Refrigerant R290
Used in households and industries for years, it is more widely known as propane. Seeking eco-friendly alternatives in the HVACR industry, this refrigerant has begun to be used in devices. In addition to its pro-environmental properties, it has been discovered that R290 also ensures quieter operation of devices, cheaper maintenance, and much more. Read the article and discover all the benefits of using propane as a refrigerant in modern heat pumps.
What is propane?
Propan is a colorless and odorless organic compound that naturally occurs in natural gas deposits. As a refrigerant, it is unbeatable in terms of eco-friendliness, and studies show that its negative impact on the environment is negligible.
It is important to clarify that R290 is not the same as the propane-butane mixture used in LPG installations. The refrigerant itself is much safer to use. Concerns and repeated opinions about explosion hazards are unfounded – R290 has a very high flammability limit, which significantly minimizes such risks. Additionally, very little is used in devices, so it does not pose a real threat.
Eco-friendliness for the 21st century
Every day, research is conducted to find eco-friendly solutions in various aspects of human life. One of the fields facing increasing challenges is the HVACR industry, particularly heating.
The heating industry is struggling with rising energy resource costs and stricter standards related to harmful emissions. The answer to these problems is the R290 refrigerant. Using it in heat pumps is the future of heating – the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of propane is only 3. This is a staggering result compared to the commonly used R32 refrigerant, whose GWP is 675.
The mentioned GWP coefficient is extremely important when choosing the right device. When selecting a heat source for your home, it is crucial to consider the increasingly stringent standards and regulations aimed at reducing the negative impact on the natural environment. For example, in 2025, regulations will come into effect that prohibit the use of refrigerants with a GWP of 750 or higher. Although the currently popular R32 refrigerant meets these standards, it may be banned in the future as regulations tighten further. Therefore, when treating heating devices (such as heat pumps) as investments in the future, it is worth choosing those that operate on refrigerants with a low GWP.
Additional benefits
The high eco-friendliness of propane is not its only advantage. More and more HVACR devices are appearing on the market that operate using this refrigerant – also due to its other benefits:
- Low operating costs – partly due to the lack of required periodic leak checks
- Low sensitivity to humidity and corrosion
- Quieter operation of the device
- Low cost of the refrigerant
feel the balance
KONSI Kiryu heat pump
KONSI heat pumps also include the modern Kiryu model, operating on the R290 refrigerant.
Modern design, extensive functionality, and, above all, innovative and eco-friendly solutions.
Choose the heat pump of the future today!