Range of HFCs/HFOs/HCFOs used for different heat pump requirements

Heat pumps use a range of HFC/HFO/HCFOs refrigerants to reliably and efficiently generate space heating and hot water for different commercial and industrial applications. The combination of refrigerant, compressor type and equipment design are selected to deliver optimum performance, with a focus on energy efficiency. These F-gas refrigerants provide a good balance of safety and technical properties.

R-454C A2L refrigerant, with a GWP of 148, is being used in an air-source commercial heat pump range, providing sanitary hot water and space heating and achieving 70°C water flow temperature. This new heat pump can operate as a single system or form part of a multiple-unit system, making it suitable for a wide range of commercial applications, including schools and hospitals. A multiple unit system has the ability to cascade available units on and off to meet the load requirements of a building. A 16 unit system allows 0.5kW increments of capacity, from 7.8kW all the way up to 640kW (at nominal conditions A7W35). It has a hermetically sealed monobloc design, requiring only water and electricity connections. Source Cooling Post and manufacturer’s information.

R-32 A2L refrigerant, with a GWP of 675, is being used in heat pumps; it has a total capacity of 1000 kW from two units using scroll compressors, providing heating and cooling for a university in the South of Italy. According to the manufacturer, the air-to-water heat pumps installed for this project, provide the best performance in the market and the lowest combined levels of direct and indirect CO₂ emissions. This is possible due to the low GWP R-32 refrigerant and the best-in-class efficiency levels offered both in cooling and in heating modes. Overall, the solution balances the need for high energy efficiency, low CO₂ emissions and low refrigerant GWP. Source Refrigeration Industry.

R-454B A2L refrigerant, with a GWP of 467, is considered by the equipment manufacturer to have the lowest GWP among the refrigerants available today for scroll compressor technology. The rooftop air-to-air heat pump units have variable speed technology and intelligent control and are available in capacities between 16 and 39kW in cooling and 14-36kW in heating. The variable speed technology delivers improved part load efficiency reducing energy consumption and offering tighter temperature control. The units have additional energy-saving features like adaptive airflow with variable speed fans, free cooling and heat recovery of exhaust air. Source Refrigeration Industry.

R-410A A1 non-flammable refrigerant, with a GWP of 2088, is used for a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system for cold climate regions. It won the Energy Conservation Center of Japan’s Chairman's Award in the product and business model category of the 2022 Energy Conservation Grand Prize. The award-winning product is designed and developed with innovative technologies and functions to overcome challenges conventionally seen with indoor units and air handling units used at low-ambient temperatures; it also offers energy-efficient ventilation and fresh-air intake systems. The triple rotary compressor requires a lower refrigerant charge compared to a conventional rotary compressor. With up to 128 indoor units it operates at down to -25°C for heating and up to +52°C for cooling. Source Refrigeration Industry and manufacturer’s information. Note: Due to its non-flammability and technical performance, currently R-410A is widely used for heat pumps in Europe, particularly air-water and water-source heat pumps.