RefRigeRants

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instRUCtOR
 Refrigerants
• Are fluids that absorb heat at low temperatures and
reject heat at higher temperatures
• Compound used in a heat cycle that reversibly undergoes
a phase change from a gas to a liquid.
• The principles of refrigerant allows heat pumps and
straight air conditioners to function properly; because of
their pressure temperature relationship. This relationship
allows heat transfer.
* Refrigerants are sold in disposable containers that include a check valve.
This limits the reuse of old refrigerants and prevents mixing refrigerants.
Refrigerants are identified by a standard color code. The labels also
contain information on which type of refrigerant is in the container
along with any safety hazards there are.
 Prefix
• The prefix is composed of the letter R (for refrigerant).
• Examples: R22, R134a, R600a, R717

• Sometimes, the letter C is used in the prefix to denote carbon,

preceded by B, C or F (or a combination of these letters in the
same order) to indicate the presence of bromine, chlorine or
fluorine. Compounds containing hydrogen must be preceded
by the letter H.
• Examples: HCFC22, HFC134a

• These prefixes must only be used in non-technical publications.

• Note: the name of the brand or of the manufacturer is also used
sometimes; these names must not be used in official documents
(identification labels, etc.).
 Suffix
• The first digit on the right (units) is the number of
fluorine (F) atoms.

• The second digit on the right (tens) is one more than

the number of hydrogen (H) atoms.

• The third digit on the right (hundreds) is one less than

the number of carbon (C) atoms (when the digit is zero,
it is omitted from the number).

• The fourth digit on the right (thousands) is equal to the

number of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds (when
the digit is zero, it is omitted from the number).
Example:
RO22
• R22 (chlorodifluoromethane – CHClF2)
• 0: Number of carbon atoms – 1
• 2: Number of hydrogen atoms + 1
• 2: Number of fluorine atoms
• Number of chlorine atoms : 1 (i.e. 4 minus 1
hydrogen atom and minus 2 fluorine atoms)
 Suffix
• For cyclic derivatives, the letter C is used before the
refrigerant’s identification number.
• Example: RC318 (octafluorocyclobutane – C4F8)

• In the case of isomers in the ethane series. As the

isomers become more and more unsymmetrical,
successive lowercase letters (i.e. a, b or c) are
appended.
• Example: R134 and R134a
 Suffix

• For refrigerants that contain bromine (Br), the letter B is

added after the identification number, followed by the
number of atoms present. These refrigerants are no
longer manufactured in developed countries since the
application of the Montreal Protocol on substances that
deplete the ozone layer.

• The number of chlorine (Cl) atoms is found by

subtracting the sum of fluorine, bromide, and hydrogen
atoms from the total number of atoms that can be
connected to the carbon atoms: 4 for methane
derivatives (CH4), 6 for ethane derivatives (C2H6), etc.
 CFC

• The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are formed by replacing some

hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbons with chlorine and
flourine atoms.
• Thomas Midgley Jr. invented the chlorofluorocarbon gas,
Freon, which was safer for humans but has been found to
harm the ozone layer.
• They are also commonly known by Dupont Trade name Freon.
• Many CFCs have been widely used as refrigerants, propellants
(in aerosol applications) and solvents. The manufacture of
such compounds is being phased out by Montreal Protocol
because they contribute to ozone depletion.
 HCFC

hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine & carbon

 HFC
• Hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine
• Organic compounds that contain only one or
few fluorine atoms
• Their atmospheric concentrations are rapidly
increasing, causing international concern
about rising contribution to anthropogenic
radioactive forcing emissions
 Carbon Dioxide (R-744)
• Has been extensively used in the past
• It is undergoing a popular resurgence and has
distinct advantages for low temperature applications.
• One of the benefits of CO2 in low temperature
refrigeration system is the low specific volume of the
refrigerant vapor.
• This has a direct positive impact on the required
compressor displacement (ft 3/min or m 3/min) and
can help to reduce the installed size of the
compressor(s).
 Water (R-718)

• Is a natural refrigerant
• The use of water as a refrigerant in industrial chillers is an
environment friendly new technology, successfully installed
over the recent years.
• It is absolutely harmless to man and nature. It is easily
available and there are no problems disposing it after use.
• Even though water is one of the oldest refrigerants, it
requires state of the art technology to use water as a
refrigerant in absorption chillers or in compression chillers
with steam injection compressors.
 Ammonia (R-717)
• Is the most common refrigerant used in
industrial refrigeration today.
• The application of ammonia to refrigeration
system has become universally known as the
field of refrigeration.
• It is flammable and highly toxic.
 Air (R-279)
• Is one of the earliest refrigerants and was
widely used in World War I whenever a
completely nontoxic material was required.
• Although air is free of cost and completely
safe, its low coefficient of performance makes
it unable to complete with the modern
nontoxic refrigerants.
 Sulfur Dioxide (R-764)
• Being easily condensed and possesing a high
heat of evaporation, sulfur dioxide is a
candidate material for refrigerants.
• Prior to the development of Freons, sulfur
dioxide was used as a refrigerant in home
refrigerators.
 Methane Series

