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Is R290 the way to go?


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I see that there is a lot of chat about R290 being the ‘best’ for ADHP. But is that just because it can run at higher temps , so is more suited to a boiler replacement? Or is there another benefit? 

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44 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

The GWP is low at 3.

As it is propane, no F Gas certificate is needed.

..and the European Commission is proposing a ban from 2027 on refrigerants with gwp >150 in split systems, which includes R32.  I am not sure if the ban extends to monoblocs, but which manufacturer wants two different designs unnecessarily.  It looks like it's on its way out.

 

They will imho need to get more realistic about the 'exclusion zone' for R290.  I still don't understand why I can have 13 kg of propane more or less inside a boat or caravan, but < 2kg outside a house is considered a serious hazard.

Edited by JamesPa
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Banning R32 seems like a sledgehammer to crack a nut, because there are well established processes to recover the miniscule amounts of refrigerant. I worry that it will screw the already fragile UK heat pump market unless the site location regs for R290 are relaxed.

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18 minutes ago, PhilT said:

Banning R32 seems like a sledgehammer to crack a nut, because there are well established processes to recover the miniscule amounts of refrigerant. I worry that it will screw the already fragile UK heat pump market unless the site location regs for R290 are relaxed.

Actually I have a feeling that the problem in the UK may be absence of regs.  When I did a bit of research a few months ago, it seemed pretty conclusive that there were no regs and the current situation arises from risk aversion by the manufacturers.  I may be wrong of course but if I'm not then the introduction of regs may be necessary to deal with the problem you identify.  The problem isn't helped by the conventional drawings that appear in most manufacturers instructions, which don't make it clear that it's ok (afaik) to put an r290 heat pump underneath a window.  Some installers seem to interpret the regs as prohibiting this.  Samsung (I think it's Samsung) have a variant of the most commonly seen diagram that makes it clear that the exclusion zone does not extend above the case of the unit.

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According to the text, starting in 2027 there would be a full ban on small (<12kW) monobloc heat pumps and air conditioning containing F-gases with a GWP of at least 150, with a complete phase-out in 2032. 

 

But that would be only new equipment and those needing to be regassed I assume. Not sure how industry would get on.

 

But other than that R32 or R290 in decently designed system makes no difference. Same CoP, same running costs, R32 generally cheaper to buy, where R290 should be cheaper to produce as it runs at a lower pressure. Go figure why you have to pay so much fur an R290 unit.

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