellulose.
Metered dose inhalers
(MDIs): emitted
directly to the atmosphere while propelling medication
into the lungs.
Alternatives:dry
powder inhalers (DPIs) require inhalation effort, but
could serve over 90% of the market; nebulisers; oral
treatments (pills).
General aerosol propellants: released directly to
atmosphere from a spray can; not very common now compared
to the role CFCs used to play, but has potential to
grow.
Alternatives:HCs,
DME, pumps, roll-ons.
Fire extinguishing
substance:annual
leakage, unintended and intended release account for
around 10% a year of installed amount.
Alternatives: fixed systems: inert gas extinguishers, NIK—better
fire detection, water; portable: CO2, foam, water.
Solvents:as
used for precision cleaning, electronics cleaning, and
metal cleaning.
Alternatives:no-clean
technologies, aqueous cleaning, semi-aqueous cleaning
(HCs then water)
PFCs
Used or unintentionally
emitted in a wide variety of industrial applications.
Main
uses, emissions sources, and alternatives:
Aluminium smelting: The main source is as
an unintended by-product of aluminium smelting due to
the “anode effect,” which is itself undesirable
for the smelting process.
Alternatives:currently
there is an overall decline in PFC emissions from aluminium
due to autonomous shifts in industry to superior technologies
like point feeder prebake (PFPB).
Solvents and etching:mainly
in the semiconductor industry, along with SF6
and NF3, for cleaning vapour deposition (CVD) chambers
and etching semiconductors.
Alternatives:recapture
and destruction or recycling; switch to other gases
that yield lower releases—potentially NF3 in CVDs,switch
to a lower-GWP HFC for etching.
Refrigerants:as
a drop in replacement for CFCs.
Alternatives:as
above.
SF6
SF6 is emitted
in relatively small amounts but there are large quantities
in installed equipment and it the highest GWP of all
measured FCs.
Main
uses, emissions sources, and alternatives:
Gas insulated switchgear/large
scale electrical equipment:80% of SF6
sales.Remains for long periods within the units.
Alternatives:air-insulated
switches (require more space) for lower voltages; recapture
on decommissioning, careful maintenance, leak prevention.
Magnesium casting
and production:as
a cover gas to avoid flammable contact with air
Alternatives:return
to the old cover gas—SO2, reduce quantities, recapture.
Sound insulating
double glass: released in filling and destruction;
has little impact on sound insulation in fact; quite
significant in Germany.
Alternatives:larger
gap between double glazing, with no SF6.
Sport shoe soles:Nike “Air”
soles; quantities hard to determine, large bank probably
still existing.
Alternatives:being
discontinued and replaced by nitrogen.
Car tires:
used instead of air because it leaks more slowly; costly
and not widely used.
Alternatives:air,
nitrogen
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