Skip to main content
You are currently viewing: INACS
All markets
Global
Austria
Belgium FR
Belgium NL
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
India
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
UAE
United Kingdom

FläktGroup’s Refrigerant strategy for sustainable integrated cooling in AHUs

Theme
Sustainable performance
Reading time
5:00
Published
By
FläktGroup

The HVAC industry is always changing and adapting to the new demands of the modern-day age, which also means fundamental shifts in the way we think about cooling. Environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance and performance efficiency are all topical areas that shape HVAC landscape. We must adapt, fast.

ReCooler: A sustainable evolution in integrated cooling 



At FläktGroup, sustainability and innovation constantly drive our solutions for integrated cooling in our Air Handling Units (AHUs). The ReCooler is an embodiment of this commitment, leveraging advanced refrigerant strategies to meet environmental goals while maintaining top of the line performance and efficiency. 

Best available technology: R32 – Efficiency meets compliance 


R32 (difluoromethane) powers the ReCooler’s next generation with an ideal balance of performance, sustainability, and safety:

  • Environmentally Responsible: With a GWP of 675, R32 meets F-GAS regulations until 2033 and is free from PFAS restrictions. Its reduced refrigerant charge cuts the CO2 equivalent by 70%, which lowers environmental impact significantly 
     
  • PFAS-Free and Health-Friendly: R32 is free from PFAS chemicals, offering a safer alternative for human health while delivering superior performance in HVAC systems 
     
  • Performance and Safety: Offering higher cooling capacity than R410A, R32 improves Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP). Its A2L classification as a mildly flammable refrigerant is safely managed through integrated safety systems 
     
  • Future-proof Design: R32’s single-component nature ensures stable pricing and availability, while its compatibility with reversible cooling/heating systems and advanced variable-speed compressors make it ideal for modern AHU designs. 
     
  • Extra BREEAM credits: Changing to R32 delivers two extra BREEAM points. One for the impact of refrigerant and one for leak detection – which is a requirement for R32.

Future solution: R744 (CO2) – Setting the benchmark for sustainability 


Our future includes transitioning to R744 (carbon dioxide), a refrigerant that embodies the highest standards of sustainability:

  • Unmatched Environmental Credentials: With a GWP of just 1, R744 surpasses F-Gas requirements without restrictions, offering an environmentally neutral solution. Its near-zero CO2 equivalent impact ensures a dramatic reduction in environmental footprint. 
     
  • Performance without compromise: Thanks to our patented (pending) design for AHU integrated cooling, R744 achieves seasonal cooling and heating performance on par with R32 in average and colder climates, enabling compact AHU configurations that save space without compromising efficiency 
     
  • Safety and reliability: As a non-toxic, non-flammable (A1) refrigerant, R744 simplifies production and servicing.  
     
  • R744 also delivers the extra BREEAM credits 
     
     

We are incredibly excited to reveal our plans for this brand-new design for AHU integrated cooling. CO2 is the future, and we aim to continue development in this advancement for the foreseeable future.

 
Mattias Gruber, our Global Technology Director, gives insight on how we went about creating this solution, with sustainability and efficiency being the key factors in the development process. 
 
“Since 2019, we have been looking for a refrigerant that is truly sustainable (i.e. low GWP and no PFAS), which also is not highly flammable due to safety reasons. What is left is then water, air and CO2. Both water and air are possible refrigerants but falls on the efficiency, and tech. maturation. Hence, there is only CO2.” 

 
 
Looking to the future 


Our vision for integrated cooling and heating in AHUs prioritizes future-ready refrigerant that lead the way in environmental performance. While R32 represents the best available solution today, our strategic focus on adopting R744 highlights our commitment to advancing toward even greener alternatives. This approach ensures our technology evolves in line with regulatory demands and sustainability goals, setting new standards for eco-friendly innovation in HVAC systems. 

 

We cannot wait to share our exciting new innovations to you. Have a look at our amazing range of AHUs in our product catalogue now:

AHU Product Catalogue