The Webster’s online dictionary definition of efficiency is; the ratio of the output to the input of any system. To get you thinking about the definition of EFFICIENCY, Ford’s Model T went 25 miles on a gallon of gas. How fuel efficient is your vehicle? For a few years now contractors, engineers, and equipment owners have asked how efficient are ICOR’s refrigerants?

First let’s look at HOT SHOT (414B). I personally started using HOT SHOT back in the 90’s. Was it more, or as, efficient as R-12? I don’t remember checking how efficient the equipment was running on R-12, or even if R-12 equipment was designed to be efficient. I do know this: after the conversion, the system went to set point. If there was a callback it was not a refrigerant problem. Is spending 4 to 5 hours on a conversion changing the oil, replacing cap tubes, short charging to keep the discharge pressure low enough to keep the system on line “efficient”?

Let’s move on to NU-22B. Just like Hot Shot, it’s a direct replacement, no oil change and in most cases no metering device change. Sounds efficient already. I have been involved one way or another with NU-22B before its ASHRAE number (422B) was conceived. I converted my home Air Conditioner two years ago. Is it more efficient than the R-22? My monthly power bill hasn’t gone up and the unit is keeping the RH% the same as it was before. So my answer is it’s as efficient as the system was when it was running on R-22.

Now let’s take an ARI Standard 210/240-2005 test on a YORK 3 ton 13 SEER R-22 heat pump. Two alternatives 407C, and NU-22B (422B) were compared to R-22. As we all know the 210/240 test conditions are (Test A 80° DB 67° WB, condenser ambient 95°), (Test B 80° DB 67° WB, condenser ambient 82°) and (Test C 80° DB 57° WB, condenser 82°). Now that the conditions are set, lets look how efficient the three refrigerants are. In test A, NU-22B produced 5% less compressor amps than R-22 and 9% less than R407C. The compressor dome temperature was 6% less than R-22 and 5% less than R-407C. Test B shows the compressor amps 2% less than R-22 and 6% less than R-407C. The last test is C, NU-22B, amps again are less than R22 by 3% and R-407C ran 6% more than NU-22B. Not only did NU-22B draw less current and have a lower dome temperature than 407C, the conversion cost less because NO oil change is required.

Last but not least, let’s see how ONE SHOT (422C) measures up when it is used to replace R-22 in low temperature applications. If you were to put a picture along side the definition of efficiency ONE SHOT would be my choice. Not only lab testing but more importantly “field” testing shows how efficient ONE SHOT is (see Biggs Store case study on ICOR web-site). The number one way to tell how much refrigeration capacity a refrigerant has is to put it in a water cooled condenser flake ice maker “No Harvest”. We took an off the shelf 800 lb nominal Scotsman Flake Ice Maker, water cooled condenser with 404A refrigerant. In a twenty four hour time frame the 404A machine produced 768 lbs of ice, with a compressor current of 8.35 A. The 404A was recovered, new filter drier installed, 500 micron vacuum achieved and then recharged it with ONE SHOT. After a twenty four hour period the ice production was weighed. The increase was 3% or 24 lbs a day with the same amp draw of 8.35A.

Now for a couple of “Real World Tests”. About four years ago ICOR assisted in a super market conversion. The store had 5 racks, 3 low and 2 med temperature systems with a total charge of 3600lbs of R-22. The only component modification made was to the power elements. The R-22 was recovered and the system was recharged with ONE SHOT. The power consumption was recorded for two weeks prior to the conversion and for two weeks post conversion. The results were compared and in one medium temp rack power consumption dropped from 6,000 watts average (pre-conversion) to 3,800 watts (post conversion). The annual dollar savings was tremendous and enough to offset most of the conversion costs with in the first year.

I’ve seen the word “efficiency” used, and abused, many times in this industry but in these examples ONE SHOT and NU-22B truly match the definition.

Jamey Hale
Technical Support Supervisor
ICOR International, Inc.