R290 refrigerant, Chinese name refrigeration grade propane, chemical formula C3H8. mainly used to replaceR22、R502Refrigerants are used in cryogenic refrigeration equipment; because R290 refrigerant is flammable, it is usually only used in cryogenic refrigeration equipment with small liquid charge, or as a component of cryogenic mixed refrigerants;R290 is similar to traditionalrefrigerant oilCompatible. High-purity R290 is used as a temperature-sensitive working medium; premium and first-class R290 can be used as a refrigerant to replace R22 and R502. It is compatible with the original system and lubricating oil, and is used for central air conditioning, heat pump air conditioning, household air conditioning and other small refrigeration equipment. R290 belongs tohydrocarbon refrigerants; It has no damage to the ozone layer at all and has a very small greenhouse effect. It is the most environmentally friendly refrigerant today. From an environmental perspective, almost all countries in the world have no restrictions on the initial installation of R290 refrigerant on new refrigeration equipment and the use of after-sales maintenance.
R290 refrigerant parameters
| Name: R-290, HC-290 | Chinese name: Refrigeration grade propane |
| English full name: propane | Chemical molecular formula: CH3CH2CH3, C3H8 |
| Molecular weight:44 | Standard boiling point: -42.2℃ |
| Critical temperature:96.7℃ | Critical pressure: 4.25MPa (absolute pressure) |
| Ozone Destruction Potential (ODP): 0 | Global Warming Potential (GWP): 3 |
Product identity
- Safety class
- A3 (flammable)
- Type
- HC
- GWP
- 3 (near zero) (IPCC AR4)
- ODP
- 0 (not an ozone-depleting substance)
Application areas
Grouped by equipment type, for selection reference only; the equipment manufacturer's requirements and local regulations prevail.
Thermophysical properties
- Normal boiling point (1 atm)
- -42.1 °C
| Saturation temp. (°C) | -42.1 | -40 | -30 | -20 | -10 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturation pressure (bar abs) | 1.013 | 1.11 | 1.66 | 2.41 | 3.4 | 4.66 | 6.27 | 8.27 | 10.71 | 13.63 |
Data taken from published pressure–temperature tables and interpolated; for selection reference only — do not use for safety-critical design, commissioning or charging calculations. The equipment manufacturer's requirements and primary references prevail. Refrigerant pressure–temperature tool
Alternatives & Matched Lubricant
Under the Kigali Amendment HFC phase-down, the following alternatives can be evaluated (R290 itself remains legal to use); the final selection must match the application, system pressure and lubricant compatibility.
- Matched lubricant
- compatible with mineral/POE oil
Alternatives are a selection reference only; the equipment manufacturer's requirements and local regulations prevail.
Regulatory and compliance status (R290 / Propane)
R290 (Propane) has an ODP of 0 and a GWP of only about 3; it is neither an ozone-depleting substance nor a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) subject to reduction under the Kigali Amendment. As a natural hydrocarbon refrigerant, it is instead encouraged for use as a low-GWP alternative by major economies. The following are the regional status as of 2026.
EU
- RegulationF-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573, in force since 2024-03-11
- ClassificationThis regulation targets HFC; R290 is a natural refrigerant and is outside the reduction scope
- Policy directionPromoted as a low-GWP alternative (one of the preferred alternatives for domestic/commercial refrigeration)
- For R290GWP 3, not affected by the GWP>150 new-equipment ban; can be used in new installations
US
- RegulationAmerican Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act (in force since 2020-12-27) + SNAP
- ClassificationConstrained object is HFC; R290 is non-HFC
- Policy directionSNAP lists hydrocarbons as acceptable low-GWP alternatives (with charge limits)
- For R290Not bound by the AIM Act HFC quota
China
- RegulationKigali Amendment (entered into force for China on 2021-09-15)
- ClassificationReduction target is HFC; R290 is a non-HFC natural refrigerant
- Policy directionEnergy-efficiency and environmental policies encourage the adoption of low-GWP refrigeration solutions
- For R290Not bound by HFC quota; its use is encouraged
- Domestic procurement qualificationNon-HFC, outside the scope of this filing; still must comply with A3 flammable refrigerant safety/transport qualifications
Japan
- RegulationAct on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons
- MechanismSets caps by “weighted-average GWP” for designated products (domestic ≤750, commercial ≤750, automotive ≤150, condensing ≤1500, cold storage ≤100)
- For R290GWP 3 is far below the caps of all equipment types; fully usable in new equipment and encouraged as a low-GWP alternative
Other countries and regions (grouped by the Kigali Amendment)
Apart from the four columns of EU / US / China / Japan, the global 170+ Kigali parties all comply under the A5 (developing countries) / non-A5 (developed countries) groupings of the Montreal Protocol, and none impose equipment-level bans. The grouping determines the HFC reduction pace and is unrelated to geography — for example, the Middle East Gulf and India belong to A5 Group 2, while Brazil, Mexico and Chile belong to A5 Group 1 (same group as China). The table below is a quick reference for the groupings of major markets:
| Grouping | HFC reduction pace | Major countries / regions (representative) |
|---|---|---|
| A5 Group 1 (developing countries, including China) | 2024 freeze → 10% reduction by 2029 → 30% by 2035 → 50% by 2040 → 80% by 2045 | Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Egypt, Nigeria, etc. (about 140 countries in total) |
| A5 Group 2 (high-ambient-temperature group, HAT) | 2028 freeze → 10% reduction by 2032 → 20% by 2037 → 30% by 2042 → 85% by 2047 | India, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates |
| Other non-A5 (developed countries, except EU/US/Japan) | 85% reduction by 2036 / reduced to 15% by 2050 | Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, United Kingdom, Russia* (first two steps delayed: 5% by 2020, 35% by 2025), etc. |
For R290: not affected by HFC reduction. For the complete list of Parties and groupings, refer to the UNEP Ozone Secretariat (data version 2026.09).
Supply & Ordering
- Packaging
- cylinders / ton drums / ISO tanks / tankers (by grade and order size)
- Minimum order
- confirmed on enquiry; negotiable for bulk purchases
- Terms & lead time
- FOB / CIF / EXW and others confirmed on request
Please confirm the exact packaging, minimum order and lead time via the enquiry form below.
About WULA
WULA was founded in 2013. We are a refrigerant supply organizer, focused on moving goods from the production line to the customer's own line and site.
- Compliance paperwork
- We help customers meet compliance requirements: sales filing, per-transaction verification, quarterly reporting and three-year retention of documents.
- Order handling
- Scattered orders are managed through consolidated, data-driven administration to keep procurement efficient.
- Supply allocation
- Forecasting and coordinated allocation across multiple warehouses, to keep supply stable.
Need a quote or technical documents for R290?
Get current pricing, packaging options, MSDS and compliance files. Send us your requirement and our sales and technical team will get back to you shortly.
Bulk orders, custom packaging and other technical questions are all welcome.
Regulatory data updated: 2026-09-18 · v2026.09.12
Ask Question About Product
常见问题
Related Products
R32 Refrigerant 10kg
