New refrigerants approved for 2-stage reciprocating compressors

• R448A and R449A environmentally friendly alternatives to R404A and R507A
• GWP values below 1400 for low temp applications

Sindelfingen, 11.01.2016. The compressor specialist BITZER has optimised its 2-stage reciprocating compressors. All models can now be run with R448A and R449A refrigerants and thermostatic expansion valves.

The world’s biggest independent manufacturer of refrigeration compressors has taken another step along the path towards greater energy efficiency and environmental protection: BITZER has modified all models of its 2-stage reciprocating compressors to enable them to run with R448A and R449A refrigerants.

With low global warming potential (GWP) values of 1386 and 1397, both refrigerants are eco-friendly alternatives to R404A, whose GWP value is 3922. The EU F-gas Regulation prohibits the use of R404A beyond the year 2020 in stationary areas. ‘Alternatives with very low global warming potential are the only long-term refrigerants on the European refrigeration and air conditioning market,’ says Gianni Parlanti, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at BITZER. ‘For many years, our company has been committed to the development of compressors that run with eco-friendly refrigerants and is now benefiting from the knowledge it has amassed.’

Transitional refrigerants such as R448A and R449A are needed on the path towards blanket use of low GWP refrigerants and for special applications. Tests have shown that the technically improved compressors can be run perfectly with the two refrigerants – both with and without a liquid subcooler. The application areas are practically identical to those of R407F. In addition, BITZER has fitted every model in its semi-hermetic 2-stage compressor series with thermostatic expansion valves.