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繁體中文ATEX-Certified Fans & Low-Noise Solutions for Flammable Refrigerants
09/30/2025Since the F-Gas Regulation took effect in 2015, manufacturers of air-to-water heat pumps have been shifting toward refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP)—such as the natural refrigerant R290 (propane). A key challenge, however, is that these refrigerants are typically flammable, demanding specialized safety measures.
Enter ATEX-approved compact fans for heat pumps: in the event of a refrigerant circuit leak, these fans ventilate the unit’s housing to prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere. By design, they feature fully encapsulated motors and electronics, which as standard meet the requirements of EN 60079-7 (Group IIC, up to T4) and DIN EN 60335-2-40. Their compact build also means they require minimal installation space, and they can double as cooling solutions for on-board electronics. For smaller heat pumps—such as those used for floor heating—they can even serve as the primary fan.
When developing heat pump systems, manufacturers must ensure all integrated components comply with common standards for handling flammable refrigerants. To address this, ebm-papst offers two fan series tailored for noise-sensitive outdoor use: AxiEco Plug-In and AxiTone. Both are engineered for applications involving natural and flammable refrigerants (aligning with EN 60335-2-40) and boast exceptional quietness thanks to their specialized designs.
The AxiEco Plug-In is ideal for heat pumps that need a large pressure reserve to support the evaporator, while the AxiTone is optimized for delivering higher airflow at low back pressure—suited for heat pump designs where this performance profile is critical.
Leveraging decades of experience in heat pump applications, EC motors, and commutation electronics, ebm-papst has also developed inverter electronics compatible with speed-controlled permanent magnet synchronous machines (PSM)—the type commonly used in heat pump compressors. This innovation not only reduces noise output but also boosts the overall efficiency of the heat pump.
The high-performance, quiet-operating AxiTone and AxiEco Plug-In axial fans are specifically developed for air-water heat pumps and well-suited for use with flammable refrigerants.
