CHILLVENTA
An outlook from Daikin on refrigerant alternatives in Europe
D
aikin Europe shared its vision for implementing the HFC phase-down while continuing to support the much- needed decarbonisation of the building sector. Contrary to popular perception, the new
F-gas regulation does not mandate an immediate ban on fl uorinated refrigerants. In building applications, certain fl uorinated refrigerants continue to meet a wide range of safety and performance requirements. Bernard Dehertogh, deputy general manager DX at Daikin Europe said: “To drive the much-needed decarbonisation in the building sector, we need fl exibility in refrigerant choices. There is no one-size-fi ts-all solution, as diff erent applications present diff erent challenges.” Daikin’s strategy is to select the appropriate
refrigerant for each application, balancing four key factors: safety, energy effi ciency, environmental impact and cost over the entire life cycle of a product. Possible refrigerant alternatives per application: 1) Refrigerant alternatives for air-to-water heat pumps in residential buildings For residential air-to-water systems, Daikin transitioned to lower GWP refrigerants in 2017, when it began replacing R410A with R32, signifi cantly reducing the refrigerant’s GWP to 675. Today, R32 is the market standard, and while it remains the most cost-eff ective solution for air-to-water heat pumps, a shift to alternatives with a GWP below 150 will be required from 2027 onwards. A primary alternative to R32 is R290, commonly known as propane, an A3 highly fl ammable refrigerant with an ultra-low GWP of 0.02. However, due to its high fl ammability, propane has restrictions in handling, application and installation location. Typically, a minimum distance from windows and doors, pavements or neighbouring properties must be maintained. For these applications, Daikin is launching a hydrosplit heat pump, ensuring that only trained installers handle this equipment through its ‘Stand By Me Certifi ed Programme’. However, it is clear that in many applications, such as apartment buildings or terraced houses with limited outdoor space, maintaining the
minimum distance is not always feasible, and alternative solutions are indispensable. Therefore, Daikin continues its research into
energy-effi cient alternative refrigerants, such as R454C, an A2L mildly fl ammable refrigerant with a GWP of 145.5, which is below the 150 GWP limit. This presents a strong alternative to ensure that all types of residential buildings can access heat pump heating in the near future.
2) Refrigerant alternatives for residential and small commercial air-to-air systems With its split and multi-split systems, Daikin off ers cost-eff ective air-to-air heat pumps, ideal for replacing electric heating, oil boilers etc. or for use in regions where cooling is also required. As these systems are commonly installed on balconies and the refrigerant circuit extends into the building, they face even greater installation challenges compared to self-contained air-to-water systems when using propane. To overcome these hurdles, refrigerants such as R454C (GWP 145.5) and CO2 (R744, GWP 1) will become increasingly important for large residential, and small offi ce and retail
applications. In the medium term, however, due to the cost-eff ective properties of R32, we expect it to remain the dominant solution.
3) Looking beyond 2032 for commercial air- to-air heat pumps For large commercial applications, such as Daikin’s VRV systems, the legislation allows for more transition time. In this sector, Daikin has led the transition from R410A, the current market standard, to R32. Increasingly, HVAC manufacturers are launching R32 ranges, providing customers with a solution for new installations at least until 2033. However, it is also time to think ahead. With the phase-down and quota restrictions on the horizon, lower GWP solutions need to be developed. CO2
is the next logical step
for VRV systems, as it is an ultra-low GWP, non-fl ammable type A1 refrigerant. To ensure a smooth transition over the next decade, manufacturers must address energy effi ciency and aff ordability concerns. Additionally, the necessary training programmes should be implemented to prepare the market for handling this higher pressure refrigerant.
32 November 2024 •
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