Daikin Altherma 4 on R454C and R290

BELGIUM: Daikin is set to launch its latest Altherma 4 heat pump range with versions using refrigerants R454C and R290 (propane).

Daikin says that the new range of air to water heat pumps is a response to REPowerEU, the European Commission’s plan to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels, and the phasing out of HFCs in Europe.

With a GWP of 148, R454C is an A2L blend of R32 and 1234yf. According to Daikin, the use of this lower GWP refrigerant offers a wide range of installation options, making it suitable for use in different types of residential buildings across Europe. R290, better known as propane, is an A3 refrigerant with a GWP of just 3.

The first series, the Daikin Altherma 4 H Standard, will be launched in 2024 in sizes 4kW to 8kW. With an operating range down to -25ºC, the heat pump is said to be suitable for various countries in Europe and can be used for various types of heat distribution systems – from underfloor heating to radiators. Water outlet temperatures are up to 65ºC.

The second series is the Daikin Altherma 4 H Quiet using R290 in 8, 10 and 12kW sizes. As the name suggests, a main feature of this series is a particularly low noise level. Producing water temperatures of up to 70ºC, it will be available in both single- and three-phase units.

Daikin says it will offer propane in certain product ranges where the entire refrigerant circuit is installed outdoors and where safety regulations allow it. As with other refrigerants, Daikin will also apply specific safety measures to units with R290, taking into account the entire life cycle of the units.

The Daikin Altherma 4 series was developed in Europe for the European market. Particular attention is said to have been paid to using local components to limit the footprint throughout the lifecycle. To optimise performance, several components are specially manufactured for Daikin by European suppliers.