Types of Refrigerants



Types of Refrigerants:

  1. HaloCarbons 
  2. Inorganic Refrigerants
  3. Azeotropic Refrigerants
  4. Zeotropic Refrigerants
  5. Hydrocarbon Refrigerants

1. HaloCarbons
Halocarbon Refrigerant are all synthetically produced and were developed as the Freon family of refrigerants.
Examples :
CFC’s :  R11, R12, R113, R114, R115
HCFC’s : R22, R123
HFC’s : R134a, R404a, R407C, R410a




2. Inorganic Refrigerants
Carbon Dioxide
Water
Ammonia
Air
Sulphur dioxide



3. Azeotropic Refrigerants
A stable mixture of two or several refrigerants whose vapour and liquid phases retain identical compositions over a wide range of temperatures.
Examples:
R-500 : 73.8% R12 and 26.2% R152
R-502  : 8.8% R22 and 51.2% R115
R-503  : 40.1% R23 and 59.9% R13



4. Zeotropic Refrigerants
A zeotropic mixture is one whose composition in liquid phase differs to that in vapour phase. Zeotropic refrigerants therefore do not boil at constant temperatures unlike azeotropic refrigerants.
Examples :
R404a : R125/143a/134a (44%,52%,4%)
R407c : R32/125/134a (23%, 25%, 52%)
R410a : R32/125 (50%, 50%)
R413a : R600a/218/134a (3%, 9%, 88%)




5. Hydrocarbon Refrigerants

Many hydrocarbon gases have successfully been used as refrigerants in industrial, commercial and domestic applications.
Examples:
R170, Ethane, C2H6
R290 , Propane C3H3
R600, Butane, C4H10
R600a, Isobutane, C4H10
Blends of the above Gases



Environmental Effects of Refrigerants
Depletion of the ozone layer in the stratosphere

Global warming:

Refrigerants directly contributing to global warming when released to the atmosphere
Indirect contribution based on the energy consumption of among others the compressors  ( CO2 produced by power stations )



Alternative of Alternatives (eco friendly and non toxic)
  • Ammonia 
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Carbon dioxide : Mainly for Vehicle AC and mobile refrigeration