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WhatisaRefrigerantanddesired
propertiesofarefrigerant?
Lastupdated:November3,2014

Postedin:RefrigerationandAirConditioning, Thermodynamics,

Arefrigerantisasubstanceormixture,usuallyafluid,usedinaheatpumpandrefrigerationcyclethatcan

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extractheatfromanotherbodyorsubstance.Ice,coldwater,coldairetc.canbetreatedarefrigerants.

DesiredpropertiesofRefrigerants:
1.Vapordensity:
Toenableuseofsmallercompressorsandotherequipmenttherefrigerantshouldhavesmallervapordensity.

2.Enthalpyofvaporization:
To ensure maximum heat absorption during refrigeration, a refrigerant should have high enthalpy of
vaporization.

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3.ThermalConductivity:
Thermal conductivity of the refrigerant should be high for faster heat transfer during condensation and
evaporation.

4.Dielectricstrength:

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Inhermeticarrangements,themotorwindingsarecooledbyrefrigerantsvaporonitswaytothesuctionvalve
of the compressor. Therefore, dielectric strength of refrigerant is important property in hermetically sealed
compressorunits.

5.Criticaltemperature:
In order to have large range of isothermal energy transfer, the refrigerant should have critical temperature
abovethecondensingtemperature.

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6.Specificheat:
Tohaveminimumchangeinentropyduringthethrottlingprocess,thespecificheatshouldbeminimum.For
this,liquidsaturationlineshouldbealmostvertical.

7.Leaktendency:
Therefrigerantmayleakoutofthesystem.Theproblemswithleakagearewearingoutofjointorthematerial
usedforthefabricationofthesystem.Adenserrefrigerantwillhavefewertendenciestoleakascomparedto
higher density refrigerant. The detection of leaks should be easy to loss of refrigerant. Leakage can be
identifiedquicklyiftherefrigeranthasdistinctcolororodour.

8.Toxicity:
Therefrigerantusedinairconditioning,foodpreservationetc.shouldnotbetoxicinnatureastheywillcome
intocontactwithhumanbeings.refrigerantswillaffecthumanhealthiftheyaretoxic.

9.Costofrefrigerants:
Thequantityofrefrigerantusedinindustriesisveryless.Thecostoftherefrigerantsisgenerallyhighwhen
comparedtootherchemicalsintheindustry.Verylowindustryprofessionalwillnottakenecessaryactionto
controltheleaks.

10.Availability:
Refrigerantsshouldbeavailableneartheusagepoint.Itmustbesourcedandprocuredwithinashortperiod
toenabletheuserincaseofleaks,maintenanceschedulesetc.

PropertiesofcommonlyusedRefrigerants:

PropertiesofcommonlyusedRefrigerants:
1.Carbondioxide:
Carbondioxideiswidelyasrefrigerantinmechanicalsystemsrefrigerant,marineservices,hospitalsetc.due
toitsexcellentsafetyproperties.Itisodourless,nontoxic,nonflammable,nonexplosiveandnoncorrosive.

2.Sulphurdioxide:
Sulphurdioxidewaswidelyusedasrefrigerantduringearly20thcentury.Howeveritsusehasbeenrestricted
nowadaysbecauseofitsmanyinherentdisadvantages.Itishighlytoxic,nonflammable,nonexplosive,non
corrosiveandworksatlowpressures

3.Ammonia:
Ammoniaisoneoftheearliesttypeofrefrigerantswhichisstillwidelyusedinmanyapplicationsduetoits
inheritanceexcellentthermalproperties,Itistoxicinnature,flammableexplosiveundercertainconditions,it
has low specific volume high refrigerating effect, low piston displacement in case of reciprocating
compressorsmakeitanidealrefrigerantforcoldstorage's,iceplants,packingplants,skatingrinksbreweries
etc.

4.Freon11:
Freon11(Trichlorofluoromethane)isusedunderlowoperatingpressuresitisnontoxic,noncorrosiveand
nonflammable. Due to low operating pressure and high displacement, it is used in systems employing
centrifugalcompressors.Itisusedforairconditioningapplications.

5.Freon12:
Freon12(Dichlorodifluoromethane)isnonflammable,nontoxicandnonexplosive.Itishighlychemically
stable. If it is brought in contact with open flame or heater elements, it decomposes into highly toxic
constituents.Ithasnotonlyexcellentsafepropertiesbutalsocondensesatmoderatepressureundernormal
atmosphericconditions.

6.Cryogenicrefrigerants:
Cryogenicrefrigerantsarethoserefrigerantswhichproduceminustemperatureinbetweenrange157degree
centigrade to 273degree centigrade in the refrigerated space. The cryogenic refrigerants have exceptionally
low boiling point at atmospheric pressure. Some of the widely used cryogenic refrigerants are Helium,
Nitrogen,Oxygen,Hydrogen.
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