Refrigerant

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A refrigerant is a substance used in a heat cycle usually including, for enhanced
efficiency, a reversible phase change from a gas to a liquid. Traditionally,
fluorocarbons, especially chlorofluorocarbons were used as refrigerants, but they are
being phased out because of their ozone depletion effects. Other common refrigerants
used in various applications are ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and non-halogenated
hydrocarbons such as methane.
[1]

Contents
[hide]
1 Physical properties
2 History
3 Uses
4 Disposal
5 Refrigerants by class
o 5.1 Blends
6 Air as a Refrigerant
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
[edit] Physical properties
The ideal refrigerant has good thermodynamic properties, is unreactive chemically, and
safe. The desired thermodynamic properties are a boiling point somewhat below the
target temperature, a high heat of vaporization, a moderate density in liquid form, a
relatively high density in gaseous form, and a high critical temperature. Since boiling
point and gas density are affected by pressure, refrigerants may be made more suitable
for a particular application by choice of operating pressure. These properties are ideally
met by the chlorofluorocarbons.
Corrosion properties are a matter of materials compatibility with the mechanical
components: compressor, piping, evaporator, and condenser
[disambiguation needed]
. Safety
considerations include toxicity and flammability.
[edit] History
Until concerns about depletion of the ozone layer arose in the 1980s, the most widely
used refrigerants were the halomethanes R-12 and R-22, with R-12 being more common
in automotive air conditioning and small refrigerators, and R-22 being used for
residential and light commercial air conditioning, refrigerators, and freezers. Some very
early systems used R-11 because its relatively high boiling point allows low-pressure
systems to be constructed, reducing the mechanical strength required for components.
New production of R-12 ceased in the United States in 1995, and R-22 is to be phased
out by 2020. R-134a and certain blends are now replacing chlorinated compounds. One
popular 50/50 blend of R-32 and R-125 now being increasingly substituted for R-22 is
R-410A, often marketed under the trade name Puron. Another popular blend of R-32, R-
125, and R-134a with a higher critical temperature, and lower GWP (Global Warming
Potential) than R-410A is R-407C. While the R-22 and other ozone depleting
refrigerants are being phased out, they still have value and can be easily sold.
Following the ban on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs), substances used as substitute refrigerants such as fluorocarbons (FCs) and
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have also come under criticism. They are currently subject
to prohibition discussions on account of their harmful effect on the climate. In 1997,
FCs and HFCs were included in the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on
Climate Change. In 2006, the EU adopted a Regulation on fluorinated greenhouse
gases, which makes stipulations regarding the use of FCs and HFCs with the intention
of reducing their emissions. The provisions do not affect climate-neutral natural
refrigerants.
Early mechanical refrigeration systems employed sulfur dioxide gas or anhydrous
ammonia, with small home refrigerators primarily using the former. Being toxic, sulfur
dioxide rapidly disappeared from the market with the introduction of CFCs. Ammonia
(R717) has been used in industrial refrigeration plants for more than 130 years and is
deemed to be environment-friendly, economical, and energy-efficient. The natural
refrigerant carbon dioxide (R744) has a similarly long tradition in refrigeration
technology.
[2]

Occasionally, one may encounter older machines which used other transitional
refrigerants such as methyl formate, chloromethane, or dichloromethane (called carrene
in the trade). Perhaps the most common of these to still retain a charge are the methyl
formate Monitor Top refrigerators produced by General Electric.
Use of highly purified propane as a refrigerant is gaining favor, especially in systems
designed for R-22. Although propane is non-toxic its mixture with air in certain
proportions is explosive. An odorant, such as ethyl mercaptan, can be added in trace
amounts to alert persons of system leaks.
[edit] Uses
Natural refrigerants such as ammonia, carbon dioxide and non-halogenated
hydrocarbons preserve the ozone layer and have no (ammonia) or only a low (carbon
dioxide, hydrocarbons) global warming potential.
[3]
They are used in air-conditioning
systems for buildings, in sport and leisure facilities, in the chemical/pharmaceutical
industry, in the automotive industry and above all in the food industry (production,
storage, retailing). New applications are opening up for natural refrigerants for example
in vehicle air-conditioning.
Emissions from automotive air-conditioning are a growing concern because of their
impact on climate change. From 2011 on, the European Union will phase out
refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) of more than 150 in automotive air
conditioning (GWP = 100 year warming potential of one kilogram of a gas relative to
one kilogram of CO
2
). This will ban potent greenhouse gases such as the refrigerant
HFC-134awhich has a GWP of 1410to promote safe and energy-efficient
refrigerants. One of the most promising alternatives is the natural refrigerant CO
2
(R-
744). Carbon dioxide is non-flammable, non-ozone depleting, has a global warming
potential of 1, but is toxic and potentially lethal in concentrations above 5% by volume.
R-744 can be used as a working fluid in climate control systems for cars, residential air
conditioning, hot water pumps, commercial refrigeration, and vending machines. R12 is
compatible with mineral oil, while R134a is compatible with synthetic oil.
[4]
GM has
announced that it will start using Hydrofluoro olefin, HFO-1234yf, in all of its brands
by 2013.
[5]
This new refrigerant has a GWP rating of 4 and is not a blend.
[6]
Dimethyl
ether (DME) is also gaining popularity as a refrigerant.
[7]

