With the new F-gas directive in Europe, and with the realization of the possible negative effects of synthetic refrigerants, there is an increased interest for natural refrigerants. Hydrocarbons, and in particular R-290, is expected to take over a large share of many of the market segments for Heat Pumps and refrigeration equipment in the near future. While hydrocarbons are excellent refrigerants from thermodynamic point of view, they have the obvious drawback of being flammable. As the industry has been used to using non-flammable refrigerants during the last 90 years, it is now necessary to adopt and learn to handle flammable refrigerants safely, both during production, installation, servicing and decommissioning.

Within the IEA HPT Annex 64 researchers fro ...