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That's why propane heat pumps are the future

The liquid gas propane, a natural refrigerant with the technical abbreviation R290, has many advantages for use in heat pumps: it is versatile, practically climate-neutral, environmentally friendly and extremely efficient and energy-saving. Let us introduce you to the refrigerant of the future.

Liquid refrigerants are the heat transfer medium in the heat pump's cooling circuit. They absorb the sustainable energy from the air, groundwater or earth and transfer it to the heating or domestic hot water system in the house. alpha innotec is no stranger to R290. Back in 1998, alpha innotec was the first German manufacturer to bring propane heat pumps into series production. These decades of experience are worth their weight in gold today, because natural refrigerants and especially heat pumps with R290 are experiencing a huge boom. They have no greenhouse effect and are therefore a climate-friendly and safe alternative to oil and gas heating in residential buildings. What's more, thanks to their small footprint, heat pumps can be used in a much wider range of applications than wood and pellet heating systems.

GWP is the climate benchmark for heat pump refrigerants

The GWP value (Global Warming Potential) can be used to quantify the impact of substances on the greenhouse effect. It compares the effect of a greenhouse gas on the warming of the ground-level air layer over a certain period of time with the same amount of CO², which by definition has a GWP value of 1. Previously, the natural refrigerant propane had a GWP100 value of 3, but this was recently revised downwards significantly to 0.02 by the IPCC. (Source: Sixth IPCC Assessment Report, 2021 and 2022). This means that within the first 100 years after release, the climate impact of 1000 grams of propane is equivalent to that of 20 grams of CO². Another plus point is the ODP value (Ozone Depletion Potential) of zero, which means that propane has no impact on the ozone layer.

Propane is a hydrocarbon that is abundant in nature and therefore consumes significantly less energy during production than synthetic, fluorinated refrigerants, also known as F-gases. Although the gases practically cannot escape while the heat pump is in use as a heating system, they release huge amounts of greenhouse emissions when they are disposed of at the latest. For good reason, legislators want to gradually reduce the consumption of fluorinated gases. It is also predicted that the procurement of synthetic refrigerants will become increasingly difficult. We are therefore working hard to switch the entire product range to natural refrigerants such as propane.

Safety in construction and installation

Our engineering department places particular emphasis on the safety-oriented design of heat pumps with natural refrigerants. These are repeatedly the subject of discussion due to their high flammability. However, if you consider the fact that almost every household has a refrigerator with the refrigerant isobutane, also a hydrocarbon, in the kitchen, then this becomes clear: The technology of propane heat pumps is absolutely safe to control, especially as only a small amount of refrigerant is required. Leaks are practically impossible with alpha innotec heat pumps thanks to the hermetically sealed refrigeration circuit. If it is regularly maintained, a heat pump with R290 is suitable for decades of indoor and outdoor installation without hesitation. During installation, certain regulations such as safety distances, protected areas without ignition sources or installation on a solid foundation must also be observed.

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The heating of the future: powerful and energy-efficient

A heat pump with modern inverter technology adapts its output continuously and flexibly to demand. The heating works at the optimum operating point and only ever produces as much heat as is needed. The excellent thermodynamic properties of R290 also contribute to the energy efficiency of the heat pumps. High-temperature heat pumps from alpha innotec are particularly suitable for replacing heating systems in old buildings, as they achieve high flow temperatures even in winter.

Heat pumps with R290:

Discover innovative heat pumps from alpha innotec that use the environmentally friendly refrigerant propane R290.

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