When it comes to the testing and certification of new refrigerants, the American Society for Heating and Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is the globally recognized authority. By certifying the WT69, the society has confirmed that it is non-flammable and non-toxic, even in the case of leakage. WT69 is being given the number R-469A by ASHRAE.
The WT69 / R-469A refrigerant was developed in order to offer an alternative to R23 with a much lower GWP for use in ultra-low-temperature applications. The certification by ASHRAE confirms the success of the development work and was awarded to the refrigerant after an intensive test conducted by an expert panel. For operators of environmental simulation systems, the certification above all acts as evidence that the refrigerant is future-proof with regard to the next stage of the F-gas Regulation.
WT69 / R-469A has a GWP of 1,357 and will be freely available on the market from the end of the year. With the R-number, Weiss Technik has received a seal of approval for its latest refrigerant that acts as a sign of safety and reliability for its use in different industries.
WT69 / R-469A was developed by Weiss Technik in partnership with Dresden University of Technology. It is used in all of Weisss Technik’s ClimeEvent standard climate test chambers with a cooling rate of 3 and 5 Kelvin. These test chambers help to test the influence of temperature and humidity on the properties, function and lifespan of almost any product. They are designed to adhere to numerous test standards and carry out long-term tests. Equipped with the new refrigerant WT 69/ R-469A the ClimeEvent test chambers feature a GWP value of just 1397. Therefore, they are safe to use even after 2030 and the refrigerant does not have to be replaced. As a result, they are already surpassing the future statutory standards today therefore future-proofing tests, making the equipment easier to maintain and more environmentally friendly. In addition to the standard models available, special models such as vibration cabinets and climate test chambers with temperature-changing rates of up to 20 Kelvin are being converted to the new refrigerant.
Weiss Technik required a reliable and experienced partner with a distribution network to help firmly establish WT69 / R-469A in the market. The refrigerant is independently produced and freely distributed by the company Technische Gase und Gastechnik (TEGA) in the German city of Würzburg. TEGA is ensuring the safe and professional handling of the refrigerant from production through to filling and right through to sales and transport.
The refrigerant regulation for fluorinated greenhouse gases significantly tightens the restrictions placed on manufacturers. It also stipulates new requirements for operators of existing systems with regard to their testing and documentation obligations. At the same time, R23 will also become scarcer and more expensive due to the quota system. As one of the world’s leading specialists for environmental simulation testing systems, Weiss Technik identified these impacts at an early stage and started to develop a synthetic refrigerant for ultra-low-temperature systems. With WT69 / R-469A, Weiss Technik is now presenting a fully-fledged alternative to R23. The refrigerant requires no compromise in terms of performance, use and cost-effectiveness, reliably delivers comparable test results and allows the further use of existing test profiles. WT69 / R-469A is therefore an extremely future-proof solution and a secure investment.
Weiss Technik offers solutions that are used around the world in research and development as well as in the production and quality assurance of numerous products. A strong distribution and service organization with 22 companies at 40 different locations in 15 countries ensures optimum customer support and guarantees a high degree of operational safety.
This article was supplied by Weiss Technik
