Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
SK Enmove eyes global market with safe, efficient refrigerants
A captured image of SK Enmove's video for its next-generation refrigerants / Courtesy of SK Enmove
By Nam Hyun-woo
SK Enmove's next-generation automotive refrigerants have received international certification for their enhanced safety and efficiency, the thermal management unit of SK Innovation said Wednesday.
According to the company, two of its proprietary refrigerants have been awarded the R-Number certification by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
The certification, widely recognized as the global standard for premium refrigerants, is granted to products that pass ASHRAE’s rigorous evaluations for material properties, including safety, efficiency and overall performance.
The two refrigerants were developed as part of SK Enmove’s strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Group, formed in January last year, to produce advanced refrigerants capable of improving vehicle heating and cooling performance by more than 30 percent.
With this latest recognition, SK Enmove now has three refrigerants certified under the partnership, following the first R-Number certification awarded last June.
“These newly certified refrigerants are compatible with all types of vehicle air conditioning systems,” an SK Enmove official said. “The refrigerants are developed to serve the dual purpose of heating and cooling, catering to the unique needs of electric vehicles (EVs) which do not have engine waste heat.”
SK Enmove said the refrigerants demonstrated outstanding heating and cooling efficiencies compared to EV air conditioning systems currently available in the market. They also improved the performance of heat pumps, a critical component in EV thermal management, resulting in improved energy consumption efficiency for EVs.
SK Enmove noted that the refrigerants comply with the U.S. American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, which mandates the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons. Additionally, the refrigerants are expected to comply with the European Union's upcoming regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
“We will continue enhancing our thermal management capabilities to establish ourselves as a global leader in refrigerant innovation and a trusted energy-saving company,” SK Enmove CEO Kim Wone-kee said.