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With the gradual implementation of the EU F-Gas regulations, the application of refrigerants with high GWP values has gradually decreased. According to EU Directive 2006/40/EC, "From 1 January 2017, the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases with a GWP higher than 150 in all new vehicles put on the EU market will be totally banned. New vehicles with MAC systems using these gases will not be registered, sold, or able to enter into service in the EU". The rule indicates that in automotive MAC systems, high GWP refrigerant are no longer applicable.
Meanwhile, although the GWP of current automotive refrigerant R1234yf is low, it can oxidize in the atmosphere to form trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)—a substance with environmental persistence and potential toxicity—which may pose risks to water bodies and human health, potentially impacting its future adoption of in MAC systems. Therefore, new refrigerants R744 (carbon dioxide) and R290 (propane) with stronger substitutability and better environmental performance are becoming important alternatives for vehicle air-conditioning systems.
In the face of the industry transformation to R744 and R290, vehicle refrigerant detection solutions will also be upgraded simultaneously to ensure that the refrigeration system is efficient while protecting the vehicle safety.
However, compared with traditional refrigerants, R744 and R290 show significant differences in physical properties and safety requirements. R744 has high working pressure and corrosiveness, which places higher requirements on the structural strength, anti-interference ability and long-term stability. R290 belongs to Class A3 highly flammable refrigerants, and its leakage monitoring needs to meet extremely high sensitivity and response speed to avoid potential safety hazards.
Facing the challenges of R744 and R290 refrigerant gas leak detection, Cubic, as an automotive Tier 1 supplier, leveraged its mature R&D and manufacturing experience on gas sensors and gas analyzers, has launched a new generation of automotive refrigerant sensors for R744 and R290 refrigerant gas leak detection based on its core NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) technology, providing more accurate, stable and intelligent sensor solutions.
Compared with thermal conductivity and photoacoustic spectroscopy technology, NDIR technology is the most mature and reliable core method in the current gas detection field, and is particularly suitable for R744 and R290 refrigerant detection.
- Highly selective detection: Cubic adopts a dedicated infrared filter to accurately adjust the infrared absorption bands of R744 and R290 molecules, effectively avoiding cross-interference and making the detection results more reliable.
- Long life and low drift: NDIR core components are non-consumable, and with Cubic's unique optical path design, the sensor can be operated stably for a long time and reduce maintenance costs.
- Fast response and good linearity: It has excellent linear output in the range of low concentration to high concentration, quickly responds to leakage status, and effectively supports the deployment of vehicle safety strategies.
Leveraged the advantages of NDIR technology, Cubic NDIR R744 refrigerant sensor, ACDS-1009, is designed to meet the high-performance refrigerant detection needs of the new generation of automotive HVAC systems. ACDS-1009 adopts a dual-channel design, making it capable of both in-cabin CO2 monitoring and R744 leakage detection. It also has fast response and early warning capabilities for refrigerant leak detection.
ACDS-1009 is designed to achieve ultra-low power consumption <1mA, which is particularly suitable for electronic vehicles under low-power mode. Its operating temperature range is as wide as -40°C to 85°C, which can adapt to various complex vehicle environments and ensure stable operation under harsh working conditions.
For R290 gas leakage detection, Cubic developed NDIR A3 refrigerant sensor, AM4206, with reliable dual-beam design and smart auto baseline mechanism, achieving long-term stability. Furthermore, designed with smart algorithm, AM4206 has the advantage of fast response to realize rapid A3 R290 gas leakage detection. In addition to its core performance, AM4206 also has feature of long lifespan with excellent performance due to the robust NDIR technology design and the durable component implement, which enable AM4205 NDIR refrigerant gas sensor the best candidate used in different extreme working conditions covering the scenarios of oil fog, salty fog, high temperature or condensation.
Both NDIR R744 and R290 refrigerant sensors are designed in accordance with AEC-Q100 automotive electronics requirements and comply with EMC requirements across a wide range of vehicle models. In addition, Cubic possesses strong software development capabilities aligned with ASPICE standards, ensuring high reliability and quality throughout the development lifecycle of the NDIR R744 and R290 refrigerant sensors.
At the same time, Cubic has already earned IATF 16949 Certificate, with automotive-grade quality management system and extensive experience in automated batch manufacturing, making Cubic automotive R744 refrigerant sensor and R290 refrigerant sensors credible to be widely deployed in various automotive air-conditioning systems in automotive industry.
For more details, please click the following link on: https://en.gassensor.com.cn/CubicAutomotiveSensorSolutions/index.html or contact us via sales@gassensor.com.cn.
