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No propane, no gain
C
ompromise – finding a balance between conflicting demands – touches every aspect of life. It is, for instance, critical to work-life
balance (to help reduce stress), to relationships (to maintain harmony), and to making financial decisions (which might involve a choice between saving for the future or spending on more immediate needs or desires). In the context of using propane (R290) as
a refrigerant, an example of compromise is the balance between its high efficiency and environmental benefits versus its flammability risk. Propane is an excellent refrigerant with significant environmental and economic advantages, but its ignitability is certainly a concern. The perceived dangers of propane can, however,
be exaggerated. After all, flammable substances in other contexts are not perceived as a threat. A classic example of this is the automobile. Car owners think nothing of pulling up at a petrol station and pumping gallons of a highly combustible A3 fluid into a tank just behind them, then driving that tank of flammable fluid around and sharing the road with almost everyone else around them doing exactly the same thing. Also, propane is frequently used to power BBQs and patio heaters, and most people see no problem locating the chemical close to or even inside caravans, camper vans, and motorhomes as a means of fuelling heating, cooking, and refrigeration appliances. Besides, there are easy and very well understood ways to lower the risk of ignition of propane
A brief history of propane
Propane, a by-product of natural gas production and crude oil refining, was discovered by French chemist Marcellin Berthelot in 1857 but it only became commercially viable around 1910 when US chemist Walter Snelling developed a method for its production. Initially used in refrigeration in the early
1900s, its popularity waned in the 1930s with the increasing popularity of synthetic alternatives, but it has seen a resurgence in recent years as its superior environmental properties gain increasing recognition. The global propane market, which was valued at US$98.50 billion in 2023, was projected to reach US$109.77bn in 2024, and is expected to grow to US$278.6bn by 2032.
Propane has a long and distinguished history as a refrigerant. Although its use dipped in the mid-20th century, it has experienced a resurgence more recently thanks to its excellent environmental performance and F-Gas-beating properties. Tim Mitchell, sales director of Klima-Therm, examines this efficient natural coolant
refrigerant. These include avoiding sparks, providing good ventilation, preventing leakage, instigating different charging and recovery procedures, and, sometimes, installing fire suppression systems. The latest cooling technology also allows for
less refrigerant to be used, and this smaller charge volume significantly lowers the explosion risk. Fraunhofer Institute has completed valuable work in this area with its LC150 project, having achieved a heating capacity of 12.8kW with just 124 grams of propane. Attempts to alleviate the flammability risk in this way have delivered a significant ‘upside’ consequence – a low refrigerant charge naturally forces the designer to choose smaller heat exchangers and piping dimensions. But the flexibility afforded by being able to fit
more compact heat exchangers and pipes is not the only benefit of propane refrigerant. The chemical is an exceptional refrigerant solution for low carbon buildings for a variety of other compelling reasons too. One of its most significant advantages is its low global warming potential (GWP) of just 3 (AR4), compared to, say, R410A, which has a GWP of 2088. Indeed, the GWP of propane in the latest IPCC AR6 has been revised down to just 0.02. Furthermore, propane contains no chlorine, giving it an ozone depletion potential of zero, meaning it has no negative impact on the ozone layer. And it is non-toxic and a single-component
20 May 2025
refrigerant, simplifying system design and service, and potentially extending the operational life of the machines it serves. The benefits of propane as a refrigerant do not,
however, end there. Its excellent thermodynamic performance offers superior energy efficiency, requiring less energy to reach and maintain the required pressures and temperatures compared to F-gases. This results in less power consumption and lower fuel bills over the life of the plant. Propane is also a future-proof choice for HVAC
systems, especially in light of new, more stringent F-gas legislation coming down the line aimed at reducing the volume of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) on the market; also, propane would not be affected by the looming threat of tight controls on PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ proposed within new REACH regulations. Moreover, propane is often viewed as a superior
refrigerant to HFCs due to its lower system pressure drop, higher heat transfer performance, and reduced refrigerant charge requirements. It also exhibits ideal pressure/temperature characteristics for both cooling and heating. Additionally, propane is compatible with various materials and does not decompose into harmful substances like HFOs, making it environmentally friendly. Finally, its long-established use as a refrigerant
(see box) demonstrates its outstanding reliability and effectiveness.
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