What is Refrigerant ?
Refrigerant is a chemical compound used in your air conditioner. It absorbs environmental heat and provides cool air once it runs through compressors and evaporators. Refrigerants are heavily regulated due to their toxicity, flammability and the contribution of CFC and HCFC refrigerants to ozone depletion and that of HFC refrigerants to climate change.
What type of refrigerant is used in air conditioning systems?
There are many different types of refrigerant used in a variety of refrigeration products, but for air conditioning systems, there are two main types; R-22 or more commonly known as Freon, and R410A, also known as Puron. Puron is said to be much more environmentally friendly than Freon, and is the most popular choice for modern AC systems.
The type of refrigerant in air conditioning will depend on how old a system is. Manufacturers of air conditioning systems are actively looking to replace Freon with Puron entirely by 2020. Not only will it be kinder to the environment, but it will also have the same effective cooling properties. However, the only downfall is that Puron cannot be used with Freon systems, meaning that eventually, you’ll have to replace an old system.
Freon has been used as the main refrigerant in central air conditioning systems for many years. Its use has been shown to be harmful to the environment, so, as a result, has been banned from being manufactured.
How does air con refrigerant work in an air conditioning system?
Air conditioner refrigerant is the crucial part of the air cooling process and is situated inside the system’s copper coils. The job of the refrigerant is to travel through the system to the different parts of the air conditioner, changing from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid. As it does so, it absorbs heat and then releases it along its journey, helping to bring cool air to the rooms of your home.
When the refrigerant travels to the outdoor unit, it releases heat through condensation, which then forces it to cool down. When it reaches the indoor unit, the refrigerant causes evaporation because of the reduced temperature coming into contact with the warmer air. The process repeats itself which constantly blows out a steady stream of cool air, blown into a room by fans and vents.
The refrigerant cycle in air conditioning is continuous and the refrigerant itself will always stay at the same level all the way through your system’s life. However, this is only upon the assumption that your system doesn’t encounter a leak.
CONTENTS :-
- Definition
- History
- Classification
- Colour coding
- Properties
- Conclusion
HISTORY OF REFRIGERANTS :-
Natural refrigerants:-
1) Ice blocks
2) Using nocturnal cooling
3) Use of evaporation
Artificial Refrigerants :-
1) In 1835, Jakob Perkins use ethyl ether as the refrigerant ( b.p= 30’c). (if air mixed forms an explosive gas).
2) In 1874, Raowl Piolet designs the first sulphur dioxide based system. (forms H2SO4 when gets moisture).
3) In 1885, Fraunz Windhausen builds the first to use co2 in Germany. (high operating pressure ).
4)In 1920, iso-butane based domestic refrigerator ( highly flammable), General Electric first introduce “Kelvinator “ refrigerator.
5) In 1930, Introduction of CFCs .
CONCLUSION
- Don’t treat the today’s refrigerants with yesterday’s techniques.
- CFC’s replaced by refrigerants blends.
- R & D of the refrigerants is in the field of environmental acceptability.
- TEWI, the factor used to decide the overall capability of a refrigerant.
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