Parker Hiross StarlettePlus-E Refrigeration Dryers

All who purchase, sell, distribute, maintain, repair and dispose of refrigeration dryers within the EU.

Refrigeration dryers for compressed air and inert gases are generally classified as stationary refrigeration systems used in industrial and trade applications. As such, they are subject to F-gas regulations in the EU if they use fluorinated greenhouse gases like HFCs, which most current models do. Requirements for household refrigerators or commercial refrigeration installations do not apply to refrigeration dryers.

The regulation aims to reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases due to their impact on global warming.

• It sets rules for the use, recycling, disposal, and emission limits of these gases.

• It also outlines requirements for placing certain products and systems on the market that use F-gases.

• Additionally, limits have been imposed on the quantities of partially fluorinated greenhouse gases allowed on the market.

Since January 1, 2020, refrigerants with a GWP of 2,500 or more may only be used for maintenance or repair if reconditioned or recycled. This includes refrigeration dryers with 10.2 kg or more of R-404A. From January 1, 2030, the use of such refrigerants will be fully banned. Violations are considered criminal offences in Germany.

Dryers with less than 10.2 kg of R-404A are not affected by the ban. However, due to limited recovery rates and the expected phaseout of high-GWP refrigerants, future availability of recycled R-404A is uncertain.

Other standard refrigerants remain permitted.

The first step is to check whether a suitable alternative refrigerant is available. If not, the refrigeration dryer cannot be refilled after a leak and must be replaced.

For dryers where conversion is possible, the effort depends on the compatibility of existing components. In the simplest cases, replacing the filter dryer may be enough. Some situations may also require adjusting or replacing the expansion unit, or even installing a new compressor approved for the alternative refrigerant.

Conversions can affect drying capacity, energy consumption, and pressure dew point to varying degrees. However, many standard dryers have been successfully converted  -for example, from R-134a to R-513A or from R-404A/R-407A to R-449A - without major impact on performance.

As of January 1, 2020, refrigeration dryers using refrigerants with a GWP of 2,500 or more - such as R-404A - can no longer be marketed. Violations are considered criminal offences in Germany.

This ban applies to new units placed on the market after that date. Refrigeration dryers already sold or in distributor or second-hand inventory before 2020 are not affected and may still be operated. The restriction targets manufacturers and importers.

However, future maintenance of R-404A dryers will become increasingly difficult due to limited availability of the refrigerant. No other marketing bans currently apply to refrigeration dryers.