Hilde Dhont from Daikin Europe presented on the use of R-32 as a refrigerant for air conditioners and heat pumps. R-32 has a global warming potential of 675, about one third of R-410A. Equipment charged with R-32 can reduce the CO2 equivalent refrigerant charge by over 75% compared to R-410A. R-32 allows for high energy efficiency and complies with the new EU F-gas regulation. While R-32 is slightly flammable, the risk is very low and safety standards allow its use in typical room sizes. Installation and servicing of R-32 equipped units is similar to R-410A. R-32 is

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)
3
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
4

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.
5

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
6

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
7

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
8

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
9

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
11

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
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