LG Electronics

Minsoo Kim, Young Hwan Ko

Commercialization of R32 in a Window Type Air Conditioner for US Market

and Split Air Conditioners for European Market

- International Agreement

- Global regulations of GWP limitation

- R32 Market Expansion

- Thermal Dynamic Characteristics of Refrigerants

- System Optimization

- Flammability Test

- Window Air-Conditioner

- Wall-mounted Air-Conditioner

- Ceiling-mounted Air-Conditioner

- Conclusion

Contents

Ex) CO2 Emission of R-32 Comparison to R-410A

= 6752088

∗ ~75100

= ~25%

International Agreement

[Montreal Protocol HFC Phase Down Plan (‘16 Kigali Amendment)]

F-gasregulation

Developed(A2)

Developing (A5 Gr1)

Developing (A5 Gr2)

Refer : ’15

Year

CO2 R

educ

tion T

arge

t (%

of Ba

se lin

e)

2088

675

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

R410A R32

GW

P (A

R4)

1 00%

75%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

R410A R32

Ref.

char

ging

To reduce CO2 Emission with lower GWP refrigerant and lower chargingThe Big Mission of HVAC&R industry is

CO2 Emission = Low GWP * Low charging (* High Efficiency)

CFCs(R-12)

HCFCs(R-22)

HFCs(R-410A)

HFOs(R-1234yf)

ODP

GWP

High

High

Lower

High High Low

No No

Current generation ref.

Global regulations of GWP limitation

Products GWP Limit Ban Target

AutoMobile ACs (Vehicle) 150 2013/1/1 (New Car)2017/1/1 (New Product)

Domestic refrigerators and freezers 150 2015/1/1

Split A/C systems with >3kg charge 750 2025/1/1Hermetic movable room A/Cs 150 2020/1/1Hermetic commercial refrigerator and Freezers 2500 (150) 2020/1/1 (2022/1/1)

Stationary refrigeration except for evap. <-50C for charge <40 tCO2eq 2500 2020/1/1

Multipack systems with >40kW capacity (for primary circuit in cascade) 150 2022/1/1

Products Existing GWP Limit Ban TargetAutoMobile ACs R134a(1430) 150 2023Residential ACs (mini split) R410A(2088), R32(675) 750 2018Commercial ACs (Split / smaller than 6Hp) R410A(2088) 750 2020Condensing Unit and Refrigerating Unit R404A(3920), R410A(2088) R407C(1774), CO2(1) 1500 2025Cold storage warehouses R404A(3902), Ammonia((1<) 100 2019Urethane foam R245fa(1030), R365mfc(795) 100 2020Dust blowers R134a(1430), R152a(124),CO2(1), DME(1) 10 2019

Transition of Low GWP Refrigerants will be accelerated in each product types.

(California Air Resource Board) GWP Limit Ban TargetAir-conditioning (Non-residential and residential) 750 2023/1/1

↓Packaged air conditioner 750 2023/1/1Split type air conditioner 750 2023/1/1 → 2025/1/1Variable Refrigerant Flow system (VRF) 750 2023/1/1 → 2026/1/1

EU

NA

Japan

N. A•EPA approval for A2L, A3(‘15)-LG Window R32 (‘16)-LG Portable (‘18)-Goodman PTAC (‘17)

M. APana. R32 PJT (‘17)(Ready for R32)

Middle East•Ready for R32•Daikin 2 models- Discharge temp. control

Japan•F-gas Act•RAC (‘18-GWP750)•CAC (‘20-GWP750, Under 6Hp)-RAC 100% (‘17), CAC 51%(‘17)

CAC 100%(‘19)

Europe•F-gas Regulation(’12~)•HFC quota system(’17, Import registration)•Charging under 3kg (GWP750, ‘25)-Double line-up market (R410A, R32)-RAC 95%, CAC 60%(‘19)

AfricaDaikin. R32 PJT (‘18)(Nigeria, Ready for R32)

Australia•F-gas quota system (‘18~)-RAC 43% (‘17), CAC 5%(‘17)

99%(‘19), 60%(‘19)

East Asia•Japan NEDO support•Japanese Factories-RAC 14% (‘17)•All R32 changing -Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taipei

India•Godreg R290 (0.7M units)•Daikin R32 F/test(‘12)•ME (‘16)•LG 52 models line-up(‘18)

China•F-gas Act-RAC 40% (‘19)

Global AC sales in 2017 : 110.56M units (’17 R32 20M, ’18 35M , ’19 ~60M units)

45.9M

15.3M

6.8M

9.7M

6.6M

2.6M

5.1M

17.3M

1.3M

Units Market salesUnder 6Hp

(RAC+CAC)

* R32 application estimated from ’17 Jarn report.

