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Jury still out on mobile refrigerants
Recent research by car manufacturers and automotive air conditioning companies reveals that the jury is still out as to the preferred refrigerants for future automotive use, especially in electric vehicles (EVs).
In Australia, R134a remains by far the most common refrigerant, even in high-tech EVs which promote their environmental credentials, while 1234yf is being seen in a gradually growing number of models from some European, Chinese, North American and Japanese manufacturers. Several EV models which use 1234yf in Europe are using R134a in Australia.
But two global car companies presented significant alternatives at the recent ATMO MAC summit in Berlin: Volkswagen with carbon dioxide (R744) and Ford with propane (R290).
An oil change is also needed when the vacuum pump is not pulling the required vacuum. A compound gauge alone is not an accurate indication, but this can be tested by evacuating an empty cylinder or pressure vessel with a vacuum gauge or Vacrometer attached, or with a Vacrometer placed directly on the pump. Check the reading against manufacturer’s specifications – ideally, the vac pump should be able to achieve a reading of under 100 microns. Before testing or evacuating a system, always run the pump to get it to operating temperature.
Volkswagen’s EV heat pump system can source heat from the vehicle’s drivetrain components, the ambient air or both. It features a 5.5kW R744 compressor manufactured by South Korea-based Hanon Systems. Volkswagen first offered an R744 heat pump in its ID.3 and ID.4 EVs in 2020 and now offers it in the Audi Q4 e-tron and Cupra Born EV. It is also an option in the new electric Ford Explorer, which uses VW’s electric platform.
Meanwhile, Ford has identified R290-based full-secondary loop heat pumps as a superior solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Working in partnership with DENSO, Ford says R290 is the best global option ‘if safety is addressed’. Their research has shown 20% efficiency gains over a direct expansion system using the same refrigerant in their new system. Compared to systems using the same technology with 1234yf, Ford and DENSO have reported efficiency gains of 5% in heating mode and 29% in cooling mode.
Access the ATMO MAC summit presentations here.
