Quote Originally Posted by xxargs View Post
In theoretic COP - only R404A worse efficient than R410A for common HCF-refrigerant - R600a, R290, R1270, R134a, R407C is better or much better than R410A.

R410A is not suitable for high temperature application (critical temperature is low and COP going quickly down if you working near critical temperature as condensing) is why you almost never see R410A in water to water heatpump above 50-55 degree C ouput. Is almost always based on R407C (R134a in some cases) as refrigerant, and both R134a and R407C is more efficient compare to R410A if using proper design on evaporator/condenser.

R410A in Air condition on desert area (think Dubai) works bad ie. to hot on condenser side - they prefer R22 (small machine and still allowed in country) or R134a (big buildings).

R410A not fit directly for freezer room using if not using compressor with two stage compression and cooling between stage, depend make very hot head temperature and wear out compressor and oil much faster.

This works for Air/Air heat pump in Sweden ie. low temperature below -10 degree C (and 40 - 45 degree C inside condensor) is only few days per year - but every day in this condition below -10 degree C , is wear equipment for 10-20 days per days using of expected lifetime

R410A works best in +10 - -10 degree on evaporate side and 35-45 degree C on condenser side...

You have very high leak rate inside compressor under running with R410A depend high density of compressed gas and can go up to 10% of pumped mass even if have only 10 µm space clearance between mechanical part inside compressor (source Mitsubishi), and leak on this part take down possible efficient very much in thermodynamic eyes.

So, why R410A so popular ?: Promoted by refrigerant maker in many years ie. have patent on this and earn money if manufacture sitting in this glue ie. costly to redesign for new refrigerant completely from beginning.

High density HCF refrigerant make better conduct of heat (is poorer heat conduct in liquid and gas than R290/R600a/R1270 in same pressure but higher pressure compensate this) and manufacturer can cheat on evaporator and condenser design with smaller area on pipes without to much penalty of efficient - compressor can build with lower swept volume and builds cheaper etc. etc.

R410A is optimized for cheaper manufacture (and why in sell so well in manufacture lines) - not for customer efficient later. - if manufacture put same effort to optimize R290/R1270-system as on R410A - is possible going same way as refrigerator and freezer for household with R600a - is winning more or less depend showing higher efficient and lower kWh/year cost to running compare same equipment running on R134a - we talk up to 20% better efficient compare to machine running on R134a!! and R134a is best of all HCF-refrigerant in aspect of theoretical COP (theoretic difference of COP is 4% between R600a and R134a, but better heat conduct for R600a gasses itself and low pressure and low density of gas make very small leak of mass of refrigerant in used compressors and efficient for compressor is higher ).

If you live in EU or planned sell products to EU - forget new design equipment with R410A as refrigerant - this going to banned in new designed equipment sooner or later and have already penalty tax based on GWP

To days seems only have pure R32 (flammable and have very high head temperature and need liquid injection to cooling gas in compression stage or multi stage compressor with cooling of gas between stage), R152a (flammable, but very close to R134a in thermodynamic), HFO1234yf (flammable, but still very costly and very bad alternative to R134a in thermodynamic eyes) if you stick on HCF and not going line to using HC as R290, R600a, R1270 and possible RE-170 (DME) (all flamable).

All new equipment must now be designed for hold flammable refrigerant, both if using HC or using R32/R152a/HFO1234yf - all millions of manufactured and used refr
In Dubai, manufactures with using R410a is positing their unit will make high cop, and energy efficient. Ex: daikin. Highest ambient temperature in Dubai is reaching some time above 50c.as you say, there is not any truth in performance???