• R-10 tetrachloromethane
• R-11 trichlorofluoromethane
• R-12 dichlorodifluoromethane
• R-12B1
bromochlorodifluoromethane
• R-12B2
dibromochlorodifluoromethan
e • R-31 chlorofluoromethane
• R-13 chlorotrifluoromethane
• R-13B1
bromotrifluoromethane
• R-14 tetrafluoromethane
• R-20 trichloromethane
(chloroform)
• R-21 dichlorofluoromethane
• R-22 chlorodifluoromethane
• R-22B1 bromodifluoromethane
• R-23 trifluoromethane
• R-30 dichloromethane
• R-32 difluoromethane
• R-40 chloromethane
• R-41 fluoromethane
• R-50 methane
 Ethane Series
• R-110 hexachloroethane
• R-111
pentachlorofluoroethane
• R-112 1,1,2,2-tetrachloro-
1,2-difluoroethane
• R-112a 1,1,1,2-tetrachloro-
2,2-difluoroethane
• R-113 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-
trifluoroethane
• R-113a 1,1,1-trichloro-
2,2,2-trifluoroethane
• R-114 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2,2-
tetrafluoroethane
• R-114a 1,1-dichloro-1,2,2,2-
tetrafluoroethane
• R-114B2 1,2-dibromo-1,1,2,2-
tetrafluoroethane
• R-115 chloropentafluoroethane
• R-116 hexafluoroethane
• R-120 pentachloroethane
 Ethane Series
• R-123 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-
trifluoroethane
• R-123a 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-
trifluoroethane
• R-124 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-
tetrafluoroethane
• R-124a 1-chloro-1,1,2,2-
tetrafluoroethane
• R-125 pentafluoroethane
• R-133a 2-chloror-1,1,1-
trifluoroethane
• R-134a 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane
• R-140a 1,1,1-trichloroethane
• R-141b 1,1-chloro--fluoroethane
• R-142b 1-chloro-1,1-
difluoroethane
• R-143a 1,1,1-trifluoroethane
• R-150a 1,1-dichloroethane
• R-152a 1,1-difluoroethane
• R-160 chloroethane
• R-170 ethane
 Propane Series
• R-216ca 1,3-dichloro-1,1,2,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane
• R-218 octafluoropropane
• R-245cb 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane
• R-290 propane
• Cyclic Organic Compounds
• C316 1,2-dichloro-1,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluorocuclobutane
• C317 chloroheptafluorocyclobutane
• C318 octafluorocyclobutane
 Zeotropic Blends
• R-400 R-12/114 (must be specified)
• R-401A R-22/152a/124 (53%/13%/34%)
• R-401B R-22/152a/124 (61%/11%/28%)
• R-401C R-22/152a/124 (33%/15%/52%)
• R-402A R-125/290/22 (30%/2%/38%)
• R-402B R-125/290/22 (38%/2%/60%)
• R-403A R-290/22/218 (5%/75%/20%)
• R-403B R-290/22/218 (5%/56%/39%)
• R-404A R-125/143a/134a (44%/52%/4%)
• R-405A R-22/152a/142b/C318 (45%/7%/5.5%/42.5%)
• R-406A R-22/600a/142b (55%/4%/41%)
 Zeotropic Blends
• R-407A R-32/125/134a (20%/40%/40%)
• R-407B R-32/125/134a (10%/70%/20%)
• R-407C R-32/125/134a (23%/25%/52%)
• R-407D R-32.125/134a (15%/15%/70%)
• R-408A R-125/143a/22 (7%/46%/47%)
• R-409A R-22/124/142b (60%/25%/10%)
• R-409B R-22/124/142b (65%/25%/10%)
• R-410A R-32/125 (50%/50%)
• R-410B R-32/125 (45%/55%)
• R-411A R-1270/22/152a (1.5%/87.5%/11.0%)
• R-411B R-1270/22/152a (3%/94%/3%)
• R-412A R-22/218/142b (70%/5%/25%)
 Azeotropic Blends
• R-500 R-12/152a (73.8%/26.2%)
• R-501 R-22/12 (75.0%/25.0%)
• R-502 R-22/115 (48.8%/51.2%)
• R-503 R-23/13 (40.1%/59.9%)
• R-504 R-32/115 (48.2%/51.8%)
• R-505 R-12/31 (78.0%/22.0%)
• R-506 R-31/114 (55.1%/44.9%)
• R-507A R-125/143a (50%/50%)
• R-508A R-23/116 (39%/61%)
• R-508B R-23/116 (46%/54%)
• R-509A R-22/218 (44%/56%)
Miscellaneous Organic
Compounds
Hydrogen
• R-600 butane
• R-600a 2-methyl propane
Oxygen Compounds
• R-610 ethyl ether
• R-611 methyl formate
Sulfur Compounds
• R-620 Reserved for future
assignment
• Nitrogen Compounds
• R-630 methyl amine
• R-631 ethyl amine
Inorganic Compounds
• R-702 hydrogen
• R-704 helium
• R-717 ammonia
• R-718 water
• R-720 neon
• R-728 nitrogen
• R-732 oxygen
• R-740 argon
• R-744 carbon dioxide
• R-744A nitrous oxide
• R-764 sulfur dioxide
 Unsaturated Organic Compounds
• R-1112a 1,1-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethane
• R-1113 1-chloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane
• R-1114 tetrafluoroethene
• R-1120 trichloroethene
• R-1130 1,2-dichloroethene (trans)
• R-1132a 1,1-difluoroethene (vinylidene fluoride)
• R-1140 1-chloroethene (vinyl chloride)
• R-1141 1-fluoroethene (vinyl fluoride)
• R-1150 ethene (ethylene)
• R-1270 propene (propylene)