Spiders by Slidesgo - an introduction to arachnids
XVI CONVEGNO EUROPEO H. Dhont - Refrigerant R32 for air conditioners and heat pumps
1. Latest Technologies in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning - XVI European Conference Milano, 12th - 13th June 2015
REFRIGERANT R-32
FOR AIR CONDITIONERS
AND HEAT PUMPS
Hilde Dhont
Daikin Europe
Environment Research Center
2. Latest Technologies in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning - XVI European Conference Milano, 12th - 13th June 2015
Introduction
• Air conditioners and heat pumps with R-32 as refrigerant are
commercialized already :
• First models were introduced in 2012 in Japan by Daikin
• Many equipment manufacturers offer R-32 models today
• Growing number of countries : Australia, New Zealand, India,
Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia,
Indonesia and since 2013 also in Europe.
• R-32 was recently approved in the US-SNAP programme for
packaged terminal air conditioners
3. What is R-32 ?
• R-32= CH2F2 = difluoromethane = single substance (no blend)
• Already known today as a component of the blend refrigerant R-410A
(R-410A = 50% R-32 + 50% R-125)
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Refrigerants
Properties
Pcond
(MPa)
Vol Cool
Capacity
ODP
GWP
( IPCC
4th
)
R22 (baseline) Single 1.73 100% 0.05 1810
R410A
(=50%R32+50%R125)
Azeotrope-
like
2.73 141% 0 2088
R32 Single 2.79 160% 0 675
GWP of
R-32 is
only
1/3rd of
R-410A
4. Some advantages of R-32
Allows for a lower CO2equivalent refrigerant charge
= combined effect of lower GWP (only one third of R-410A) and
possibility to reduce the refrigerant charge amount
High Energy Efficiency
Can be safely used in many applications because of lower
flammability (Class A2L)
Easier to recycle and reuse (single component refrigerant)
Complies with the requirements of the new EU F-gas regulation
Global solution : also affordable in developing countries, can be
used in high ambient temperature regions
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5. Lower CO2 eq refrigerant charge : example
Quantity GWP x Quantity
> 75% Reduction
• The GWP of R32 is
only 1/3rd of R410A
• Taking into account
the refrigerant charge,
the CO2equivalent
(kgxGWP) value can
be reduced with 75%
(so remains only 1/4th
of R-410A)
GWP Values according to EU F gas Regulation and IPCC 4th Assessment Report
Refrigerant charge depends on the specific model design, so kg x GWP impact can be
different for specific models. The comparison shows the typical impact for a small split air
conditioner with same capacity and energy efficiency as the R-410A base model.
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6. R-32 and the new EU F-gas regulation
For new SINGLE split air
conditioners with a charge
BELOW 3 kg : GWP must
be <750 from 2025
PRODUCT BANS HFC PHASE DOWNSERVICE BANS
R-410A : Not OK
R-32 : OK
HFC phase down
encourages the design of
new equipment with lower
CO2equivalent charge
(lower GWP + lower kg
charge)
R-410A can be used , but
R-32 is a better solution to
achieve the phase down
targets of the EU F-gas
regulation.
R-410A : OK
R-32 : OK
No service ban :
R-410A remains available
for servicing R-410A
installed equipment.
R-32 remains available for
servicing installed R-32
equipment
R-410A : OK
R-32 : Better
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7. R-32 Design changes compared to R-22 and R-410A
New oils already
available which are
optimal for both R32 &
R410A
No issue in most
conditions (*)
(*) With R32, In very low ambient heating condition, discharge temperature may
need to be controlled, e.g. by wet suction control
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8. R-32 flammability & toxicity classification
Class 1 Class 2L Class 2 Class 3
Not flammable Lower
flammable
= Class 2 AND
burning velocity
≤10 cm/s
Flammable Higher
flammable
R744 (CO2) R1234yf / ze R152a R290
R410A R32
R717
(Ammonia)
Class A
lower
toxicity
Class B
higher
toxicity
LFL ≤3,5% or
Heat of
Combustion ≥
19000 kJ/kg
LFL > 3,5% and
Heat of
Combustion
< 19000 kJ/kg
LFL = lower flammable limit in% by volume
For R-32, the LFL is 0,306kg/m³
For R-290, the LFL is 0,038 kg/m³
Because flammability of R-32 is very low, it can be safely applied in most
air conditioners and heat pump equipment.
Room size limitations may apply (see standards such as ISO5149, IEC/EN60335-2-40,
EN378 but also national/local requirements e.g. building codes)
Classification according to ISO817 & ASHRAE34
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9. Practical example of R-32 room size requirements
according to EN60335-2-40
Calculated based on the requirements of safety standard
EN60335-2-40, using maximum refrigerant charge values for
maximum piping length between indoor & outdoor
Minimum required
floor area
Typical floor area
for these models
Ok to install R-32 ?
Daikin Emura range FTXJ+RXJ20 no limits 20 m² Yes
FTXJ+RXJ25 no limits 25 m² Yes
FTXJ+RXJ35 no limits 35 m² Yes
FTXJ+RXJ50 2,76 m² 50 m² Yes
Daikin FTXM range FTXM+RXM20 no limits 20 m² Yes
FTXM+RXM25 no limits 25 m² Yes
FTXM+RXM35 no limits 35 m² Yes
FTXM+RXM42 3,44 m² 42 m² Yes
FTXM+RXM50 3,44 m² 50 m² Yes
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10. Title - Internal use only10
Practical example
Even when all the refrigerant should leak in this room the LFL (lower
flammability threshold) of 0.306 kg/m³ will not be reached.
2,5m
50 m²
Example 5kW model with 1,7 kg of R-32
1.7/125m³
= 0,014 kg/m³
11. • Technically, installation of R-32 unit is similar to R-410A
• R-32 can be charged in both gas or liquid phase (R-410A only
in liquid state)
• Working pressures for R-32 and R-410A are similar
• Since R-32 is not a blend, it is easier to recycle and reuse +
there is no need to worry about composition changes when a
leakage occured
R-32 installation & service aspects
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12. Title - Internal use only12
Installation & service tools for R-32
Service tools R-410A R-32
Gauge manifold Standard Slightly different scale
0,8 bar higher at 50°C compared to R-410A
Scale Standard Standard
Vacuum pump Standard Standard
Leak detector Standard Same as R-410A if
approved by tooling
manufacturer
Recovery pump Standard Same as R-410A if
approved by tooling
manufacturer
Recovery cylinder 40 bar, maximum filling
to 80%
48 bar, maximum filling
to 60%
13. Latest Technologies in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning - XVI European Conference Milano, 12th - 13th June 2015
THANK YOU !