Some refrigerants, such as tetrafluoroethane, are seeing rising use as recreational drugs,
leading to an extremely dangerous phenomenon known as inhalant abuse.
[8]

[edit] Disposal
As of July 1, 1992 it is illegal
[where?]
to release refrigerants into the atmosphere
(intentional or accidental) because they can cause severe damage to the ozone layer.
When CFCs are removed they should be recycled to clean out any contaminants and
return it to a usable condition. Refrigerants should never be mixed together. Some CFCs
must be managed as hazardous waste even if recycled, and special precautions are
required for their transport, depending on the legislation of the country's government.
[edit] Refrigerants by class
Refrigerants may be divided into three classes according to their manner of absorption
or extraction of heat from the substances to be refrigerated:
Class 1: This class includes refrigerants that cool by phase change (typically
boiling), using the refrigerant's latent heat.
Class 2: These refrigerants cool by temperature change or 'sensible heat', the
quantity of heat being the specific heat capacity x the temperature change. They
are air, calcium chloride brine, sodium chloride brine, alcohol, and similar
nonfreezing solutions. The purpose of Class 2 refrigerants is to receive a
reduction of temperature from Class 1 refrigerants and convey this lower
temperature to the area to be air-conditioned.
Class 3: This group consists of solutions that contain absorbed vapors of
liquefiable agents or refrigerating media. These solutions function by nature of
their ability to carry liquefiable vapors, which produce a cooling effect by the
absorption of their heat of solution. They can also be classified into many
categories.
Main article: List of refrigerants
The R-# numbering system was developed by DuPont and systematically identifies the
molecular structure of refrigerants made with a single halogenated hydrocarbon. The
meaning of the codes is as follows:
Adding 90 to the number gives three digits which stands for the number of
carbon, hydrogen and fluorine atoms, respectively.
[9]

Remaining bonds not accounted for are occupied by chlorine atoms.
A suffix of a lower-case letter a, b, or c indicates increasingly unsymmetrical
isomers.
As a special case, the R-400 series is made up of zeotropic blends (those where
the boiling point of constituent compounds differs enough to lead to changes in
relative concentration because of fractional distillation) and the R-500 series is
made up of so-called azeotropic blends. The rightmost digit is assigned
arbitrarily by ASHRAE, an industry organization.
For example, R-134a has 2 carbon atoms, 2 hydrogen atoms, and 4 fluorine atoms, an
empirical formula of tetrafluoroethane. The "a" suffix indicates that the isomer is
unbalanced by one atom, giving 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane. R-134 (without the "a"
suffix) would have a molecular structure of 1,1,2,2-Tetrafluoroethanea compound not
especially effective as a refrigerant.
The same numbers are used with an R- prefix for generic refrigerants, with a
"Propellant" prefix (e.g., "Propellant 12") for the same chemical used as a propellant for
an aerosol spray, and with trade names for the compounds, such as "Freon 12".
Recently, a practice of using HFC- for hydrofluorocarbons, CFC- for
chlorofluorocarbons, and HCFC- for hydrochlorofluorocarbons has arisen, because of
the regulatory differences among these groups.
[edit] Blends
R-401A is a HCFC azeotropic blend of R-32, R-152a, and R-124. It is designed
as a replacement for R-12.
[10]

