Experimental study of performance analysis of split air conditioning unit by replacing refrigerant R410A with R32 and R290

Abstract The world phasedown of high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants has created a need for low-GWP replacements that have equal or better energy consumption in air conditioning systems. Three refrigerants (R410A, R32 and R290) are analyzed in this study to determine alternatives for operation in a high-outdoor-temperature condition. An experimental analysis on a split air conditioner was conducted at outdoor temperatures between 30 and 50 °C and indoor temperatures between 20 and 32 °C. Each refrigerant was tested with a matching compressor, charge and capillary tube suitable size. Using the same microchannel heat exchanger as a condenser and a finned tube heat exchanger as an evaporator. The results indicated that R290 exhibited the best coefficient of performance (COP). The COP of R290 was 18–22% higher than R410A and 10–14% with respect to R32, coupled with a 15–20% reduction in compressor power consumption with respect to R410A. R32 was an intermediate performer, offering 10–15% higher COP and 8–12% lower power consumption than those of R410A. This proves that R32 is an interim refrigerant with medium GWP and satisfactory consumption. On the other hand, R410A showed high compressor power and poor performance.