Heat pump basics · Refrigerants

Refrigerant knowledge guide

Illustrated map of refrigerant generations, global policy, and regional rules.

Working-fluid table Heat pump basics

1 · Refrigerant generations & timeline

From ammonia and CO₂ in the 19th century to CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and today's low-GWP blends and natural-fluid revival.

Refrigerant generations timeline
Generations run in parallel—natural fluids never fully disappeared in industrial duty.
Generation Era Examples ODP GWP (100-yr) Heat pump use Driver

ODP/GWP values: ASHRAE Std 34 / Handbook—Fundamentals [3][4].

2 · Current landscape & future directions

Heat pump scale-up and refrigerant transition now run in parallel.

GWP landscape for heat pump fluids
Schematic only—confirm properties in the working-fluid table.

Building & commercial HVAC

Industrial & high-temperature heat pumps

PFAS & chemistry uncertainty

IEA & industry outlook

3 · International policy framework

Not every climate treaty regulates refrigerants directly.

Policy framework map
Montreal + Kigali set refrigerant law; Kyoto and Paris shape the electrification context.
Instrument Year Direct refrigerant link Heat pump impact

Kigali HFC phasedown schedules [1]

Party group Baseline 2019–2023 2024–2028 2029–2033 2034–2036 Final step

4 · China · EU · United States — past, present, future

Kigali sets outer bounds; national law decides what you must comply with on each shipment.

Regional regulatory matrix
Three jurisdictions, three clocks—never assume one global ban date.

Past (1987–2014)

DimensionChinaEUUnited States

Present (2015–2025)

DimensionChinaEUUnited States

Future (2026–2036+)

DimensionChinaEUUnited States

Application milestones (examples—verify locally)

ApplicationChinaEUUnited States

5 · Heat pump selection & compliance practice

A practical sequence before you freeze a fluid for a 15-year plant.

One-sentence memory

Quick FAQs

6 · Key references

Numbered sources cited in this guide. Verify dates against current consolidated texts.