R-404A is a HFC "nearly azeotropic" blend of 52 wt.% R-143a, 44 wt.% R-125,
and 4 wt.% R-134a. It is designed as a replacement of R-22 and R-502 CFC. Its
boiling point at normal pressure is -46.5 C, its liquid density is 0.485 g/cm
3
.
[11]

R-406A is a zeotropic blend of 55 wt.% R-22, 4 wt.% R-600a, and 41 wt.% R-
142b.
R-407A is a HFC zeotropic blend of 20 wt.% R-32, 40 wt.% R-125, and 40
wt.% R-134a.
[12]

R-407C is a zeotropic hydrofluorocarbon blend of R-32, R-125, and R-134a.
The R-32 serves to provide the heat capacity, R-125 decreases flammability, R-
134a reduces pressure.
[13]

R-408A is a zeotropic HCFC blend of R-22, R-125, and R-143a. It is a
substitute for R-502. Its boiling point is -44.4 C.
[14]

R-409A is a zeotropic HCFC blend of R-22, R-124, and R-142b. Its boiling
point is -35.3 C. Its critical temperatiure is 109.4 C.
[15]

R-410A is a near-azeotropic blend of R-32 and R-125. The US Environmental
Protection Agency recognizes it as an acceptable substitute for R-22 in
household and light commercial air conditioning systems.
[16]
It appears to have
gained widespread market acceptance under several trade names.
[17]

R-500 is an azeotropic blend of 73.8 wt.% R-12 and 26.2 wt.% of R-152a.
R-502 is an azeotropic blend of R-22 and R-115.
[edit] Air as a Refrigerant
"Air cycle is not a new technology. At the turn of the century air cycle or 'cold air machines' were
available from companies such as J & E Hall... These were used on board ships and by food
producers and retailers to provide cooling for their food stores."
[18]

Air has been used for residential,
[19]
automobile,
[18]
and turbine-powered aircraft
[20][21]

air-conditioning and/or cooling. The reason why air is not more widely used as a
general-purpose refrigerant is the misperception that the use of air is too inefficient to be
practical.
[19]

Yet, with suitable compression and expansion technology, air can be a practical (albeit
not the most efficient) refrigerant, free of the possibility of environmental contamination
or damage,
[19]
and almost completely
[22]
harmless to plants and animals.

Chlorodifluoromethane
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Jump to: navigation, search
Chlorodifluoromethane

IUPAC name[hide]
Chlorodifluoromethane
Other names[hide]
Difluoromonochloromethane, Monochlorodifliuoromethane,
HCFC-22, R-22, Genetron 22, Freon 22, Arcton 4, Arcton 22, UN
1018,
Identifiers
CAS number 75-45-6


PubChem 6372
ChemSpider 6132


EC number 200-871-9
KEGG D03789


ChEMBL CHEMBL116155


RTECS number PA6390000
Jmol-3D images Image 1
SMILES
[show]

InChI
[show]

Properties
Molecular formula CHClF
2

Molar mass 86.47 g/mol
Appearance Colorless gas
Density 3.66 kg/m
3
at 15C, gas
Melting point
-175.42 C, 98 K, -284 F
Boiling point
-40.7 C, 232 K, -41 F
Solubility in water 0.7799 vol/vol at 25 C; 3.628 g/L
log P 1.08
Vapor pressure 908 kPa at 20 C
k
H
0.033 mol.kg
-1
.bar
-1

Structure
Molecular shape Tetrahedral
Hazards
R-phrases R59
S-phrases S23 S24 S25 S59
NFPA 704

0
1
1
Autoignition
temperature
632 C
(what is this?) (verify)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials
in their standard state (at 25 C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references
Chlorodifluoromethane or difluoromonochloromethane is a
hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). This colorless gas is better known as HCFC-22, R-
22. It was once commonly used as a propellant and in air conditioning applications.
These applications are being phased out due to ozone depletion potential and status as a
potent greenhouse gas. R22 is a versatile intermediate in industrial organofluorine
chemistry, e.g. as a precursor to tetrafluoroethylene.
Contents
[hide]
1 Production and current applications
2 Environmental effects
3 Physical Properties
4 External links
5 References
[edit] Production and current applications
Chlorodifluoromethane is prepared from chloroform:
HCCl
3
+ 2 HF HCF
2
Cl + 2 HCl
The main application of R22 is as a precursor to tetrafluoroethylene. This conversion
involves pyrolysis to give difluorocarbene, which dimerizes:
[1]

