Design Solutions and Safety Considerations in Heat Pumps Using Propane (R290): A Review

The objective of this paper is to review modern design solutions applied to vapor-compression heat pumps using the environmentally friendly refrigerant propane (R290), with particular emphasis on refrigerant charge minimization and its impact on system energy performance, and to discuss the influence of compressor type, heat exchanger configuration, and the application of thermoelectric subcooling technology on the coefficient of performance and the seasonal coefficient of performance. Additionally, we examined the effects of supply voltage, water temperature, and climatic location on system efficiency. The reviewed results indicate significant potential for further optimization of heat pumps using R290 while simultaneously meeting safety and energy efficiency requirements.