1. Properties and Characteristics
Chemical Properties:
R290 (chemical formula C3H8) is a colorless, odorless gas that is slightly soluble in water but easily soluble in ethanol and ether. It has stable chemical properties and is not prone to chemical reactions.
Environmental Friendliness:
R290 has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP = 0) and an extremely low global warming potential (GWP ≈ 3.0~3.3), making it one of the most environmentally friendly refrigerants currently available.
Safety Considerations:
As a flammable gas, R290 poses a risk of combustion and explosion if exposed to open flames or ignition sources under certain conditions. Therefore, strict safety standards must be followed during storage, operation, and maintenance.
2. Applications and Advantages
Application Areas:
R290 is primarily used in automotive air conditioning systems, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles, where both energy efficiency and environmental performance are critical.
High Energy Efficiency:
- Excellent thermodynamic properties enable high cooling capacity.
- Smaller molecular weight and better flow characteristics reduce transport resistance.
- Less refrigerant is needed to achieve the same cooling effect.
- Lower load on electric compressors, resulting in lower power consumption.
Strong Climate Adaptability:
R290 performs well even in hot climates, making it suitable for tropical and subtropical regions.
3. Safety Guidelines for Usage
- Ensure system sealing to prevent refrigerant leakage.
- Maintain good ventilation in workplaces during maintenance.
- Strictly prohibit open flames or spark-generating equipment near R290 systems to prevent fire or explosion hazards.
4. Market Trends and Development
Growing Market Demand:
Driven by increasing global environmental concerns and the rapid growth of the EV market, demand for R290 refrigerant continues to rise.
Regulatory Support:
Governments worldwide are introducing regulations to phase out high-GWP refrigerants and promote the adoption of low-GWP alternatives, strongly supporting R290 adoption.
Technological Innovation:
Continuous advancements in R290-compatible system design are improving safety, performance, and manufacturing feasibility, accelerating its commercial application in the automotive industry.
5. Key Industrial Development Highlights
- Dongfeng Motor Corporation
Dongfeng has applied for a patent titled 'Electric Vehicle Thermal Management System and Control Method Based on R290 Refrigerant'.
Technical Highlights:
- Integrates heat pump systems, heat transfer loops, battery circuits, and electric drive cooling systems, all using R290 as the refrigerant.
- Enables precise temperature control for battery packs, improving EV performance, safety, and thermal management efficiency.
Guchen Industry has introduced a new
800V electric compressor using R290 refrigerant for new energy vehicles.
Key Benefits:
- R290 offers extremely low GWP (3) and zero ODP, making it one of the most sustainable refrigerants.
- Excellent thermodynamic performance improves compressor efficiency while reducing energy consumption.
- The adoption of R290 demonstrates Guchen's strong commitment to green, sustainable automotive technology and contributes to global efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Yuxin Automotive Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd.
Yuxin has applied for a patent titled 'Water-Cooling Core for R290 Refrigerant Systems.'
Technical Innovations:
- Double-chambered manifold design enhances cooling performance and temperature uniformity.
- Optimized drainage design improves condensation water removal.
- New pipe joint design simplifies manufacturing and assembly, reducing costs.
Highly has developed a high-efficiency R290 electric compressor for new energy vehicles, featuring:
- Over 20% reduction in internal cavity volume, enabling miniaturization and lightweight system integration.
- Reliable startup at -40°C, suitable for global extreme cold conditions.
- Structural optimization tailored for R290's flammability properties, improving safety and controller cooling.
- Applicable to a wide range of EV thermal management systems.
- Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd.
With extensive experience in thermal management components, Sanhua is actively developing system solutions compatible with R290 refrigerants for automotive A/C applications.
Songz Automobile Air Conditioning Co., Ltd.
As a professional automotive A/C manufacturer, Songz is conducting research and development on eco-friendly refrigerants including R290 for future product integration.
Yinlun is leveraging its expertise in heat exchangers to develop R290-compatible systems for automotive thermal management applications.
As a global leader in automotive thermal systems, Valeo is actively exploring R290 adoption for its advanced heat pump and A/C product lines to meet future regulatory and environmental demands.
Hanon Systems (Changchun, China)
Hanon, a specialized automotive thermal management supplier, is also focusing on the research and development of R290 refrigerant applications.
In mid-2024, Shanghai MAHLE Thermal Systems Co., Ltd. successfully completed technical breakthroughs for R290 thermal management modules and systems:
- Closed-loop development including R&D, prototyping, and validation.
- Upgraded global-leading heat pump test benches to fully support R290/R744 refrigerant testing and optimization.
- Provides core infrastructure for future development, testing, and optimization of R290 thermal management solutions.
With continuous technological innovation, increasing regulatory support, and growing global environmental demands, R290 refrigerant is rapidly becoming a key solution for next-generation automotive thermal management systems. Its wide adoption will play an essential role in improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to the sustainable development of the global automotive industry.
