GHG REFRIGERANTS


GHG invented a substitute for CFC-12 (aka Dupont FREON-12(R)) refrigerant in his kitchen in August 1990. It is known as GHG REFRIGERANT-12 SUBSTITUTE and it is now manufactured at People's Welding Supply (next to Nick's) on the Levee in W. Lafayette. It has been used in over 2,000 cars and over 10,000 pieces of other refrigeration equipment. ASHRAE has designated it as R-406A refrigerant. CFC-12 (FREON-12(R)) has been linked to the destruction of the Ozone layer. On August 26, 1994 the US EPA "approved" (listed on the SNAP list) GHG for most retrofit uses except for cars. It appeared in the August 26 FEDERAL REGISTER. (postscript), or PDF format.(Adobe Acrobat)

GHG holds two US patents, numbers 5,151,207 and 5,214,929 on this invention.

GHG INTERVIEWED ON SAM STEIGER RADIO/TV TALK SHOW on 4/14/95.

On 4/14/95, GHG was interviewed on the Sam Steiger radio & TV talk show originating in Phoenix, AZ, on the subject of refrigerants and R-406A. Recently the Arizona state legislature had passed a bill authorizing production of CFC-12 refrigerant in violation of federal law. As of 4/14/95, the so called "Freon Bill" was on the governor's desk for signature. On 4/17/95, Governor Fife Symington, signed the bill into state law!

The entire interview lasted around 25 minutes and is broken down into 16 smaller sound clips. Sounds are mono, sampled at 8000 hz, in ".au" (mulaw) Sun format.

Call setup and conversation with producer before going on air.
1 min 45 secs, 842153 bytes.
Going on the air, introductions, etc.
2 mins 2 secs, 977657 bytes.
Description of R-406A and dispelling the "myth" about the
patent on Dupont Freon "just expiring".
2 mins 23 secs, 1145057 bytes.
Talk about why refrigerants are "corrosive" when wet.
1 min 29 secs, 715145 bytes.
Explanation of how different oils relate to refrigerants.
1 min 3 secs, 500489 bytes.
What are CFC and HCFC refrigerants and phaseout dates for HCFCs.
1 min 43 secs, 823721 bytes.
What is in R-406A.
1 min 0 secs, 480521 bytes.
What modifications are needed (none for stationary refrigeration).
Leaks thru nitrile hoses.. barrier hoses ok.
2 mins 33 secs, 1221627 bytes.
Why [Dupont] Suva refrigerants are not more corrosive than R12.
1 min 5 secs, 518175 bytes.
R-406A is EPA approved under the SNAP program.
1 min 0 secs, 476846 bytes.
Where to buy R-406A (1-800-424-3836) & Illegal R-12 smuggling.
2 mins 22 secs, 1135902 bytes.
Other interests and activities concerning R-406A.
0 mins 43 secs, 340441 bytes.
Medical inhalers which currently use R12.
1 min 27 secs, 697010 bytes.
Explanation of HFC refrigerant class.. (CFC & HCFC expl earlier).
0 mins 14 secs, 114075 bytes.
Discussion of PAG oils used [automotive] for R-134a and failures.
2 mins 24 secs, 1152295 bytes.
Wrap up and closing comments.
0 mins 31 secs, 246831 bytes.
Listener one response..
4 mins 5 secs, 1964301 bytes.
Listener two response..
1 min 16 secs, 608700 bytes.
Listener three response..
2 mins 3 secs, 983849 bytes.
Listener four response..
2 mins 44 secs, 1314713 bytes.
Listener five response..
1 min 12 secs, 579785 bytes.

GHG INTERVIEWED ON SAM STEIGER RADIO/TV TALK SHOW on 7/05/95.

This second interview was announcing R-406A to be legal for automotive on 9/18/95. Also performance discussion, and discussion of GHG "High Performance" refrigerant.

On 7/13/95, a rule change took effect which ended up stopping the 9/18/95 "legal-to-sell" [for cars] date. However, the EPA SNAP approval process [for automotive] is still pending.

  • Part1 - 5 mins, 2.5 Megs
  • Part2 - 5 mins, 2.5 Megs

  • PUBLICATIONS

    The paper A DROP-IN CFC-12 REPLACEMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE AIRCONDITIONING was presented at the 1992 International Refrigeration Conference held at Purdue University, July 1992. It describes the initial invention of GHG Refrigerant-12 Substitute(R) and early automotive uses.

    CFC-12/OIL fire
    From a slide shown during the conference presentation. A mixture of CFC-12 and 15% by volume of Suniso 5GS compressor mineral oil, typical of what is found inside an automotive Airconditioning system, was vented (May 1991, before the EPA ban on venting) and ignited. GHG is on the left, and Bob Miller is on the right. As one can see, R-12 and oil burn just fine.

    SOME SAFETY STUDIES OF A TERNARY REFRIGERANT (postscript) was presented at the 1994 International Refrigeration Conference held at Purdue University, held July 19-22. Same file in PDF format (Adobe Acrobat)
    .