High Efficiencies With Low Environmental Impacts
At a time when legacy hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are being phased out due to their high global warming potential (GWP), R-290 has emerged as an increasingly viable low-GWP alternative. With excellent thermodynamic properties — such as low back pressure, high volumetric capacity and coefficient of performance (COP) — R-290 delivers excellent energy efficiencies compared to HFCs.
With a GWP of 3 and an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 0, R-290 poses virtually no threat to the environment. Current U.S. safety standards limit refrigeration system charges to 150g.
Focus on Sustainability with Copeland's R-290 Solutions
Increasing R-290 Charge Limits Expand Its Potential
Because R-290 is classified as an A3 (flammable) refrigerant, the governing bodies that regulate the safe use of refrigerants in the U.S. have established a 150g maximum charge limit — making R-290 an ideal refrigerant for a wide variety of smaller, self-contained coolers and freezers.
Increasing R-290 charge limits above 150g would expand its potential applications in commercial refrigeration even further. A recent update to the Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) second edition of its UL 60335-2-89 standard paves the way for higher R-290 charge limits.
Equipment Safety Drives R-290 Adoption
Modern refrigeration technologies have evolved to ensure equipment safety and support the use of R-290 in an expanding range of applications. Today, R-290 is primarily used in small, self-contained, reach-in display cases, beverage coolers, frozen drink machines, ice machines and ice cream freezers — all which feature a built-in condensing unit.
For more than a decade, Copeland has been producing R-290 rated compressors and condensing units to support self-contained refrigeration original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
