NEW AIR-COOLED CHILLERS USE LOW GWP A2L REFRIGERANT R-454B AND SCROLL COMPRESSORS

Two European equipment manufacturers have announced the use of R454B for chillers using scroll technology, for small to medium outputs suitable for mid-sized office buildings. The mildly flammable A2L HFO/HFC blend refrigerant R-454B has a GWP of 466, which is 78% lower than R-410A. One manufacturer referred to R-454B as the best choice for chillers using scroll technology with improved operating limits compared to R32, and an efficiency increase of about 2% compared to R410A heat pump units. The factory filled hermetically sealed chillers are approved only for outdoor installation due to the refrigerant’s A2L flammability rating.

The second manufacturer states that R-454B maintains refrigeration capacity and provides an energy efficiency increase of up to 4 per cent and the chillers already meet the Tier 2 Ecodesign Directive, which will apply from 2021. Each chiller is equipped with additional structural safety measures to prevent the risk posed by the use of an A2L mildly flammable refrigerant. It is available in a range of options including reversible heat pump. In addition, heat recovery is an intelligent method for increasing the overall efficiency of the system. It allows the heat discharged by the condenser to be recovered and used for other purposes. Under nominal conditions, it is possible to recover up to 40% of the thermal output.

Source: Cooling Post and manufacturer’s information

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