EUROPE: With increasing interest amongst air conditioning manufacturers in the 'mildly flammable' refrigerant R32, Chinese manufacturer Midea has received TUV approval for both R32 and R290 (propane) products. The approval from the German certification body covers the EC Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive.
The successful certification of the products for the European market means that Midea's eco-friendly refrigerant technology now reaches international standards.

Kang Jing, senior manager of TÜV Rheinland Greater China's Electrical Division General Appliance, commented: 'We made recommendations on structural adjustments to the product based on the EU standards governing the fire and explosive characteristics of flammable refrigerants.'

She went on to note that as the quality and safety of the Midea products were now guaranteed, the new products could be exported to the overseas consumer market as planned.

As Europe awaits revisions to safety standards that will ease the application of flammable refrigerants to air conditioning systems, Far Eastern manufacturers continue to line-up products to run on the hydrocarbon R290 and the HFC R32.

The publication of revision to the ISO standard 5149 is expected to trigger a trickle, if not an initial flow, of R32 product into Europe. On publication, the standard, which covers the safety of mechanical acr and heat pump systems, is expected to be rolled into the European equivalent EN378 thus widening the European market for flammable systems. However, it is thought that this process could take 18 months to two years.

The recent China Refrigeration Expo in Shanghai provided a showcase for a range of R32-related product from a number of Chinese manufacturers in addition R32 compressors from worldwide brands like Emerson. Danfoss has also been prominent in developing R32 compressors and Daikin's launch of R32 products in Japan and India has been well publicised.