The replacements for R-410A are the two A2Ls, Forane® R-32 and
RS-53 (R470A) has similar cooling capacity, energy efficiency, discharge pressure, discharge temperature and mass flow as R410A and consequently an excellent choice to replace R410A.
R410-a will be replaced by A2L refrigerants, which are a class of refrigerants that have higher efficiency and lower GWP (Global Warming Potential). The two foremost R410a replacements are R-32 and R-454B. R-32: Zero ozone depletion.
ComStar's RS-53 (R470A) is the world's only drop-in retrofit replacement for existing R410a systems. At 909, RS-53 has a GWP that is effectively 56% lower than R410a. Additionally, RS-51 (R470B) has a GWP of 717 which is 80% lower than R404a, R507 and half of R448A and R449A.
R32 is not suitable as a drop-in replacement for R410A and must only be used in systems specifically designed for R32.
Changes to the Dangerous Goods Legislation, effective in 2021, has new categories for A2L refrigerants. R32 is a synthetic greenhouse gas. If released to the atmosphere it can contribute to climate change. R32 is a flammable refrigerant.
While R32 and R410A are similar in many ways, they're incompatible with systems that aren't designed for them.
Regulatory Changes: As the phase-out continues to restrict production levels and importation, the R-410A price will likely increase. Manufacturing Costs: Fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and manufacturing can also influence the price of refrigerants.
R-22 uses simple mineral oil, non-toxic, safe, stable, etc. while R-410a uses a somewhat exotic Poly o Ester (POE) oil typically found in jet turbine engines. The refrigerant used MUST match the oil present in the system, which is one reason why you can't replace the R-22 with R410a in a system.
No. R-454B is NOT a drop-in replacement for R-410A. Although many of the characteristics of R-454B are similar to R-410A, the use of R-454B is restricted by code and regulation to systems for which it was specifically designed.
Cooling systems shifting from R-410a to newer refrigerants like R-454B refrigerant and R-32 refrigerant will be implemented in 2025. These new coolants are engineered to be friendlier to the environment and meet updated regulations about global warming.
Only Section 608 certified technicians can purchase refrigerants intended for use with stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
In most cases, R32 is the superior refrigerant when compared to R410A. While neither refrigerant depletes the ozone layer, R32 has a lower GWP and is easier to recycle. R32 also has lower operating and maintenance costs and is nowadays more common than R410A due to the phase-out.
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.
A small amount of R 22 left in a 410A system will not sludge the oil. This is because most POE oils are mixable (meaning they mix well) with any refrigerant even R 22.
The most notable benefit of using R-454B is its compliance with the impending GWP limits we mentioned earlier. Also, from a performance standpoint, it features a similar coefficient of performance (COP) to its predecessor, R-410A, and can even be slightly better in some instances.
The replacements for R-410A are the two A2Ls, Forane® R-32 and R-454B.
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 pressure can become high enough for parts of the system to rupture. At the very least, leaks will occur.
Does R-410A Have a Drop-In Replacement? As of now, there's one drop-in replacement for R-410A, and it's R470A, also known as ComStar International RS-53. RS-53 is a retrofit replacement for R-410A that's nonflammable and has a much lower global warming potential or GWP.
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.
R-32 has a higher pressure ratio than R-410A. Basically, a higher pressure ratio means the refrigerant can cool more with less refrigerant, which also means less electricity is required for the system to cool your home.
In the figure, the notation such as R32 + R134a (90/10) indicates that R32 is a mixed refrigerant of 90 wt% and R134a is 10 wt%. As shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that mixing R134a (or R1234yf) with R32 suppresses the discharge temperature.
You will, of course, need to ensure that any equipment you use includes an R32 compliant recovery unit, an R32 specific vacuum pump, a torque wrench set to the manufacturer's recommendations on your flare joints and for pipework, stick to material that is R410A rated, as this also suitable for R32.