DAIKIN is to feature a split air conditioner running on R32 on its stand at next week's Chillventa exhibition in Nuremberg. This mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerant has previously only been used as a constituent in refrigerant blends (R407C and R410A both contain R32), but is thought to be one of a number of new alternatives that Daikin is exploring.
Significantly, R32 possesses good efficiency and a relatively low GWP of around 650 - almost a third that of R410A. However, due to its flammability, R32 is only likely to be considered suitable for small to medium-sized splits.

Although best known here as an air conditioning manufacturer, Daikin is also one of the world's leading manufacturers of refrigerants.

Other refrigerants that Daikin is thought to be investigating are HFO1234yf and the 'naturals' CO2 and propane. There are problems with propane due to its higher flammability (A3) and CO2 due to its poor efficiency, although the company is to feature its VRV CO2 system on its stand at the Chillventa exhibition.

HFO1234yf, like R32, is mildly flammable but has a very low GWP. However, there are concerns as to its efficiency. More likely long-term is an HFO blend currently still undergoing investigation by Daikin and a number of other major refrigerant producers.