R-290 on the rise in engineering system – General Overview

R290 is a very pure propane used in low-temperature refrigeration applications. R290 (propane) can also be used as an alternative refrigeran

Why R290 as a refrigerant

1.       Natural Refrigerant
It is 100 percent natural and non-toxic to users and the environment.

2.       Low GWP
GWP measures the potential of atmospheric warming produced by one kilogram of every substance emitted to the atmosphere in comparison with the effect of one kilogram of CO2 in a certain amount of time. This value measures the impact of refrigerants on global warming, the higher the value the higher the impact.

3.       Affordable

It is more affordable since it is more economical opposite to what happens in synthetic refrigerants. Due to several taxes on HFC gases, the price of refrigerants such as 410a increased significantly since 2014, while the price of R290 remains unchanged and notably lower.

4.       High efficiency
It has a 90% higher heat absorption capacity than its predecessors. This means quicker recovery in temperature and lower energy consumption.

Properties of R-290

R290 has a high-temperature range and with a critical point above 96°C can easily be used with seawater condensers. The triple point lies at -188°C, making it suitable for both chilled water and provision cooling purposes. The pressure range is comparable to that of ammonia.

More properties for R-290 can be found in the table below.

Benefits of R290

Lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) (~3) than R-22 (~1800),  R-134a (~1450) & R-404A (~3900)

Propane is characterized by a much lower GWP than R-404A, R-22, and R-134A, which is the primary reason why the use of R-290 has increased in recent years as a replacement for older, environmentally harmful materials. Its capacity to absorb heat is about 90% higher than R134 or R404, which results in faster temperature recovery and lower energy consumption. Additionally, its low ozone-depleting properties and very low GWP make R290 one of the most climate-friendly and cost-effective refrigerants on the market.

Cons of R290
The biggest disadvantage of propane and many other hydrocarbons is flammability. The substance can ignite when placed under the right conditions. That is why it is rated as an A3 refrigerant by ASHRAE. A stands for non-toxic and 3 stands for 'high flammability'.

Compatibility with materials

Almost all elastomers and plastomers found in refrigeration systems are compatible with hydrocarbons. Incompatible materials to avoid are EPDM rubber, natural rubber, and silicones. Refrigerant R290 is used in compressors with polyester oil, which means that the material compatibility is almost the same as R134a or R404A in terms of oil.

R290 Air-to-Water Heat Pump

Heat pump manufacturers are looking for alternative refrigerants due to the fact that current refrigerants are not economically and environmentally sustainable. Normal heat pumps are limited in performance at low ambient temperatures, for example, the lower the ambient temperature, the weaker the heating ability, in addition to that the reliability and low-temperature environment will affect the stability and operational reliability of the machine.

Future dependency of R290 Refrigerants

The number of R-290 applications is increasing exponentially with each passing year. It doesn't matter where you are in the world. If you are maintaining your standard home/commercial air conditioners and other appliances, you will be working towards a propane system. It's only a matter of time before we start seeing propane home air conditioners as mentioned above.

However, don't let the Inflammability scare you. Remember that the charges on these systems are very small, and as long as you take the proper precautions and follow standard safety practices, you should be fine.