Non-dimensional analysis shows that the inertia of R410A is higher than that of R134a. At low qualities, when the flow regime is churn, the higher inertia enables top tubes to receive more liquid so that the distribution of R410A is a little better than that of R134a.
An environmentally more benign refrigerant for replacing refrigerant R410A includes a majority portion of refrigerant R32 and a minority portion of refrigerant R134a, the volumetric capacity of the replacement refrigerant permitting it to be used as a near or exact drop-in replacement for refrigerant R410A in terms of ...
The R-410A system operates more efficiently, reducing wear and tear on the compressor. R134a refrigerant is commonly used in various cooling and air conditioning applications. It was originally developed to replace R12 in car AC systems. It has also been used to replace refrigerants R12 and R500 in coolers.
Additionally, it can be used as a direct replacement for R-22 without needing to make any modifications to existing systems. R410A is also becoming increasingly popular in automotive applications due to its higher efficiency and improved performance.
The chief drawback of R-410A is its Global Warming Potential. While the Montreal Protocol sought to eliminate substances with the potential to deplete the ozone layer, most refrigerants developed in response to the treaty are not altogether environmentally unharmful.
Why R-410A Is Being Phased Out. Because R-410A operates at such high pressures, there is an increased risk of an environmentally harmful refrigerant leak during maintenance and repair work. The R-410A phase-out means new HVAC systems will use more sustainable refrigerants.
R290 and R32 are both gases used in air conditioning units. They're also known as refrigerants, which means they help cool down your room by turning into liquids when pumped through the system. Compared to other gases such as R12, and R22, they are safer and environment-friendly to use.
A High-Performing Alternative to R-134a
Opteon™ XL10 (R-1234yf) refrigerant is a non-ozone depleting (ODP) hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) option that meets the industry's growing demands for sustainable, safe, and effective solutions.
If you use R-22 in the same system as R-410a, the compressor is going to be trying to work two different fluids through the same coils as both refrigerants respond differently to different mechanical situations. As you might imagine, this isn't going to go well for your air conditioner or heat pump.
As a part of this plan, R-410A refrigerant will be gradually phased out of production. The objective is to replace it entirely with A2L refrigerants over time. Starting in 2025, HVAC manufacturers can no longer make equipment that requires R-410A.
The banning of R134a, along with 27 other refrigerants, in new domestic refrigerators and freezers from January 1, 2021, is expected to open the way for the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants.
The replacements for R-410A are the two A2Ls, Forane® R-32 and R-454B.
In most cars that are on the road today, R134a refrigerant makes the A/C system blow cold on hot days. Selected for its low flammability and safety, as well as because it's kinder to the environment, almost every car built since 1994 is equipped with R134 refrigerant. However, kinder is the key word.
It is observed that R410A has lower surface tension, liquid density and viscosity but higher saturated vapor density and viscosity than R134a. To explore the effects of the fluid properties, the non-dimensional analysis based on the Buckingham PI theorem is applied.
R-410 refrigerant costs $60 per pound on average, but can range from $40 to $75. Keep in mind you cannot purchase R-410A refrigerant without an HVAC pro. As of mid-2024, R-410A refrigerant prices range from $40 to $75 per pound.
R32 is not suitable as a drop-in replacement for R410A and must only be used in systems specifically designed for R32.
When you replace an air conditioner or heat pump and upgrade from R-22 to R-410A, the ideal solution is to replace your refrigerant lines. This is because the mineral oil used in R-22 systems is not compatible with the new R-410A refrigerant and oil.
In December 2022, the EPA unveiled a refrigerant ban that will go into effect between 2025 and 2026 (depending on the industry). The result? R-410A is out, shaking up the HVACR industry, which relies heavily on this refrigerant.
How much will an R-22 to R-410A conversion cost? The actual cost will depend on many things, including where you live, but most of the time R-22 conversions start at around $2,000 and go up from there. The higher end of that range is somewhere around $4,500 to $4,600.
The commonly used synthetic refrigerants such as R134a, R407C and R410A have a GWP value higher than 2,500. As a result, their production is being phased out.
R-454B is the newest refrigerant, which will gradually replace R-410A, the refrigerant used in current HVAC manufacturing. R-454B is a blend of R-32, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), and R-1234yf a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). R-454B has a lower GWP than previous refrigerants, meaning it has a much lower climate impact.
With the scientific approach to reduce the global warming potential (GWP) of the refrigerant R-134A (i.e. 1430), the refrigerant R-513A with GWP of 631 is the drop-in replacement.
What refrigerant will replace R-410A in 2025? For whole-home systems, Lennox has chosen 2025 Compliant Refrigerant R-454B due to its excellent performance for ducted systems and zero ozone depletion potential. For mini-splits, we selected R-32, designed to optimize efficiency and reliability in ductless systems.
If the refrigerant used for the existing unit is other than R22, R407C and R410A, the existing refrigerant piping cannot be used. If the existing unit has another use than air conditioning, then existing refrigerant piping cannot be used.