Refrigerants
Dr Waqas Khalid
SMME
Email: waqaskhalid@[Link]
Refrigerants
• “Refrigerant is the fluid used for heat transfer in a refrigerating system that absorbs heat
during evaporation from the region of low temperature and pressure, and releases heat
during condensation at a region of higher temperature and pressure.”
• thermodynamic efficiency of a refrigeration system depends mainly on its operating
temperatures.
• However, some practical aspects are more dependent upon:
• the type of refrigerant selected, and
• a given application
• These aspects are: (i) system design, (ii) size, (iii) initial and operating costs, (iv) safety,
(v) reliability, and (vi) serviceability etc.
• In recent times, the selection and usage of various refrigerants has become an important
consideration especially due to several environmental issues such as:
• Ozone layer depletion and
• Global warming.
Refrigerants
Thermodynamic Characteristics
1. High latent enthalpy of vaporization: This means a large refrigerating
effect per unit mass of the refrigerant circulated. In small-capacity
systems, however, the resulting low flow rate may actually lead to
problems.
2. Low freezing temperature: The refrigerant must not solidify during
normal operating conditions.
3. Relatively high critical temperatures: Large amounts of power would
otherwise be required for compression.
4. Positive evaporating/suction pressure: Pressure in the evaporator
should be above atmospheric to prevent air from leaking into the system.
5. Relatively low condensing/discharge pressure: Otherwise, expensive
piping and equipment (compressor, condenser) will be required.
Actual VC cycle
Freezing and boiling temperatures
Freezing Point: The freezing point of the refrigerant should be lower than the lowest operating
temperature of the cycle to prevent blockage of refrigerant pipelines.
Refrigerants
Physical and Chemical Characteristics
1. High dielectric strength of vapor. This permits use in hermetically sealed compressors
where vapor may come in contact with motor windings
2. Good heat-transfer characteristics. Thermophysical properties (density, specific heat,
thermal conductivity, and viscosity) should be such that high heat transfer coefficients can be
obtained.
3. Low water solubility. Water in a refrigerant can lead either to freeze-up in the expansion
devices or to corrosion
4. Inertness and stability. The refrigerant must not react with materials that will contact it, and
its own chemical makeup must not change with time
Side Note: Dielectric strength is defined as the electrical strength of an insulting material. In a
sufficiently strong electric field the insulating properties of an insulator breaks down allowing flow
of charge. Dielectric strength is measured as the maximum voltage required to produce a dielectric
breakdown through a material.
Ref:
Shrivastava. A, 3 – Plastic Properties and Testing, Introduction to Plastics Engineering, 2018, 49-110
Refrigerants
5. Satisfactory oil solubility. Oil can dissolve in some refrigerants and
some refrigerants can dissolve in oil. This can affect lubrication and
heat-transfer characteristics and lead to oil logging in the evaporator. A
system must be designed with the oil solubility characteristics in mind.
• Refrigeration oil is crucial for the correct functioning of the
compressor, it:
• keeps the compressor lubricated during operation
• reduce friction and prevent wear
• and act as a seal between the high and low pressure sides
Refrigerants
Safety
1. Non flammability: The refrigerant should not burn or support combustion when
mixed with air.
2. Non toxicity: The refrigerant should not be harmful to humans, either directly or
indirectly through foodstuffs.
3. Nonirritability: The refrigerant should not irritate humans (eyes, nose, lungs, or
skin).
corrosion
Effect on the Environment
1. Ozone Depletion Potential: The refrigerant’s potential to deplete the ozone
in the upper atmosphere should be low.
2. Global Warming Potential: The refrigerant’s potential to persist in the upper
atmosphere and to trap the radiation emitted by the earth (the greenhouse
effect) should be low.
Refrigerants
Refrigerant safety group classification
Pure refrigerant has one molecular type and doesn’t
change composition when boiling or condensing.
Refrigerants
E.g., R-22, R-12, R-134a
Zeotropic refrigerant:
blend of 2 or 3 Azeotropic refrigerant:
refrigerants. These Mixture of 2 pure
exhibit both fraction refrigerants combined to
and temperature glide.
form a unique refrigerant
These don’t have
having own individual
specific pressure for
characteristics. E.g., R-
each temperature.
No common boiling 500, R502, R-507
points for all
constituents, mass
fraction is different
between liquid and
vapor phases.
E.g., R-409A, R-401A,
R-402A
Refrigerant safety group classification
Refrigerants
Phase diagram of binary mixtures Phase diagram of Azeotrope
Ref: David A. Didion, Donald B. Bivens, Role of refrigerant mixtures as alternatives to CFCs,
International Journal of Refrigeration (1990) 163-175.
Side note
Ref
• [Link] (February 2, 2024)
• [Link]
tool#:~:text=The%20pressure%2Denthalpy%20(P%2DH),travels%20through%20the%20refrigeration%20system. (February
2, 2024)
Side note
Ref
• Hundy. G. F. , Trott. A. R. , Welch. T. C. , Chapter 4 – Compressors, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning
and Heat Pumps (Fifth Edition), 2016, 59-87.
• [Link] (February 2,
