Desirable property of refrigerants

1) Critical point 
The critical temperature of refrigerant must be as high as possible. The critical temp. of CO2 and ethylene
are less than ambient summer temperature in India and hence they are undesirable as refuigrainsts.

2) Enthalpy of vaporization

R.C  m(R.E)
The enthalpy of vaporization should be high because larger the enthalpy of vaporization smaller is the
mass flow rate required for same capacity of the plant.
Enthalpy of vaporization of ammonia is very high.

3) Pressure ratio
The pressure ratio should be less because pressure ratio result in smaller volumetric efficiency.

4) Specific volume at inlet to the compressor

The specific volume of the refuigerant at the inlet to the compressor must be small. If the specific volume
is high, then it result in large size of the compressor.

5) Low specific heat liquid and high specific heat of vapour. High critical pressure and temp.
 R – 11 and R – 12 are used in centrifugal compressor because the specific volume of these refrigerant
is very high. The chlore fluoro-carbon are known as freon.

5) Freezing point
The freezing point must be as low as possible.

6) Normal boiling point

Higher boiling point refrigerant are low pressure refrigerant i.e. for same condenser and evaporator
temperature, the cross ponding pressure should be low for higher boiling temperature. NBP (Normal
boiling point) temperature should be low to enable easy conversion to vapour in evaporator.

7) Compressor discharge temp.

The compressor discharge temp. of the compressor should not be high. If it is high, then it results in over
heating of compressor.

B) CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1) Toxicity : The refrigent should be non-toxic.
2) Flamability : The flammability should be low.
Note: NH3 is very cheap but it is not used as refrigerant in domestic refrigerator or window.

AC because it is flammable and toxic.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
i) viscosity : The viscosity of the refrigerant must be less.
ii) leak detection : The leak detection should be easy and simple.
Freon leaks are detercted by hellide torch method. In presence of Freon, a hydrocarbon flame which is
blue in colour terns fluish green.
Ammonia leaks are detected by supher stick method. In presence of NH 3, white fumes of ammonia
surphite (NH4)2S are formed.

Recent trends in refrigerant

The chlorin atom which is present in refrigerant attacks ozone layer suitated in strator phase and hence
chlorine element is undesirable in refrigerants. Therefore the suitable substito are
1) Hydrocarbon
2) Flouro carbon
3) Hydro fluoro carbon
Now, a day environment friendly refuigeants are used in domestic refrigerator is R – 134a.
It is as o being used in car air condition.