2 CHClF
2
C
2
F
4
+ 2 HCl
The compound also yields difluorocarbene upon treatment with strong base and is used
in the laboratory as a source of this reactive intermediate.
The pyrolysis of R22 in the presence of chlorofluoromethane gives hexafluorobenzene.
[edit] Environmental effects
Chlorodifluoromethane was used as an alternative to the highly ozone-depleting CFC-
11 and CFC-12, because of its relatively low ozone depletion potential of 0.055,
[2]

among the lowest for chlorine-containing haloalkanes. However, even this lower ozone
depletion potential is no longer considered acceptable. It will be phased out soon under
the Montreal Protocol, to be replaced by other refrigerants with lower ozone depletion
potential such as propane (R-290), R-410A (an azeotropic mixture of difluoromethane
and pentafluoroethane), R-507A, R-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) and R-409A.
As an additional environmental concern, chlorodifluoromethane has a global warming
potential that is 1810 (1810 times that of carbon dioxide).
[3]
HFCs such as R-410A have
high global warming potential, whereas that of propane (R-290) is only 3.
Beginning in 2010 in the U.S., the production and importing of HCFC-22 will be
limited to 25% of each country's 1989 consumption level. New and imported HCFC-22
will be available only for use in equipment manufactured before 1/1/2010.
On January 1, 2010, it will be illegal to import, produce, or sell R-22 for use in new
equipment or pre-charged in new equipment. In 2015, the production and importing of
HCFC-22 will be limited to 10% of each country's 1989 consumption level and in 2020,
production and importing of HCFC-22 will be illegal. Re-use of recovered HCFC-22 to
service existing equipment will be allowed indefinitely.
[edit] Physical Properties
Property Value
Density () at -69 C (liquid) 1.49 g.cm
3

Density () at -41 C (liquid) 1.413 g.cm
3

Density () at -41 C (gas) 4.706 kg.m
3

Density () at 15 C (gas) 3.66 kg.m
3

Specific gravity at 21 C (gas) 3.08 (air = 1)
Specific volume () at 21 C (gas) 0.275 m.kg
1

Density () at 15 C (gas) 3.66 kg.m
3

Triple point temperature (T
t
) -157.39 C (115.76 K)
Critical temperature (T
c
) 96.2 C (369.3 K)
Critical pressure (p
c
) 4.936 MPa (49.36 bar)
Critical density (
c
) 6.1 mol.l
1

Latent heat of vaporization (l
v
) at boiling point (-40.7 C) 233.95 kJ.kg
1

Heat capacity at constant pressure (C
p
) at 30 C (86 F) 0.057 kJ.mol
1
.K
1

Heat capacity at constant volume (C
v
) at 30 C (86 F) 0.048 kJ.mol
1
.K
1

Heat capacity ratio () at 30 C (86 F) 1.178253
Compressibility factor (Z) at 15 C 0.9831
Acentric factor () 0.22082
Dipole moment
[disambiguation needed]
1.458 D
Viscosity () at 0 C 12.56 Pa.s (0.1256 cP)
Ozone depletion potential (ODP) 0.055 (CCl
3
F = 1)
Global warming potential (GWP) 1810 (CO
2
= 1)
It has two allotropes: crystalline II below 59 K and crystalline I above 59 K to 115.73
K.

Chloropentafluoroethane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Chloropentafluoroethane

IUPAC name[hide]
1-chloro-1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoroethane
Other names[hide]
Freon 115, CFC-115, R-115
Identifiers
CAS number 76-15-3


ChemSpider 6190


UNII SJG47X19V4


ChEMBL CHEMBL502216


Jmol-3D images Image 1
SMILES
[show]

InChI
[show]

Properties
Molecular formula C
2
ClF
5

Molar mass 154.466 g/mol
Appearance Coluorless gas
Melting point
-99 C
Boiling point
-39.1 C
Solubility in water 59 mg/L
Hazards
Main hazards
In high concentrations may cause
asphyxiation.
[1]

Flash point 70.4 C
(what is this?) (verify)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials
in their standard state (at 25 C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references
Chloropentafluoroethane is a chlorofluorocarbon once used as a refrigerant. Its
production and consumption has been banned since 1 January 1996 under the Montreal
Protocol because of its ozone-depleting potential.
[2]