Testing of HFO Refrigerant with Less Than 150 GWP in a Commercial Freezer

R-404A has been the global industry standard HFC refrigerant for commercial refrigeration in both small and large systems. However, due to its high global warming potential (AR4 100 year GWP = 3922), lower GWP alternatives to R-404A are urgently needed.  In particular, the recently enacted European F-Gas regulation requires commercial hermetically sealed systems to use refrigerants with 1, 2022. Regulations on high GWP HFCs in other regions are also being proposed.  To address this need, a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant mixture with (R-454C pending) has been developed. XL20 is a mixture of HFO-1234yf and HFC-32. HFO-1234yf is in the formulation to dramatically reduce the GWP and HFC-32 has been added to increase the cooling capacity and provide performance close to R-404A.   Though XL20 is mildly flammable, the small charge sizes found in self-contained systems are able to accommodate refrigerants with some degree of flammability. This paper will present results from experimental testing of XL20 in a self-contained freezer originally designed to use R-404A.  Standard performance parameters will be measured and compared to the R-404A baseline, including energy consumption, pressures and temperatures and mass flow rate.   Compatibility of XL20 with lubricants and other system materials will also be presented