Daikin Europe, a division of Japanese HVAC&R manufacturer Daikin Industries, has announced that it will unveil a modular propane (R290) chiller for industrial applications at ISH 2025.
The trade fair, held in Frankfurt, Germany, from March 17 to 21, focuses on intelligent home systems, sustainable heating and cooling technologies and modern bathroom designs.
“[Our] main focus for this new product, an R290 modular air-to-water heat pump [chiller], relates to supporting heating decarbonization in the EU,” Daikin Europe told NaturalRefrigerants.com. “In line with Daikin’s refrigerant policy to comprehensively evaluate various aspects and select the appropriate refrigerant for the application, the new unit adds to our product range, along with units using other refrigerants.”
The company informed NaturalRefrigerants.com that a press release published before ISH will contain the specification details of the new unit.
In addition, at the event, Daikin plans to launch its Altherma 4 R290 residential heat pump and unveil its CO2 (R744) VRF (variable refrigerant flow) unit for commercial heating and air-conditioning.
Altherma 4: Daikin first introduced its R290 air-to-water residential heat pumps at ISH 2023. The company said it would launch it in the fall of 2024, but those plans were delayed.
- “At this year’s ISH, we will fully show the product with all its features and benefits as part of its launch,” Daikin told NaturalRefrigerants.com. “We are committed to ensuring the highest possible safety standards.”
- The heat pump comes in four sizes: 8, 10, 12 and 14kW (2.3, 2.8, 3.4 and 4.0TR) and operates in ambient temperatures down to −28°C (−18.4°F). It provides water flow temperatures as high as 75°C (167°F) at −15°C (5°F), with a propane charge of roughly 1.3kg (2.9lbs).
Commercial CO2 HVAC: Dakin, which pioneered VRF with its first installation in a commercial building in 1982, will unveil its first-ever VRV (variable refrigerant volume, Daikin’s trademark for VRF) with CO2 refrigerant at ISH.
- “[The system is] tailored for targeted decarbonization initiatives such as supermarkets and retail establishments, focusing on heating and cooling systems that necessitate natural refrigerants,” said George Dimou, VRV Product Manager at Daikin Europe.
- He noted that the “flexibility” of the system allows for its consideration in all commercial spaces.
Policy driving NatRefs: The revised EU F-gas Regulation, which became law in March 2024, bans f-gas refrigerants in new equipment starting in 2050.
- The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently considering a proposal to regulate PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as a category, which would include f-gases and TFA (trifluoracetic acid), an atmospheric degradation product of HFC-134a and several HFOs, including HFO-1234yf.
- The proposal is still in the early phases and is set to be reviewed by the ECHA’s Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committees in March.
- “We probably won’t have a decision until maybe 2028, or even later than that,” said Jonatan Kleimark, Senior Chemicals and Business Advisor at ChemSec, at ATMO Europe 2024 in November. ATMO Europe was held in Prague, Czech Republic, and hosted by ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com.
Quotable: “Safety and sustainability drive everything we do,” said Carl Lievens, General Manager of Heating and Renewables at Daikin Europe. “As we introduce these new solutions at ISH25, we call on the industry to join us in prioritizing safety and sustainability.”
“[Our] main focus for this new product relates to supporting heating decarbonization in the EU.”
Daikin Europe
