Refrigerants play a vital role in keeping refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioning units and fire suppression systems functioning properly. While functional, these chemical compounds are unfortunately known to be damaging to the environment. Modern versions of refrigerants, however, are intentionally designed to be more eco-friendly than their predecessors.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the eco-friendly refrigerants currently available and the benefits of using these environmentally friendly refrigerants.
What are Refrigerants?
Refrigerants are unique compounds sold in a liquid or gaseous state, designed to absorb heat from the surrounding environment and cool it readily.
The refrigeration process involves evaporation in which a liquid (refrigerant) absorbs heat from its environment as it evaporates. The amount of heat removed, and how efficiently it is done, depends largely on external factors such as the compressor, evaporator and insulation, as well as t, type of refrigerant used.
Initially developed in 1840 to create ice for ice machines, refrigerants were later adapted for use in air conditioning systems. It was in 1928 that non-flammable chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants were introduced, including the hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) R-22, which became the standard refrigerant used in AC systems.
R-22 had been used for decades since, though scientists eventually discovered that the chlorine in CFCs and HCFCs was damaging to the ozone layer, creating the demand for environmentally friendly refrigerants in commercial and residential systems.
Today’s Eco-Friendly Refrigerants
The race to phase-out the non-environmentally friendly refrigerants of the past led to the development of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and hydrofluoro-olefins (HFO). While still believed to contribute to global warming, HFCs do not impact the ozone layer directly, making them relatively eco-friendly compared to earlier generations of refrigerants.
There are several climate friendly refrigerants available in the market currently, including:
R-134a
R-134a (Tetrafluoroethane) is a popular refrigerant used for numerous air conditioning applications. Initially developed to replace the R12 refrigerant used in car air-conditioning systems, environment friendly refrigerant R-134a has zero ozone-depletion potential and contributes very little to the greenhouse effect (GWP of 1300).
R-152a
R-152a (Difluoroethane) is very similar to environment friendly refrigerant R-134a. Known for its excellent chemical and thermal stability and low toxicity, it has a low Global Warming Potential and a discharge pressure that’s approximately 30% lower than that of R-134a.
R290
Initially introduced as a replacement for R22 and R502, R290 is a refined refrigerant-grade variant of propane. R290 also has a low Global Warming Potential (GWP of 20) and serves as an excellent replacement for R134a used for refrigerators and R404a used for freezers.
R404a
R404a is an HFC refrigerant that consists of a blend of R125, R134a, and R143a. It was designed to replace both R-22 and R-502 in commercial refrigerator equipment. Another eco-friendly refrigerant, R404a does not contribute to ozone depletion.
R-407c
This eco-friendly refrigerant gas does not contribute to ozone depletion but has a moderate GWP of 1774. R-407c is known to have a good energy efficiency ratio and a relatively low compression pressure, commonly used in medium-temperature applications in chillers and air conditioning equipment.
R-410a
R-410a is a 50/50 blend of R-32 and R-125 used in various heat pump and air conditioning applications. It works only for equipment that has been specifically designed to handle it as it requires a higher operating pressure than other refrigerants. While still an eco-friendly refrigerant gas, it has a moderately high Global Warming Potential of 2088.
R-413a
R-413a is used in car air conditioning systems, refrigerated mobile containers, display cabinets, chilled cold stores and domestic refrigerators. It has zero ozone-depleting potential but a moderate GWP of 2053. This eco-friendly refrigerant gas is commonly referred to as an excellent choice for commercial applications where R12 is being phased out.
R-717
R-717 (Ammonia) is a typical household and manufacturing chemical widely available. This natural refrigerant is an excellent eco-friendly refrigerant for commercial and industrial refrigeration applications. Though highly toxic and flammable, Ammonia has zero ozone depletion potential and a GWP of 0, making it one of the most eco-friendly refrigerants available.
Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants
Not only do these climate friendly refrigerants offer obvious environmental advantages, they also deliver a variety of other benefits and savings, such as:
- Faster temperature recovery, making it easier to maintain crucial steady temperatures.
- Ability to operate at a lower charger, allowing for smaller compressors running with less power and, ultimately, lower energy consumption
- Ease of obtainability – hydrocarbons are already extracted along with oil and readily available to meet today’s demand.
As always, it’s important to note that individuals who purchase these refrigerants should understand proper handling and storage procedures to reduce the risk of injury or death. When used correctly, these refrigerants can make your cooling systems function at their best for many years, so we encourage you to explore these and other eco-friendly refrigerants for your systems moving forward.