R32 market expansion

R32 shows higher volumetric capacity, discharge temperature and lower refrigerant charge compared to R410A

Thermal dynamic characteristics of Refrigerants

Refrigerant R-410A R-32

Composition R-32 50%R-125 50% Pure

GWP (AR4) 2088 675Safety Classification A1 A2L

Condensing Press [kPa] 2801.4 2868.4Evaporating Press [kPa] 1086.2 1106.9

Compression Ratio 2.58 2.59Cp/Cv 1.43 1.53

Molar mass [g/ mol] 72.6 52.0Discharge Temp [℃] 79 .4 94 .9Latent heat [kJ/kg] 175 .2 260 .3

Density suct ion [kg/m3] 38 .7 28 .0

Volumet ric Capacity [kJ/m3] 6782(100%)

7286(107%)

T_crical [℃] 71 .3 78 .1P_crit ical [kPa] 4901 .1 5782 .0

T_glide [℃] 0 .1 0 .0Density condenser [kg/m3] 935 .7 861 .3

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

200 300 400 500 600

Pres

sure

[kP

a]

Enthalpy [kJ/kg]

R410A

R32

0102030405060708090

100

1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4

Tem

pera

ture

[℃

]

Ent ropy [kJ/kg-K]Thermodynamic cycle model results for A/C Conditions : Avg Cond 46.1℃, Avg Evap 10℃, Superheat 11.1K, Subcool 8.4K, Isentropic eff. 0.75

Discharge Temp.

Rer. Charging

< P-h, T-s diagram >

R32 system could reduce the size of compressor, expansion device and the number of flow path in HEXBecause of high discharge temperature for R32, operating range of system is smaller compared to R410A systemThe explosion proof relay have to be used in flammable refrigerant system

Component Optimization

Compressor Constant speed compressor : displacement volume ↓Inverter compressor : operating frequency ↓

Heat exchanger separation of flow path ↓

EEV (Capillary) Orifice Diameter ↓

PCB (Printed Circuit Board) Flammability → Explosion proof relay

Control High discharge temperature → limitation of operating range

System Optimization

40

50

60

70

80

90

15 20 25 30 35 40 45

실외온도[℃]

Com

p[Hz

]

R410A

R32

80Hz@32℃

60Hz@30℃

Ambient temperature [℃]

Comp

. Fre

quen

cy[H

z]

Evaporating Temp.(℃)

Cond

ensin

g Tem

p.(℃

)

R410A

R32

CoolingHeating

< Operating range in cooling and heating mode > < Compressor frequency in cooling mode >

Flammability Test

0s

30s

60s

90s

120s

501s

< Candle source test > < Electric source test > < Newspaper source test >

The measured concentration of refrigerant gas in room doesn’t exceed LFL There’s no fire propagation observedThere was no visually obvious change in the flame size between R410A and R32 system

• Product burning test (Window air-conditioner)

• Ignition source test (test room size – 4.8m X 1.5m X 2.5m (7.2m2), 800g/4min)

< R410A > < R32 >

There was a permission of using R32 in single package system in 2015The US EPA has reinforced performance requirements in 2016The Efficiency of R32 system increased from 5 to 7% and refrigerant charging amount reducedfrom 12 to 27%.

8k 12.0

10k 12.0

12k 12.0

15k 11.8

18k 11.8

25k 10.3

8k 11.2

10k 11.2

12k 11,2

15k 11.1

18k 11.1

25k 9.8

CEERCapacity

2015(EPA 3.1) 2016(EPA 4.0)

CEERCapacity

7%

10.9

11.7

CEER

Sta

ndar

d

Capacity[Btu/hr]

2016 EPAStandard

Ref. Amount[g]R410A R32 [%]

8k 7%↑ 365 270 26%↓

10k 7%↑ 495 390 21%↓

12k 7%↑ 585 440 25%↓

15k 6%↑ 665 500 25%↓

18k 6%↑ 740 650 12%↓

25k 5%↑ 1,235 900 27%↓

Window Air-conditioner

< Constant speed compressor > < Capillary tube >

displacement volume ↓ Diameter ↓

79.1

51.7

70

65

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Hz

Mass

flow

rate[

kg/hr

]

Charging amount

100%

74%

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Refrig

eran

t Cha

rging

[g]

