Ignition hazard evaluation on A2L refrigerants in situations of service and maintenance

To restrict the progress of the global warming, A2L refrigerants such as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (R1234yf), (Z/E)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (R1234ze), and difluoromethane (R32) have been expected of alternatives to the standard refrigerants currently in use. The ignition hazard of A2L refrigerants under plausible accident situations in service and maintenance was examined experimentally for two cases: leakage of an A2L refrigerant from a pinhole in a pipe or hose (Scenario 1), and leakage of an A2L refrigerant into an item of equipment used for service and maintenance, such as a collection device (Scenario 2). In Scenario 1, the location of the flammable zone and the possibility of a jet flame being formed instantaneously on contact with an ignition source were examined. Even when R1234yf leaked from a 4 mmϕ pinhole (corresponding to breakage of a pipe), the flammable zone extended only about 10 cm from the pinhole in the downstream region. In an ignition test with a continuous spark as the ignition source, a pale emission appeared only near the spark, and the flame did not propagate to the rest of the refrigerant jet. In Scenario 2, the accumulation and ignition behaviors of A2L refrigerants in a model collection device were examined experimentally. Ignition and flame propagation occurred in a test on a model collection device lacking slits, whereas when slits wider than 20 mm were present, ignition and flame propagation did not occur. Even if R1234yf leaked into the model collection device, provided that slits of an effective width were present, the R1234yf could diffuse through slits and barely accumulated, and no ignition or flame propagation occurred.