Refrigerant

Refrigerant

A Refrigerant is a substance or mixture, usually a fluid, used in a heat pump and refrigeration cycle. Most of the time, it undergoes phase transitions from a liquid to a gas and back again. Many working fluids have been used for such purposes. Fluorocarbons, especially chlorofluorocarbons, became commonplace in the 20th century, but they are being phased out because of their ozone depletion effects. Other common refrigerants used in various applications are ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and non-halogenated hydrocarbons such as propane.

Types of Refrigerants

Refrigerants may be categorized into three groups; primary, secondary, and tertiary.

• Primary refrigerants are those refrigerants, which are used directly in the refrigeration system to cool the product or space inside the refrigerator. The most common primary refrigerants include Ammonia (NH3), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

• Secondary refrigerants are those which are used to carry the heat from the substance to be cooled to the primary refrigerant. They are also known as antifreezes and include salts and alcohols.

• Tertiary refrigerants are used in cascade refrigeration systems and include refrigerants like Ethylene, Propylene, and Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Environmental Impact

The use of CFC as a refrigerant was once common, including the refrigerants R-11 and R-12 (sold under the brand name Freon-12). However, these are potent greenhouse gases and are harmful to the ozone layer. As a result, they have been phased out and replaced with other types of refrigerants.

Safety

Refrigerants can be harmful or fatal if inhaled in large amounts. They can also cause skin burns, frostbite, or blindness if they come in contact with the skin or eyes. Therefore, it is important to handle refrigerants with care and use appropriate safety equipment.

See Also

• Air conditioning
• Heat pump
• Refrigeration

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