this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2025
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I’m pretty sure that’s not how refrigerant (not coolant) works.
Extra insulation around the expansion valve and piping may be necessary. Or possibly heating around them. But the main limits are the size and speeds of the compressor and fan(s).
Home heat pumps are getting much better in colder climates. But I’m not sure of the efficiency in vehicle sized units. I’m really interested in them for a camper project I’d like to build though. But might have to wait for more of the cars that feature them to arrive in salvage yards.
Thank you for the correction. I know the properties of the refrigerant are important, but you're correct that the other side of the equation is how much it's compressed. If it's true that compression plays a larger part than the refrigerant at working in lower temperatures, then that does explain why we wouldnt see them in cars. The rise in cost for both the compressor and higher energy usage could make them less appealing to manufacturers.