Low-GWP Refrigerant blends as Replacements of R410A for Domestic Heat Pumps

Domestic heat pump is regarded as the most important contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings. R410A has been one of the most popular refrigerants in the heat pump system because of its eXcellent thermodynamic performance with near azeotropic nature. HoweVer, R410A greatly impacts climate with its global warming potential (GWP) which is eValuated as 2088 CO2-equiValent. Thus, this research purpose is to inVestigate refrigerant blends with a low GWP to replace R410A in domestic refrigeration applications. A screening of blends is carried out among the list of 5 low-GWP refrigerants, including R451A, R454A, R454C, R455A, and R459B, which are mainly combined by R32, R1234yf, R1234ze(E), and Carbon DioXide. The selection is based on the target GWPs (lower than 300), and the coefficient of performances (COPs) are analyzed on a single-stage heat pump cycle model by Python. The results present that the Volumetric capacities of low-GWP refrigerants are all lower than R410A, but their COPs are higher eXcept for R455A. R454A is considered the most accessible alternatiVe to R410A while its COP is 2% higher than R410A with the largest Volumetric capacity among low-GWP refrigerants. The climate impacts of these low-GWP refrigerants are also studied by the Life Cycle Climate Performance, which shows 22%~25% lower than the emissions of R410A. This research might supply a clue for the deVelopment of these new refrigerants to replace R410A.