What is R32?
R32, better known as difluoromethane, is an organic gas, much like R410A. With an ODP of 0, the two gases are also equally harmless to the ozone layer.
Still, R32 has a GWP of 675, which is significantly lower than those of R22 and R410A. That makes it a seemingly better alternative.
R32 performs well in terms of pressure drop and heat transfer. It’s a grade A2 gas, which means it is mildly flammable.
In spite of that, R32 has been successfully used for many years now, most notably in China, India, and Japan.
In order to mitigate the risk related to its flammability, experts recommend using heat transfer equipment that has a low refrigerant charge.
Interestingly enough, R32 is a component found in other refrigerants. For example, by combining it with R125 and R143a, we can create refrigerants R407A and R407B (through E).
Overall, R32 is much more efficient than R410A. However, it does have a few shortcomings as well, namely its high discharge temperature.
Because of that, it can break down the oil in the system, which leads to bearing seizures.
Fortunately, there is a way to limit the discharge temperature of R32 so that the system can function properly.
Everything we’ve said so far indicates that R32 is a clear winner of our comparison. Since R32 is a single-component gas, it is more convenient to work with and easier to recycle. Moreover, its low GWP and high COP make it the perfect candidate to drive R410A into obsolescence.
According to several reports, most countries intend to phase out R410A by 2025. Still, some people contest the claims that R32 is the refrigerant of the future.
So especially for European market, R32 is more demanded in recent years, if you are one of the customer looking for alternative replacement for R410A heat pumps, please contact us for more details!