This report describes the Sino-US project to promote the transformation of the Chinese domestic refrigerator industry to the production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free, super-efficient models. Technologies examined in this effort include non-CFC refrigerants and foam-blowing agents, alternate refrigeration cycles, more efficient compressors, optimization of condenser and evaporator designs, increased insulation thickness, and improvements to door gaskets and controls.
Work completed through December 1995 at the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI), the Haier Group, and the University of Maryland (U. Of Md.) includes the building and testing of Chinese refrigerators that contain a wide variety of energy efficiency improvements and no CFCs. Chinese consumer opinion research on the marketing of ozone-friendly, energy-efficient refrigerators has also been undertaken. Field testing was undertaken for one year in three Chinese cities to test the performance of units under actual operating conditions.
The key findings of these activities are:
Next steps for work to be completed under the project include modification of the prototype in response to consumer opinion research and field test results, and certification in accordance with internationally accepted standards. This work will be followed by application of energy efficient CFC-free design techniques to other Haier products, such as Haier's new BCD-268 model.
For other refrigerator manufacturers, the Sino-US Refrigerator Project demonstrates that it is technologically feasible to redesign household refrigerators commonly in use in China and other countries so as to simultaneously replace CFCs and significantly improve the refrigerator's energy efficiency. This substantial increase in energy efficiency can be obtained by adopting technically proven measures used individually by manufacturers in the past, but not heretofore combined in a single non ozone-depleting energy-efficient product design. The prototype developed through this project demonstrates that combination of these measures can result insignificant energy savings. These savings provide substantial economic and environmental benefits, as well as cost savings to consumers and a potential competitive benefit to manufacturers that adopt energy-efficient CFC-free technology.
DA - 10/1997 LA - eng M1 - EPA 430-R-97-032 N2 -This report describes the Sino-US project to promote the transformation of the Chinese domestic refrigerator industry to the production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free, super-efficient models. Technologies examined in this effort include non-CFC refrigerants and foam-blowing agents, alternate refrigeration cycles, more efficient compressors, optimization of condenser and evaporator designs, increased insulation thickness, and improvements to door gaskets and controls.
Work completed through December 1995 at the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI), the Haier Group, and the University of Maryland (U. Of Md.) includes the building and testing of Chinese refrigerators that contain a wide variety of energy efficiency improvements and no CFCs. Chinese consumer opinion research on the marketing of ozone-friendly, energy-efficient refrigerators has also been undertaken. Field testing was undertaken for one year in three Chinese cities to test the performance of units under actual operating conditions.
The key findings of these activities are:
Next steps for work to be completed under the project include modification of the prototype in response to consumer opinion research and field test results, and certification in accordance with internationally accepted standards. This work will be followed by application of energy efficient CFC-free design techniques to other Haier products, such as Haier's new BCD-268 model.
For other refrigerator manufacturers, the Sino-US Refrigerator Project demonstrates that it is technologically feasible to redesign household refrigerators commonly in use in China and other countries so as to simultaneously replace CFCs and significantly improve the refrigerator's energy efficiency. This substantial increase in energy efficiency can be obtained by adopting technically proven measures used individually by manufacturers in the past, but not heretofore combined in a single non ozone-depleting energy-efficient product design. The prototype developed through this project demonstrates that combination of these measures can result insignificant energy savings. These savings provide substantial economic and environmental benefits, as well as cost savings to consumers and a potential competitive benefit to manufacturers that adopt energy-efficient CFC-free technology.
PB - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency PY - 1997 TI - The Sino - US CFC-Free Super-Efficient Refrigerator Project Progress Report: Prototype Design and Testing ER -