Natural refrigerants based High Performance Heat Pump System for Commercial Applications
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
Recipient
Palo Alto, CA
Recipient Location
13th
Senate District
23rd
Assembly District
Active
Project Status
Project Update
EPRI held a TAC meeting #1 in February 2025. They continue to engage with manufacturers regarding the development of a prototype system and received a first round of designs. The team is also in discussion with a manufacturer about bringing a European monobloc product to the US for the prototype. The team is also engaging with a US based chiller manufacturer on the potential to build a propane CO2 custom unit.
The Issue
Heat pumps do not rely on fossil fuels, and they offer higher efficiency than electric resistance heaters. Unfortunately, heat pumps available today use high GWP refrigerants whose leakage into the atmosphere has the potential to offset any gains achieved by decarbonization of space heating.
Project Innovation
The project will demonstrate a safe and effective method of deploying flammable refrigerants. EPRI proposes to develop, test, and demonstrate a High Performance Heat Pump System for Commercial Applications that will use propane's thermodynamic properties coupled with CO2. The system allows a reduction of piping sizes and pumping costs, and reduce installation and operating costs for both heating and cooling in a more efficient and less costly alternative to conventional systems.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
Demonstrate an HVAC system that will help decarbonize space heating using natural ultra-low GWP refrigerants that are costs competitive compared with conventional refrigerants.
Affordability
Improvement in coefficient of performance with a target of 5 or both heating and cooling.
Affordability
Capital cost and installation reductions of approximately 50% when compared to standard hydronic loop costs.
Key Project Members
Edwin Hornquist
Ron Domitrovic
Aaron Tam
Sara Beaini
Ammi Ama
Matthew Nicholas Robinson
Subrecipients
Southern California Edison Company
Match Partners
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
Southern California Edison
