Global HVAC manufacturer Trane, a subsidiary of Ireland-based Trane Technologies, has expanded its propane (R290) air-to-water heat pump portfolio with the launch of FLEX N HP, an up to 125kW (35.5TR) modular unit, and ARIES N HP, an up to 230kW (65.4TR) packaged solution.
Safety features on the new products include ATEX-certified leak management systems, relief valves and an optional gas-water separator. Both units will be manufactured at Trane Technologies’ European factory in Charmes, France, and sold across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
“FLEX N HP and ARIES N HP reflect our long-standing dedication to solutions built around real-world customer needs,” said Erik Van Oossanen, Product Management Leader at Trane. “These platforms show how we continue to expand high-efficiency, low-carbon options for commercial and industrial customers.”
The manufacturer entered the R290 heat pump market in February 2024 with the launch of the Trane LEAF, an air-to-water unit designed for residential and light-commercial applications. Trane LEAF provides heating, cooling and hot-water production, with capacities ranging from 8 to 30kW (2.3 to 8.5TR). An optional modularity kit allows combining up to four units.
FLEX N HP: The modular unit, with full inverter scroll technology, offers efficient operation across varying loads, according to Trane. It achieves SCOPs of up to 4.5 in typical operating conditions.
- The modularity allows combining up to six units to support heating capacities greater than 700kW (199TR).
- Each refrigerant circuit contains less than 5kg of propane. When multiple modules are installed, an optional safety interlock kit shuts down nearby units in the event of a leak.
- FLEX N HP produces outlet temperatures as high as 77°C (171°F) in ambient conditions as low as −20°C (−4°F).
ARIES N HP: The packaged solution features a double-circuit configuration using scroll compressor technology. It achieves an SCOP of up to 4.3 in typical operating conditions, according to Trane.
- It produces outlet temperatures as high as 75°C (167°F) in ambient conditions as low as −20°C.
- “[ARIES N HP’s] design, layout and dimensions align closely with traditional HFC-based units, simplifying the retrofit process for customers upgrading existing systems,” Trane said.
Transport innovation: Thermo King, a brand of Trane Technologies, has developed a prototype of a propane maritime shipping container (reefer), with a Costa Rican fruit producer to validate the proof of concept in June 2026.
- The prototype was developed in collaboration with GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation) as a proof of concept for R290 reefers.
- The direct expansion architecture of the R290 reefer features a variable speed compressor with vapor injection through an economizer, said Santiago Martinez, Laboratory Manager and Core Refrigeration Lead at Thermo King, in a presentation at the ATMO MAC Summit 2025 × TU Berlin. The event, hosted by ATMOsphere and Technische Universität (TU) Berlin’s Department of Heat Transfer and Heat Conversion, took place September 23–24. ATMOsphere is the publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com.
- Simulations conducted by the Universitat Politècnica de València show promising results, Martinez noted, adding that at 30Hz the R290 prototype cuts power consumption by 7% compared to the company’s R134a Container Fresh and Frozen reefer.
Quotable: “Building owners are demanding solutions that lower their operating costs and carbon footprint while ensuring safe, robust, year-round performance,” said Van Oossanen. “With the addition of these units, Trane becomes the only manufacturer to offer a full lineup of R290 systems spanning heat pump and chiller segments, giving customers unmatched choice and flexibility across all applications.”
“These platforms show how we continue to expand high-efficiency, low-carbon options for commercial and industrial customers.”
Erik Van Oossanen, Product Management Leader at Trane
