R744 Natural Refrigerant for Automotive
Linde's R744 Natural Refrigerant for HVAC Systems Meets Strictest Automotive Specs
Why Use CO2 for BEV HVACs?
More and more automotive OEMs are turning to our R744 natural refrigerant gas based on carbon dioxide (CO2) for heat pumps or other cooling/heating systems. This trend is particularly evident in the fast-growing battery electric vehicle (BEV) market. CO2 is an environmentally friendly alternative to many of the fluorocarbons that are commonly used in automotive air-conditioning applications as it has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero coupled with a very low direct global warming potential (GWP). As such, it is not affected by growing restrictions around the use of chemical refrigerants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This naturally occurring, abundant CO2-based refrigerant gas has the added bonus of being non-toxic and non-flammable. In addition, favorable thermodynamic properties make it a highly effective heat transfer medium across a broad range of low-temperature and high-temperature applications. Last but not least, CO2 combined with highly efficient heat pump technology enables a significant extension of the BEV range.
All-in-one Design for Fast, Easy Deployment
Automotive aircon systems based on liquid carbon dioxide (LIC) must be designed to stringent refrigerant standards such as AHRI 700 as well as automotive regulations such as DIN 74105. Automotive specifications define strict gas purity levels and moisture levels of 10 ppm or lower to avoid the risk of corrosion.
To meet these standards, Linde teamed up with automotive OEMs and its certified engineering partner Göhler Anlagentechnik to develop a high-pressure LIC supply solution for filling BEV cooling systems. Installed directly on the OEM manufacturing site, this proprietary, state-of-the-art solution includes a PRESUS® pressure booster as well as temperature and pressure conditioning equipment for stable, precise filling.
The standardized, skid-mounted design enables rapid, smooth project execution and ease of maintenance. Already successfully deployed by several European OEMs, this all-in-one R744 refrigerant solution is rapidly gaining traction among an expanding customer base.