Safety in refrigeration

The GWP value defines the relative global warming potential of a substance compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂). The higher the GWP value, the more harmful the substance is to the climate.
F-gases Regulation (EU) 2024/573
In the EU, a refrigerant regulation (known as the F-Gas Regulation) governs the handling of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and defines the goal of reducing emissions of these climate-damaging gases to zero. Regulation (EU) 2024/573 replaced Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 on March 11, 2024 and will continue and update the previous regulations.

As a result, the use of fluorinated refrigerants in air conditioning systems, industrial cooling systems

and heat pumps will become even more difficult or even prohibited in the future, which is why manufacturers of these devices will have to look for refrigerant alternatives with the lowest possible GWP value, such as the refrigerants R32, R290 (propane) or R744 (CO2).

As a fluorocarbon, R32 has long been half of the commonly used refrigerant mixture R410A, which is still widely used in heat pumps. One advantage of R32 over R410A is not only its better environmental compatibility, but also its higher system efficiency.
As R32 has a GWP value of 675 and only refrigerants with a GWP value of up to 750 may be used in refrigeration and heating systems from 2025, R32 is a future-proof and more climate-friendly alternative as a refrigerant for air conditioning and cooling systems.

However, the current winners in heat pumps are systems that are operated with the natural refrigerant propane R290. They are considered to be particularly climate-friendly, as propane has a GWP value of just 3.

In summary, the IEC and other organizations have created guidelines and standards such as IEC 60335-2-40 and EN378 to ensure the safe use of environmentally friendly refrigerants in heat pump systems.

These standards deal with safety requirements, refrigerant charge limits and environmental aspects. Compliance with these guidelines is crucial for the safe and effective operation of heat pumps that use R290 and R32 as refrigerants.

Risks of using the refrigerant R290 or R32 in heat pumps

Heat pumps that use R290 (propane) and R32 as refrigerants offer the aforementioned advantages of high energy efficiency and low global warming potential. However, as with any refrigerant, there are

certain risks and safety aspects to consider with R290 and R32.
Flammability: R290 (safety group A3) and R32 (safety group A2L) are highly flammable gases. Although they have a low flammability range, i.e. it takes a certain concentration of gas in the air to ignite, but still the leakage of R290 and R32 from the system can pose a potential fire hazard, especially if it accumulates in confined spaces.

To monitor systems using R290 and R32 as refrigerants for possible leakage, Figaro Engineering offers sensor modules that are easy to integrate and allow appropriate safety measures to be taken.
The refrigerant gas sensor modules FCM26xx
The FCM2610 and FCM2630 sensor modules from Figaro Engineering Inc. have been specially developed for the detection and monitoring of refrigerant gases in air conditioning systems and heat pumps. They play an important role in protecting the environment and the safety of heat pump and HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) systems.

The FCM2610 module is factory calibrated for R-290 refrigerant and the FCM2630 module for R32 refrigerant. The modules each have an integrated temperature compensation circuit that reduces the influence of ambient temperature fluctuations on the alarm value.
They have a compact design and are designed as an 'embedded type', which should enable very simple integration into existing systems.
The FCM2610 module and the FCM2630 module are resistant to interfering gases, which further increases the reliability of leakage detection.
The modules offer an open collector output for monitoring, alarm and malfunction signals, meet the requirements of the IEC60335-2-40, UL60335-2-40, EN378, JRA4068 standards and are of course RoHS-compliant.
Other possible applications include beverage vending machines, supermarket and transport refrigeration systems, among many others.
A connector on the module facilitates easy replacement of the sensor modules and enables regular, trouble-free maintenance.
The modules are characterized by high sensitivity and improved selectivity, which makes the detection of refrigerant leaks more reliable.
The sensors offer a long service life and low operating costs, making them a cost-effective solution for monitoring refrigerant leaks.

Further supported: The popular CGM6812 pre-calibrated combustible gas module
The CGM6812 combustible gas sensor module uses the TGS6812 catalytic sensor, which responds to propane and is characterized by exceptional durability and stability. The module provides an analog output voltage proportional to the propane concentration.
As the TGS6812 sensor can detect hydrogen, methane and LP gas (liquefied petroleum gas) in addition to propane, this module is suitable for gas leak detection in stationary heat pumps that use propane as a refrigerant gas, but also for monitoring systems for the other flammable gases listed above.

https://www.figaro.co.jp/en/product/feature/fcm2630.html
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