R290 is the fourth generation refrigerant with great market development potential.

R290 refrigerant is a fourth-generation hydrocarbon natural working fluid (HCs) refrigerant, namely propane, with a molecular formula of C3H8. It is a colorless, odorless, liquefiable gas with stable chemical properties, is not prone to chemical reactions, and is combustible. Risk of explosion when mixed with air. R290 has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and low global warming potential (GWP). It is a green and environmentally friendly new refrigerant that can be widely used in air conditioners and refrigeration equipment.

R22 is widely used in air conditioning refrigerants. It is a second-generation HCFCs refrigerant and is destructive to the ozone layer. According to the Montreal Protocol, my country will eliminate the production and consumption of HCFCs in all manufacturing industries by 2030. R32 and R410a in the third-generation HFCs refrigerants can replace R22. Their ODP is zero, but their GWP is high. The Montreal Protocol requires that my country’s average HFC production/consumption will be frozen by 2024 and reduced by 2045. The rate should exceed 80%.

According to the “2021-2025 R290 Refrigerant Industry In-depth Market Research and Investment Strategy Suggestion Report” released by the Industrial Research Center, R290 The ODP is zero, the GWP is low, it does not destroy the ozone layer, and the greenhouse effect is small. Its production does not require synthesis and can be obtained from natural gas refining and petroleum cracking. It has low cost, excellent thermal performance, large refrigeration capacity per unit volume, and can reduce compressor charging. The liquid volume and low heat emission during operation can extend the service life of the compressor. Moreover, the physical properties of R290 are close to R22 and have good compatibility. The R22 production line can be directly used. Therefore, R290 can replace R22 and has great development potential in the air-conditioning market.

Around 2015, my country’s major air conditioner manufacturers have established R290 air conditioner production lines. Gree, Midea, Haier, Changhong, TCL, Oaks and other manufacturers have successively launched 290 air conditioners. R290 refrigerant has entered the stage of large-scale application. In 2018, the installed capacity of R290 air conditioners Improve quickly. According to statistics from the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, as of 2020, my country’s output of R290 split air conditioners has reached 260,000 units, and R290 air conditioner all-in-one units have reached 4.48 million units. R290 air conditioner production has grown rapidly, creating a broad market space for R290 refrigerant.

Our government is also vigorously promoting the development of the R290 refrigerant industry. my country’s second-generation HCFCs refrigerants have entered the accelerated phase-out phase, and there is an urgent need for guidance on alternative products. In November 2021, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued a letter soliciting opinions on the “Recommended List of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Substitutes in China (Draft for Comment)” , clearly mentions R290 (propane) as the refrigerant replacing R22 in current room air conditioners, household heat pump water heaters, commercial independent refrigeration systems, and industrial refrigeration systems. This will further promote the growth of my country’s R290 market demand.

Industry analysts said that R290 also has shortcomings as a refrigerant. It is flammable and poses a safety risk if it leaks. Therefore, air conditioner compression The sealing requirements of the machine are high. But in general, R290 refrigerant has the advantages of good environmental protection, excellent thermal performance, small liquid filling volume, and low cost. In the field of air conditioning, it can directly replace the second-generation refrigerant R22 and is comparable to the third-generation refrigerant R32. , R410a also has strong competitiveness and has broad market prospects in the future.