What Is A Refrigerant?
A refrigerant is a chemical used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems. It is found inside your air conditioner’s copper coils, where it absorbs heat from the air and helps keep the home comfortable. The refrigerant continuously changes state between liquid and gas during heat transfer, enabling efficient temperature regulation.
What Is R-454B Refrigerant?
HVAC systems have used various types of refrigerants over the years, from older ones like R-22 (Freon) to the latest eco-friendly alternative – R-454B.
R-454B, also known as Puron Advance, is a blended refrigerant composed of R-32, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), and R-1234yf, a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). Together, these components create a highly efficient and reliable refrigerant. It falls under the A2L safety classification, which indicates lower flammability and minimal toxicity compared to many older refrigerants.
Key Properties of R-454B
- Composition: R-32 (68.9%) and R-1234yf (31.1%)
- Global Warming Potential (GWP): 466
- ASHRAE Safety Class: A2L (mildly flammable, low toxicity)
- Applications: New-generation air conditioners and heat pumps
- Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP): Zero
Environmental Impact of R-454B
R-454B has a low global warming potential (GWP) of only 466. It is 78% lower than the previously used refrigerant R-410A, which has a GWP of 2088. Developed to meet stricter environmental regulations, R-454B offers similar performance to R-410A while significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
Additionally, R-454B doesn’t deplete the ozone layer, aligning with international environmental agreements such as the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which aims to phase down high-GWP refrigerants worldwide. Leading HVAC manufacturers are already adopting it as part of their move toward more sustainable solutions.
R-454B refrigerant also provides exceptional energy efficiency. HVAC systems operating with R-454B can deliver higher performance while consuming less energy compared to traditional HFC refrigerants such as R-410A. This improved efficiency reduces energy bills over time.
Difference Between R410a and R45B?
R-410A is a refrigerant blend composed of 50% R-32 (difluoromethane) and 50% R-125 (pentafluoroethane).
R-454B, on the other hand, is a newer, more environmentally friendly blend consisting of 68.9% R-32 and 31.1% R-1234yf.
The inclusion of R-1234yf significantly lowers R-454B’s Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to R-410A, making it a more sustainable choice for next-generation HVAC systems.
What Kind of Refrigerant Is in Your HVAC System?
The type of refrigerant in your HVAC system depends on its age and model:
- Systems installed before 2010 may use R-22.
- HVAC units from 2010 to 2024 use R-410A.
- Newer systems (2025 onward) are transitioning to R-454B or other low-GWP refrigerants.
You can check your system manual to find out the type of refrigerant it uses. If you don’t a physical copy, you can check online, provided you know the system model. The refrigerant information is also found on the data plate on the outdoor unit.
