REFRIGERANTS

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
• A refrigerant is defined as any substance that absorbs heat through expansion
or vaporization and loses it through condensation in refrigeration systems
CLASSIFICATION
• Primary refrigerants:
Primary refrigerants are those fluids, which are used directly as working fluids,
for example in vapour compression and vapour absorption refrigeration
systems. When used in compression or absorption systems, these fluids
provide refrigeration by undergoing a phase change process in the evaporator.
Eg: Ammonia, sulphur dioxide, freon group…
• Secondary refrigerants:
Secondary refrigerants are those liquids, which are used for transporting
thermal energy from one location to other. Secondary refrigerants are also
known under the name brines or antifreezes. Unlike primary refrigerants, the
secondary refrigerants do not undergo phase change as they transport energy
from one location to other. An important property of a secondary refrigerant is
its freezing point. Generally, the freezing point of a brine will be lower than
the freezing point of its constituents. The commonly used secondary
refrigerants are the solutions of water and ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or
calcium chloride. These solutions are known under the general name of
brines.

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
CLASSIFICATION

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Primary refrigerants are further classified into
• Halo carbon or organic refrigerants
• Azeotrope refrigerants
• Inorganic refrigerants
• Hydrocarbon refrigerants

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
HALOCARBONS
• Contains one or more halogens, Cl, Fl
• Obtained by replacing one or more H atom in HC
• High quality
• Ex: R-11, R-12, R-22 etc

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
• Exclusively used before halocarbons
• Good thermodynamic and physical properties
• Ex. R717, R 744(co2), R 764(so2), R 729(air), R118(water)

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
AZEOTROPES
• Mixtures of different halocarbons
• Ex. R 500, R 501 , R502, R 503, R 504

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
HYDROCARBON REFRIGERANTS
• Good properties
• Highly Flammable and explosive

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
 Ice plant

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
 Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C
Department of Mechanical Engineering
 Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C
Department of Mechanical Engineering
 Water coolers
• Storage type

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Instantaneous type water coolers

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering
 Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Cold storage

Asst. Prof. Satheesh Chandran C

Department of Mechanical Engineering