What is the Replacement for R290 Refrigerant?

R290 is a hydrocarbon refrigerant, also known as propane. The chemical formula is CH3CH2CH3, the boiling point is -42.12 degrees, the freezing point is -187.1 degrees, and the critical temperature is 96.8 degrees. The performance is close to R502 refrigerant and relatively close to R22 refrigerant. The boiling point of R502 refrigerant is -45.6 degrees, and the critical temperature is 90.2 degrees. The boiling point of R22 refrigerant is -40.8 degrees, the freezing point is -160 degrees, and the critical temperature is 96 degrees.

R290 is classified as a flammable refrigerant and is the replacement for R22 in the coming years. The main physical properties of R290 and R22 are similar, and there is no need to replace the compressor and refrigeration oil of the system.

However, the latent heat of vaporization of R22 is less than that of R290, and the refrigerant charge needs to be increased. Since R22 and R290 refrigerants are very similar in use, the two products can be substituted for each other.​​

R290 is a potential refrigerant replacement.

With the use and development of international refrigeration and air-conditioning technology, the demand for refrigerants is also increasing year by year, reaching hundreds of thousands of tons of consumption every year. Compared with the synthetic refrigerant such as Freon, the refrigerant R290 does not contain chlorine atoms in the molecule, so the ODP value is zero, and it has no damaging effect on the ozone layer. In addition, the GWP value of R290 is close to 0 compared with the same HFC substances that have no effect on the ozone layer, which has no effect on the greenhouse effect. Now in Germany R290 has been used in domestic water heaters and air conditioning systems.