If you are an HVAC&R practitioner, how do you choose the right refrigerant when you service your refrigeration equipment?
Most people will say that it is indicated on the nameplate of the refrigeration equipment.
Yes, that’s right, but why choose this refrigerant over other types of refrigerants?
Why would a refrigerator, air conditioner, or unit manufacturer not choose another refrigerant?
Miracle, as a professional HVAC supplier and manufacturer, let me tell you the answer today.
There are different types of refrigerants and different names in different markets, but the role that refrigerants play in HVAC&R systems is almost the same.
The chemical and physical properties of refrigerants determine the design ideas and construction types of HVAC&R equipment.
These different R&D ideas produce different types of refrigeration equipment, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, cold storage units, etc.
This shows that the direction of refrigerant development is an essential topic.
We now analyze the properties of refrigerants from the point of view of thermodynamics, physics, and economics.
Refrigerant Gas Thermodynamic Requirements
⦁ In order to get lower evaporation temperature and higher stability, we require the boiling point of the refrigerant to be at the standard value (as low as possible), because it can make the refrigerant system get more efficient vapor pressure.
⦁ The refrigerant working pressure should be higher than the atmospheric pressure, because, higher refrigerant pressure can effectively reduce the air content in the refrigerant.
⦁ The critical temperature should be high and the latent heat of vaporization should be large.
This point is mainly based on the operating cost of the refrigeration equipment.
This is because high refrigerant critical temperatures and high refrigerant vaporization values can decrease the running efficiency of refrigeration equipment.
⦁ In order to get a smaller HVAC&R copper pipe diameter and reduce the installation cost of refrigerant equipment, the refrigerant with a large refrigeration capacity per unit volume should be selected.
The adiabatic of refrigerant should be reasonable and the thermal conductivity should be good.
Requirements of Refrigerant Physical and Chemical Aspects
⦁ The refrigerant viscosity and refrigerant purity should be paid attention to when selecting refrigerants.
The refrigerant with low viscosity and high purity can reduce the resistance and water absorption of refrigerant in the HVAC&R system.
This can ensure the operation of refrigeration equipment in extreme environments.
⦁ The thermal stability of the refrigerant should be good.
The main reason for this requirement is when the refrigerant runs to the compressor.
Due to the rapid rise of temperature, the refrigerant with poor thermal stability will fuse with the lubricant in the compressor.
Thus, the flow of the refrigeration pipeline will corrode the copper pipe.
⦁ The refrigerant should have a certain insulation ability.
In semi-hermetic condensing unit and the hermetic condensing unit.
The motor winding inside the semi-hermetic compressor is in contact with refrigerant and lubricating oil.
Therefore, it is required that the refrigerant most compressor motor should be insulated.
The Safety Performance of Refrigerant
⦁ Refrigerant should be not easy to burn and explode within the design range
⦁ Refrigerant should be implemented in strict accordance with international standards (non-toxic and harmless)
⦁ Choose the refrigerant which is easy to find the leakage problem
⦁ If the refrigerant is used in the food industry, more care should be taken when selecting the refrigerant.
The most important point is that the leaking refrigerant will not penetrate into the food and will not cause food spoilage and produce toxic substances.
From the point of view of refrigerant safety, we recommend you the fireless connection technology.
This significantly reduces the risk of fire-welded connections in refrigeration equipment lines.
Which Refrigerant Gas is Used in Refrigeration?
Refrigeration is a process that uses certain refrigerant gases out of many.
These gases typically include ammonia, freon, R-22, and R-32.
Some of these gases may be combustible, whereas other gases may be somewhat safer.
For instance, freon is not combustible, but R-22 may be. For that reason, always be wary of a potential gas leak.
The refrigeration process uses different gases including ammonia, R-12, R-22, R-32, R-134A, R-290, R-407, R-600A, ammonia, and countless others.
For example, refrigerator systems use R600a refrigerant.
Cold storage systems use R290, R22, refrigerants.
Air conditioning systems use R32, R290, R404a, etc.
Which Refrigerant Gas is Used in AC?
When it comes to using refrigerant gases, there are multiple gases that can be taken into consideration.
But first, you should know that Air Conditioners and refrigerators do not use the same kind of gas.
Which gas you need ultimately depends on your budget and personal preference.
Now, your air conditioner may be able to cater to a number of different gases.
You can tell this as such by viewing the sticker that has been placed on either the evaporator or the compressor.
The sticker would help indicate which refrigerant would work best for you, be it Freon or R-32.
All in all, it’s imperative that you avoid using the wrong type of refrigerant since this would result in your system getting damaged.
If you aren’t sure as to what refrigerant to use, you can also get in touch with the experts so as to avoid messing up your refrigeration system.
Which Refrigerant Gas is Best for Refrigerators(Fridge)?
A refrigerator is the most practical household appliance in life, you enjoy cold drinks, ice cream at any time while the refrigerator makes a great contribution.
So what makes the refrigerator has the ability to cool it?
The answer is refrigerant, refrigerator refrigerant type is rich, including R12, R134, R600A, and so on.
Under the action of the refrigerator compressor, the refrigerant inside the refrigerator system is compressed and delivered to the refrigerator condenser apparatus.
Then the water in the system is filtered through the copper filter.
This is far from the end, the refrigerant has a very long line inside the refrigerator, so the refrigeration needs to travel a long way.
Refrigerator refrigerant flows out of the refrigerator filter and then goes to the refrigerator evaporator.
This part is important because this is where the cold air is produced.
Different refrigerants will have different performances in the refrigeration cycle and therefore the energy consumption of the refrigerator will vary, you can contact Miracle engineers and we will provide you with professional advice.
What is the Purpose of Refrigerant?
Refrigerants pose a number of different purposes.
Refrigerants have a wide range of applications in refrigeration systems, HVAC systems, air conditioning systems, transport refrigeration, and cold storage.
Their main purpose is to cool down the system within the entire process.
Refrigerant is a compound that is often found in both gaseous and or liquid states.
The purpose that they provide, in most cases, is the absorption of heat.
Refrigerants need to be paired with unused refrigeration equipment to achieve the refrigeration function.
For example, in the HVAC field, HVAC compressors, HVAC units, evaporators, and condensers are used.
In the refrigeration field, refrigeration compressors, refrigeration expansion valves, refrigeration evaporators, refrigeration condensers, refrigeration units, etc. are used.
Whether it is a refrigeration system, air conditioning system, or HVAC system, precise calculations are needed to make the system design more reasonable.
You can contact Miracle HVAC&R system experts for professional HVAC services.