MHI develops heat pump for R454C
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has introduced a commercial heat pump using the little-known lower GWP refrigerant R454C.
Developed by MHI in association with Japanese energy provider Chubu Electric Power Co, the Q-ton Circulation is an air-source heat pump designed for use in factories.
Developed and marketed by Chemours as Opteon XL20, R454C is said to be a close match to R22 based technology, and can also be used as a replacement for R404A. With a GWP 148, it is classified as an A2L “mildly flammable” gas.
As well as being the first time this refrigerant has been used in Japan, MHI claims it is the industry’s first heat pump of its type capable of heating water to 75°C (167°F) amid an outside temperature as low as -20°C (-4°F).
The two-stage compression cycle and optimisation of pipe diameters is said to have achieved a COP of 3.3.