Manufacturers of air-conditioning and heat pump equipment including FläktGroup have already introduced versions of their products with alternative refrigerants which have a low GWP in a wide range. In many cases non-flammable refrigerants (class A1) were replaced by mildly flammable refrigerants (class A2L) as a compromise to meet the low GWP requirement. Examples are R-32 (GWP 677), R-454B (GWP 467) or R-1234ze (GWP 1). These can still be implemented and operated easily if the refrigerant-filled parts are located outside only. Split systems like computer room air-conditioners (CRAC) are usually still equipped with traditional refrigerants due the preference of the non-flammable A1 safety class. In case of A2L refrigerant applied indoors, such as in split systems, the charge of the gas is limited by EN 378 and safety arrangements may be necessary.
In the coming years, among others the following bans per product and equipment will become effective, which are relevant to the HVAC industry.
· From 2027 solutions with GWP<750 comply for Chillers >12 kW,
· Split systems like CRACs must have a GWP<750 from 2029 and GWP<150 from 2033,
· Monobloc hydronic heat pumps will need a GWP<150 for cooling capacity 12 to 50 kW from 2027 and for >50 kW from 2030
The industry and the developers at FläktGroup are continuously working on new generations of such devices to meet the requirements at the right time. New types of refrigerants which meet the complex requirements, such as GWP, flammability and efficiency at the same time, are also developed and will become available to manufacturers in the time to come.
Anyhow, maintenance or servicing of air-conditioning equipment, heat pumps and chillers is not restricted in the new regulation (EU) 2024/573 for all the traditional refrigerants (GWP<2500), so that today’s actual equipment can still be tendered and installed without fearing a short lifetime of the equipment. The strong phase down of quota will lead to a bigger market of recycled refrigerant so that there will also be a wider source for spare refrigerant.
All currently available integrated DX heat pumps use refrigerants that will be banned for units <50 kW in 2027. FläktGroup’s solution using the highest efficiency rotor to minimize the required compressor power is the best performing version on the market – especially compare to versions where both elements of the heat pump are on the system side of the rotor.
