R32, An Environmentally-Friendly Refrigerant

An Environmentally-Friendly Refrigerant

An air conditioner gives us a comfortable and cooling environment. However, you probably do not clean it as often as you do for other household surfaces. An air conditioner circulates and filters air, removing dust, pollutants, and mold. Thus, if left uncleaned, it is prone to accumulation of dust, growth of mold and development of other contaminants, which can affect the air quality it delivers, and its cooling performance.

Panasonic leverages its unique proprietary nanoe™ X technology together with Inside Cleaning function to cleanse the inside of an indoor unit, minimizing microbial growth to deliver clean air during cooling or heating operation.

What is R32 Refrigerant?

In air conditioning systems, a refrigerant is a chemical compound used to absorb heat and create cool air through the compressor and evaporator. There are many types of refrigerant used in air conditioning systems. One of it is the R32 refrigerant, which has low environmental impact yet maintains its efficiency in transferring heat.

Characteristic of R32 Refrigerant

Single Composition Gas, Easy to Manage

 

R32 with the formula CH₂F₂ is a single component of gas. Its composition does not change over time, unlike other blended refrigerant. Therefore, there is no impact on system performance due to composition change. This also means that it is easy to top-up or recharge on-site without affecting its composition.

Low Global Warming Potential (GWP)

 

Global warming potential (GWP) refers the impact of different gases on global warming. The higher the GWP, the more heat from the specific gas warms the earth over a period of time. R32 has lower GWP compared to other types of refrigerant. The most commonly used refrigerant R410A has a GWP of 2090; three times of R32’s GWP of 675.

Zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)

 

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) is a measure of the amount of degradation to the ozone layer that a chemical compound can cause. R32 is an hydrofluorocarbon compound which has zero ODP, which means it does not harm the ozone layer.

Non-toxic Refrigerant

 

Refrigerants are divided into two categories; Class A and Class B, based on toxicity. R32 falls under Class B, the non-toxic category. This means that it is safe for both humans and the environment.

Comparison of R32 and Other Refrigerant Types

R32 has been introduced as an alternative to R410A for its lower GWP compared to R410A. R410A is the replacement for the phased out R22 refrigerant.

Refrigerant Properties of R32, R410A and R22

 R32R410AR-22
DeodorisesSingle Component2 ComponentsSingle Component

Chemical Formula

CH2F2

CH2F2 / CHF2CF3

CHCLF2

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)

0

0

0.055

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

675

2090

1810

Toxicity

None

None

None

Flammability

A2L Mildly flammable

A1 Non-flammable

A1 Non-flammable

What are the Benefits of Using R32?

There are many benefits of switching to R32 refrigerant for your air conditioning system, which includes the following:

Higher Cooling Capacity

R32 has high latent heat, which means more heat is absorbed. Its excellent heat transfer capabilities make it more efficient in cooling.

Reduce Energy Cost

R32 is less dense than R410A and requires a smaller quantity to operate. This makes it more energy-efficient than other refrigerants to help you lower energy bills. Additionally, single component R32 is easy to reuse, recycle and is easy to recharge on site; keeping the cost low.

Environmentally Friendly

Compared to R410A, R32 has low global warming potential, minimizing its effects on climate change. Additionally, R32 is pure hydrofluorocarbon with zero impact on ozone layer, making it a significantly less harmful option for the environment.

The Efficient Refrigerant that is Kinder to the
Environment