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Forane® 427A Refrigerant Frequently Asked Questions
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1. What does Forane® 427A stand for?
2. What is the composition of Forane® 427A?
3. Does Forane® 427A comply with current environmental regulations?
4. For which application can Forane® 427A be used?
5. Is Forane® 427A a safe product?
6. When replacing R-22 by Forane® 427A, does the system's original oil need changing?
7. What is the compatibility of Forane® 427A with residual mineral or alkylbenzene oil?
8. Is Forane® 427A compatible with all plastics and elastomers?
9. What charge of Forane® 427A has to be used when replacing R-22?
10. Is there any application where Forane® 427A should not be used?
11. What is the advantage of using Forane® 427A instead of R-404A for the retrofit of existing R-22 equipment?
12. What is the advantage of using Forane® 427A instead of R-407C for the retrofit of existing R-22 equipment?
13. What is the conversion procedure when replacing R-22 with Forane® 427A?
1. What does Forane® 427A stand for?
Forane® 427A is results from Arkema’s research and innovation programs to adapt to the changing regulatory environment.
It is Arkema’s proprietary refrigerant solution especially developed to replace R-22 in your existing installations and it complements Arkema’s comprehensive Forane® product range to better serve its customers needs.
R-427A is the designation given to this blend by ASHRAE Standard 34.
2. What is the composition of Forane® 427A ?
Forane® 427A is a 100% HFC blend made of the following components R32/125/143a/134a (15/25/10/50 %wt). It contains no hydrocarbons.
3. Does Forane® 427A comply with current environmental regulations?
Yes, it does: as a pure HFC refrigerant it has a zero ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) and has also one of the lowest GWP (Global Warming Potential) among other retrofit solutions since its GWP is 2000.
4. For which application can Forane® 427A be used?
Forane® 427A can be used to replace R-22 in existing equipment for a wide range of temperatures. Forane® 427A can be used to retrofit low temperature refrigeration units as well as air-conditioning installations which is one of the main advantages of this product over its competition.
5. Is Forane® 427A a safe product?
Yes, it is. Forane® 427A has been assigned A1 safety classification by ASHRAE Standard 34. This means that Forane® 427A is non-toxic and non-flammable.
6. When replacing R-22 by Forane® 427A, does the system's original oil need changing?
Forane® 427A is a 100% HFC blend and consequently requires the use of PolyOlEster (POE) lubricants to ensure proper oil return. As a consequence, when replacing R-22 with Forane® 427A, it is advisable to replace the original oil in the system (mineral or alkylbenzene) with a POE lubricant. Forane® 427A has been proven to work with 100% mineral oil systems which employ oil separators, but Arkema recommends an oil flush (see#13) for long-term system sustainability and enhanced performance. Many of the so-called no-oil change HFC R-22 replacement refrigerants on the market contain small traces of hydrocarbons which allow for some miscibility with mineral oil, but when compared to R-22 miscibility with mineral oil, they are very similar to Forane® 427A.
7. What is the compatibility of Forane® 427A with residual mineral or alkylbenzene oil?
One advantage of Forane® 427A is its ability to tolerate a high residual amount of original oil in the POE lubricant (up to 10-15%), making the retrofit simpler: in most cases, Forane® 427A only requires one oil draining operation and its replacement with a POE lubricant. Optimal performance close to R-22 can be achieved without long and costly rinsing of the circuit.
8. Is Forane® 427A compatible with all plastics and elastomers?
Forane® 427A is a 100% HFC blend made of R-32, R-125, R-143a and R-134a. It does not contain any flammable hydrocarbons. It is consequently compatible with the elastomers and plastic materials usually compatible with R-407C and R-404A.
Before any retrofit, the condition of any elastomers seals, gaskets and valve packing should be carefully checked. If these parts are damaged they must be replaced to prevent leakage.
9. What amount of Forane® 427A should be used when replacing R-22?
Arkema recommends to first fill the installation with a Forane® 427A load equal to 95% wt of the nominal R-22 load and then top up to 100% only if necessary.
Like all blends, Forane® 427A must be installed in its liquid phase.
10. Is there any application for which Forane® 427A should not be used?
Forane® 427A, as all other zeotropic blends (i.e R400 series refrigerants), should not be used in systems with flooded evaporators.
11. What is the advantage of using Forane® 427A instead of R-404A for the retrofit of existing R-22 equipment?
When retrofitting existing R-22 equipment with Forane® 427A, no modification of the installation is necessary which is not the case with R-404A requiring in most cases a replacement of the expansion valve, redesign of the liquid line, and sometimes modification of the heat exchangers or compressors. Forane® 427A is consequently a much simpler retrofit solution it has a much lower GWP than R-404A.
12. What is the advantage of using Forane® 427A instead of R-407C for the retrofit of existing R-22 equipment?
When retrofitting existing R-22 equipment with Forane® 427A, an oil change is recommended (from mineral or alkylbenzene to polyolester) but thanks to Forane® 427A’s high tolerance to residual original oil, in most cases only one oil draining operation is necessary. There is no need for long and costly rinsing of the circuit. This is not the case with R-407C which can only tolerates traces of original oil in the POE lubricant. Forane® 427A is consequently a much simpler retrofit solution which additionally can, in most cases offer better performances than R-407C.
13. What is the conversion procedure when replacing R-22 with Forane® 427A?
Here is a shortened version. A detailed Guidelines retrofit procedure is also available
on our website.
1. Fully recover the entire R-22 load. Arkema does not recommend mixing Forane® 427A with R-22
2. Remove the original oil from the system. An analysis of the original oil is recommended to ensure the R-22 installation is in a good state of repair.
3. Refill the system with a POE lubricant. In most cases, no flushing is required. Only one oil draining operation is required (up to 10-15% residual alkylbenzene or mineral oil is acceptable).
4. Replace the filter dryer.
5. Drain the installation and refill with Forane® 427A. Arkema recommends to first fill the installation with a Forane® 427A load equal to 95% wt of the nominal R-22 charge, and then top up to 100%, if necessary.
