Natural refrigerants are considered as last possible alternatives for the current refrigerants on markets to reduce the risks of climate and human health. Among them, hydrocarbons have similar thermodynamic properties to conventional refrigerants and perform well enough to allow drop-in operation, but most of them are classified as A3 refrigerants due to their high flammability. To ensure safe operation, various approaches are being investigated, including refrigerant leak detectors, ventilation, and secondary loops. Another approach is to achieve sufficient capacity with refrigerant charges below the allowable charge limits.

In this study, various strategies for reducing refrigerant charge for R-290 Heat Pump is discussed through cycle analysis. The impact of various charge le ...