Retrofitting R290: all you need to know

R290 (propane) is a natural refrigerant that’s being heralded as the most environmentally friendly solution for heat pumps.

With an incredibly low global warming potential (GWP) and zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), it’s easy to see why. But the benefits don’t stop there.

This refrigerant gas is also cost-effective and easy to retrofit. Here, we’ll explore everything you need to know about retrofitting R290.

Retrofitting R290

R290 is incredibly easy to retrofit, making it ideal if you’re looking to switch a boiler for a heat pump.

But what do we mean when we say that retrofitting R290 is easy?

Well, R290 heat pumps can often be installed without making any big changes to a building’s existing infrastructure.

Depending on the building, you’ll often be able to reuse the existing pipework. And you may even be able to keep the same radiators or underfloor heating system – known as emitters.

This can help to keep costs down and make a commercial heat pump a viable option for many businesses.

Plus, it helps to minimise disruption, so that businesses can ensure continuous operation during the installation process!

Why is R290 easy to retrofit?

Wondering what makes R290 so easy to retrofit?

Well, it’s all to do with temperature differential, also known as Delta T or DT.

Essentially, R290 heat pumps are usually operated at 60C with a 40C return temperature. The difference between these temperatures – AKA the Delta T – closely matches those used by boilers.

In other words, most existing buildings are already set up to work with a similar Delta T, meaning very few changes – if any – need to be made to accommodate the new heat pump.

Usually, it’s just a building’s radiators that will need to be replaced, as R290 operates at lower temperatures than gas or oil boilers – requiring a larger emitter.

But sometimes, even this isn’t necessary. This is because emitters such as radiators have often been oversized in the past, making them suitable for lower flow temperatures.

What does retrofitting R290 involve?

Every building is different. So, the process of retrofitting R290 can vary hugely.

That said, the process always starts with the building load.

Our designers will carry out heat loss calculations on a building before working out what existing elements can be kept or changed to meet the heat loss calculations that have been carried out.

In this way, they’ll be able to determine how many emitters need to be replaced, whether the existing pipework can be reutilised and so on.

The design process could take as little as a week for a small project like a house, or over 12 weeks for a larger project such as a school.

Similarly, the installation process itself could take anywhere from a month to more than eight months to complete. It all depends on the scope of the project!

Having said that, the great news is that R290 heat pumps can usually be installed with very little disruption. You can keep the old boilers working through most of the installation period and only disconnect it at the very last minute.

What are the challenges of retrofitting R290?

Despite being easy to retrofit, R290 does also come with its challenges. Many building owners raise concerns about the refrigerant’s flammability.

But although propane is highly flammable, it’s exceptionally safe to use as a heat pump refrigerant. It just needs the appropriate safety measures to be put in place.

Just a few examples include:

• Risk assessments
• Positioning R290 heat pumps in clear, open areas
• Pressure testing
• Good commissioning and servicing
• Fit detection and ventilation

It’s also worth noting that R290 heat pumps use only a very small amount of propane, which limits the risk. Plus, gas risks aren’t a new problem – most buildings have a gas connection, while LPG tanks are also common.

At Clade, we’ve put in place policies and controls to make sure your R290 heat pump is safe for you and everyone who uses your building. We also monitor all the heat pumps we supply remotely so that we can tell if there’s ever a leak and deal with it quickly and efficiently.

Ultimately, we’ll deal with all the safety considerations for you, so that you don’t have to.

What are the alternatives to R290?

Generally speaking, refrigerants are characterised by being either chemical (synthetic) or natural.

R290 is a natural refrigerant, but it’s not the only one available. At Clade, we also design, manufacture and install CO2 heat pumps.

CO2

When it comes to natural refrigerants, propane and CO2 (R744) are the main options you’ll be choosing from.

Like R290, CO2 is vastly better for the environment than synthetic refrigerants. It’s also highly efficient, non-corrosive and non-toxic.

Plus, unlike propane, it’s non-flammable.

But the downside is that CO2 is completely different from boilers. This makes it more complex to retrofit than R290.

Not only does more of a building’s infrastructure have to change, but it’s further from the conditions that the industry is used to. So, implementing it can present more of a technical challenge.

Synthetic refrigerants

Most synthetic refrigerants come with many problems.

When we talk about synthetic refrigerants, we’re largely referring to HFOs (hydrofluoro-olefins) and HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), which are often branded ‘climate killer refrigerants.’

These refrigerants are F-gases, which commonly have a GWP of several thousand. This is in contrast to R290, which has a GWP of just three – or lower, depending on the time considered.

Synthetic refrigerants also contain harmful forever chemicals called PFAS, which pollute groundwater, poison wildlife and, in some areas, even endanger human life.

As well as being harmful to the environment, these refrigerants are subject to regulations restricting their use, which will likely increase in severity over time. So, there’s a real risk that a synthetic refrigerant heat pump could become a stranded asset in the near future.

On the other hand, R290 is a no-brainer alternative as it’s a non-toxic, environmentally-friendly option that is highly efficient and close to the conditions the industry is used to.

Is my building suitable for retrofitting R290?

Sold on an R290 heat pump? Then you might be wondering whether or not your commercial building is suitable for one.

Ultimately, establishing how easy it would be to retrofit an R290 heat pump in your building isn’t your job – it’s the job of your system designer. They’ll be able to analyse your building and establish what changes need to be made, before advising you on the best commercial heat pump for your needs.

Having said that, there is a simple test you can carry out to see how well your building would suit the new flow and return temperatures.

Simply turn down your building’s heating temperature over winter. By setting your boiler to 60C on the flow temperature, you’ll be able to see in real time how your building would feel on a propane system, without changing the emitters.

If you’re a particularly energy-savvy building owner, you may be running your boiler in condensing temperatures already, in which case your heating system should be extremely straightforward to swap over.

This is because boilers are at their best at exactly the same temperatures as what a propane heat pump system is.

Ready to start your journey towards a greener heating system?

As you can see, R290 can be extremely easy to retrofit. So, it’s a great option if you’re looking to swap your existing heating system to a greener, more future-proof alternative.

Not only that, but it’s a whopping 300% efficient! So, you’ll get to enjoy lower energy bills too.

You can see why we think that R290 is the future of commercial heating!

Simply get in touch with us here at Clade to learn more about how we can help to retrofit an R290 heat pump in your building.