Natural refrigerant chiller aligns with latest EU F Gas regulation

Tark Thermal Solutions has announced that its EFC2400 natural refrigerant recirculating chiller is engineered to comply with the European Union's latest F‑gas requirements under Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases. By replacing conventional HFC refrigerants with ultra‑low‑GWP natural R290, the chiller delivers precise, high‑reliability liquid cooling for sensitive electronics and industrial systems while helping OEMs design equipment that remains viable under the EU's accelerated F‑gas phase‑down timetable.

The revised EU F-gas Regulation, already in effect, accelerates the phase‑down of high‑GWP hydrofluorocarbons, calling for an 80% reduction in use by 2030, and it tightens rules for equipment that employs traditional F‑gases by prohibiting their usage in certain refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. These measures encourage the transition to natural and ultra‑low‑GWP refrigerants in refrigeration and comfort‑cooling equipment across industrial and commercial applications.

At the core of the chiller is a sealed R290 vapour-compression circuit designed to deliver comparable cooling performance to legacy HFC systems but with a fraction of the global warming potential. The chiller is a cost‑effective and reliable thermal‑management solution designed to remain compliant with foreseeable future regulations on refrigerant use. It targets cooling of sensitive electronics in medical, industrial, and analytical equipment where regulatory compliance and long‑term availability are key purchasing criteria. Further models, including 1200W and 4500W versions, will be available in early 2026.

The chiller employs a variable‑speed compressor and matched control electronics to maintain a high coefficient of performance (COP) across partial‑load conditions. Dynamic speed modulation reduces input power, minimises current inrush and lowers acoustic noise in applications where the heat load is not constant. This decreases indirect emissions from electricity consumption over the lifetime of the product. This efficiency focus complements the F‑gas policy objective of cutting overall climate impact from cooling systems, beyond just the refrigerant's direct GWP.

With universal 200–240V, 50/60Hz input, the EFC2400 can operate worldwide, allowing OEMs and end users to specify a single, F‑gas‑aligned platform across EU and non‑EU markets. The 'eco-friendly' and natural refrigerant-based EFC2400 supports customers who are preparing for upcoming phase‑outs and product bans under the EU F‑gas framework.

"As the EU tightens the F‑gas regulation and moves the market away from fluorinated refrigerants, customers are looking for standard products that are both technically robust and aligned with this shift. The EFC2400 leverages nearly a decade of our experience in customer‑specific natural refrigerant systems and packages it into a standard, globally deployable R290 chiller that helps OEMs meet performance, uptime and sustainability objectives simultaneously," said Greg Ducharme, product director, Tark Thermal Solutions.