In wall-mounted system, R32 refrigerant charge size is 26% lower than the R410A chargeThe efficiency of R32 is 7% higher in cooling mode and 5% higher in heating mode compared to R410A

2.6

2.8

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

600 700 800 900 1000

EER

[W/W

]

Refrigerant charging [g]

R410AR32

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4

600 700 800 900 1000

COP

[W/W

]

Refrigerant charging [g]

Cooling/Heating efficiency according to refrigerant charge

Cooling 3.5kW Heating 4.0kW

Wall-mounted air conditioner

100%

100%

107%

105%

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

EER,

COP

[W/W

]

R410A R32

7673

8785

60

70

80

90

100

Td [℃

]

Discharge TemperatureCooling/Heating efficiency Mass flow rate and comp. frequency

Cooling Heating Cooling HeatingCooling Heating

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

30 40 50 60

Coo

ling

Cap

acity

[W]

R32R410A

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

-25 -15 -5 5 15

Hea

ting

Cap

acity

[W]

53Hz, 95℃49Hz ,91℃

43Hz, 95℃38Hz, 95℃

73Hz, 91℃72Hz, 80℃

88Hz, 80℃80Hz, 90℃

101Hz, 88℃98Hz, 95℃

87Hz, 95℃79Hz, 95℃

100%

106%

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

3.5kW(100%)

SEER

[kW

h/kW

h]

R410A R32

*SEER *SCOP

* ErP seasonal efficiencySEER = Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, SCOP = Seasonal Coefficient of PerformancePdesign = Cooling or heating load of the building at Tdesign condition

100% 100%101% 100%

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

2.5kW(62.5%) 3.2kW(80%)

SCOP

[kW

h/kW

h]

*PdesignC *PdesignH

Wall-mounted air conditioner

Maximum capacity in cooling mode Maximum capacity in Heatng mode

As the cooling and heating load increase, R32 shows high reduction of capacity because of the high discharge temperatureThe seasonal performance of R32 is higher compared to R410A

Charging amountCooling/Heating efficiency according to refrigerant charge

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

EER

[W/W

]

Refrigerant Charging [g]

R32R410A

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

COP

[W/W

]

Refrigerant Charging [g]

100%

81%

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

Refrig

eran

t Cha

rging

[g]

R410A R32

Cooling 14kW Heating 16kW

Ceiling-mounted air conditioner

100%

100%112%

107%

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

EER,

COP

[W/W

]

R410A R32

73

66

8386

60

70

80

90

100

Td [℃

]

316.3

208.6

84

73

6668707274767880828486

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Hz

Mass

flow

rate[

kg/hr

]

Discharge TemperatureCooling/Heating efficiency Mass flow rate and comp. frequency

Cooling Heating Cooling HeatingCooling Heating

In wall-mounted system, R32 refrigerant charge size is 19% lower than the R410A chargeThe efficiency of R32 is 12% higher in cooling mode and 7% higher in heating mode compared to R410A

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

-30 -20 -10 0 10

Heati

ng C

apac

ity [W

]

Ambient Temperature[℃]

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

30 35 40 45 50 55 60

Cooli

ng C

apac

ity [W

]

Ambient Temperature [℃]

R410AR3279Hz, 95℃

86Hz, 95℃

40Hz, 95℃38Hz, 95℃

107Hz, 90℃106Hz, 81℃

150Hz, 95℃123Hz, 95℃

141Hz, 88℃140Hz, 95℃

114Hz, 85℃121Hz, 91℃

149Hz, 95℃150Hz, 95℃

100%

107%

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

14kW(100%)

SEER

[kW

h/kW

h]

R410A R32

100%100%

101% 102%

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

11.2kW(70%) 14kW(87.5%)

SCOP

[kW

h/kW

h]

Ceiling-mounted air conditioner

* ErP seasonal efficiencySEER = Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, SCOP = Seasonal Coefficient of PerformancePdesign = Cooling or heating load of the building at Tdesign condition

As the cooling and heating load increase, R32 shows high reduction of capacity because of the high discharge temperatureThe seasonal performance of R32 is higher compared to R410A

Conclusion

Transition of low GWP refrigerants is being accelerated and many countries are switching from conventional refrigerant to R32. The performance, cost and eco-friendliness of R32 suggest they could be lower GWP alternatives to R410A in air conditioning and heat pump systems

1) R32 shows higher performance compared to R410A, so the size of components in R32 system could be reduced

2) Because of High discharge temperature for R32, operating range of system is smaller compared to R410A system

3) There’s not a significant difference in flammability between R410A and R32 but regulations about flammable refrigerant equipment have to be considered

Thank you