All websites

Arkema’s refrigerant business has unveiled three new case studies that illustrate the advantages of retrofitting R-22 systems with Forane® 427A refrigerant, “The Easy R-22 Retrofit™”. The case studies are based on retrofit documentation and were selected to demonstrate the performance of the product in high ambient and other unique conditions that demand outstanding performance.

As the HVACR industry continues to move away from R-22 due to regulatory pressures, Arkema’s Forane® 427A refrigerant (R-427A) has proven itself to be an excellent, easy-to-use, non-ozone depleting HFC refrigerant for air-conditioning, heat pump, and refrigeration applications. Forane® 427A refrigerant is a better match to R-22 than other retrofits over a wide range of applications, offering close capacity and pressures to R-22, with no oil change required in many installations.

“A very important characteristics of Forane®427A refrigerant is its ‘mass flow rate,’ which is so close to R-22 that rarely is there a need to adjust the expansion device,” said John Maiorana, product support manager  for Arkema’s refrigerants business in North America. “The mass flow rate and capacity are what distinguishes Forane® 427A refrigerant from most other retrofit refrigerants,” noted Maiorana, who has been on-hand for most of the retrofits.

Giorgi Mushroom Company is a large mushroom producer in Temple, PA that relies on managing its growing and packaging operation in a temperature controlled environment. The company maintains hundreds of grow houses that require individual air-conditioning under some extreme environmental conditions and outside ambient temperatures. The company decided to move away from R-22 to a more environmentally sensitive system, choosing Forane® 427A refrigerant based on its close performance to R-22, with lower supply air temperature while consuming the same amount of power.

Creative Minds Learning Center in Lowell, MA, which provides daycare to infants and school age children, had its AC units vandalized and needed to get their system back on line quickly. Having tried other retrofits with disappointing results, the AC contractor suggested retrofitting half of the 10 R-22 units with Forane® 427A refrigerant. Even though the learning center’s system presented some challenges, with condensers in low air-flow areas and long line sets up to 75 feet, the results with Forane® 427A refrigerant were impressive. Performance was very close to the R-22, with improved psi readings.

Control Air of Southern Nevada provides service, repair, installation and maintenance of residential and light commercial AC equipment in the greater Las Vegas Valley. When an 11-year old packaged unit at a popular shopping center needed service, Control Air turned to Forane® 427A refrigerant for the 6-ton unit that cooled an electrical room. The Forane® 427A refrigerant performed as well as the R-22 it replaced, even during an 11-day stretch of temperatures above 105°F, with one day at 115°F.

Forane® 427A refrigerant has been selected for thousands of successful R-22 retrofits across air conditioning, heat pump, and refrigeration applications since 2005. With nearly identical operating pressures to R-22 and compatibility with the major lubricating oils, retrofits are made easier trusting the performance of R-427A refrigerant.

You can read more details about these Forane® 427A refrigerant retrofits and additional case studies by going to www.forane-us.com. Or call Arkema’s Fluorochemicals Technical Services Team at 800 738 7695.



A designer of materials and innovative solutions, Arkema shapes materials and creates new uses that accelerate customer performance. Our balanced business portfolio spans high-performance materials, industrial specialties and coating solutions. Our globally recognized brands are ranked among the leaders in the markets we serve. Reporting annual sales of €7.5 billion in 2016, we employ approximately 20,000 people worldwide and operate in close to 50 countries. We are committed to active engagement with all our stakeholders. Our research centers in North America, France and Asia concentrate on advances in bio-based products, new energies, water management, electronic solutions, lightweight materials and design, home efficiency and insulation. www.arkema.com

Forane is a registered trademark of Arkema, and The Easy Retrofit is a trademark of Arkema.

Top