The Moby Lines passenger ferry company decided to use Arkema’s Forane® 427A refrigerant fluid for a problem-free retrofit of refrigeration equipment running on R-22 on its OTTA ferry. R-22 is an HCFC* type refrigerant fluid. Forane® 427A is a 100% HFC** refrigerant blend that does not harm the ozone layer.

This retrofit operation brings Moby Lines into compliance with European regulations 2037/2000 which ban the use of the HCFC-22 virgin refrigerant for the maintenance of refrigeration systems, beginning January 1st 2010.

The retrofit operation was completed in the port of Genoa, Italy, by the contractor, Tecnoimpianti. In this case, the retrofitted system is a water cooling unit that produces cold water at a temperature of 7°C. The unit’s refrigerant charge is 400 kg for each STAL compressor (screw compressors). The system’s mineral oil was replaced with POE oil, and the R22 charge was replaced with an equivalent charge of Forane® 427A.

Following the retrofit in April 2010, the equipment is now running very satisfactorily, at the same level of performance as the previously used R-22 refrigerant. Since this successful retrofit, Moby Lines has also completed water coolers retrofits on two others of its ferries.

Forane® 427A, a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) refrigerant fluid, may be used at low, medium and high temperature, and allows a quick and trouble-free retrofit of existing air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment running on HCFC-22.

* HydroChloroFluoroCarbon
** HydroFluoroCarbon

The company Moby Lines was initially a small family concern set up in 1982 . With a fleet of 22 ships, Moby Lines offers ferry services to Sardinia, Corsica and the island of Elba from the large ports of Genoa and Livorno in Italy and of Toulon in France.
Since the creation of the company, passenger numbers have increased steadily, to 3.5 million in 2009.

The world’s second largest fluorochemicals producer, Arkema currently operates four industrial facilities on three continents: Pierre-Bénite in France, Zaramillo in Spain, Changshu in China, and Calvert City in the United States. The products manufactured in these four plants are sold under the Forane® trademark to the refrigeration and air-conditioning (construction and automotive), insulating foam, solvent, and aerosol industries.

A global chemical company, Arkema consists of three businesses: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Arkema reported sales of 4.4 billion euros in 2009. Arkema has 13,800 employees in over 40 countries and seven research centers located in France, the United States and Japan. With internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets.