Mitsubishi Electric has developed an air source heat pump that uses propane (R290) as a refrigerant. It can produce 5 kW to 8.5 kW of heat and hot water up to a temperature of 75 C.
“Our German trading partners have repeatedly asked us for such a solution,” Dror Peled, deputy division manager at Mitsubishi Electric, said in a statement. “With our Ecodan models with R290 refrigerant as a monoblock version, we now offer our customers access to the renovation market with relatively high flow temperatures based on natural refrigerant.”
The R290 Ecodan monoblock is available with 5 kW, 6 kW and 8 kW heating power. There are also plans to expand the model range in the coming years with a higher heat output, up to 14 kW, Mitsubishi said in a statement.
The heat pump is claimed to produce hot water up to 75 C in an outdoor temperature of -15 C or up to 65 C in an air temperature of -25 C.
“Compared to conventional devices, this means a significant expansion of the application areas,” Mitsubishi claims, adding that the recommended flow temperature for optimal energy-efficient operation is 55 C.
The new device is designed as a monoblock system, to which a hydromodule can be added as an internal unit or as a buffer tank for hot water storage with a volume of 200 or 300 liters.
Mitsubishi sells the heat pump exclusively as a monobloc because of the special safety requirements for heat pumps that use propane as a refrigerant for residential use.
“The outdoor unit uses a closed cooling circuit that does not require any intervention during installation,” the manufacturer said. “The outdoor and indoor modules are connected by water-carrying pipes. In addition, the compressors of the heat pumps and the existing safety measures have been structurally adapted so that the safe installation and operation of the new units can be carried out safely.
