 Refrigerants 101
Our post this week is courtesy of Denis Livchak from Frontier Energy. Denis is a refrigeration expert, and in his post below he explains the different types of refrigerants used in refrigeration systems, and why it's so important to pay attention to refrigerants. All refrigeration equipment contains refrigerant. Refrigerant is a substance that cools down the inside of the fridge or freezer by changing from gas to liquid and vice versa during a refrigeration cycle. Although there are several properties of refrigerants, from an environmental perspective the most important ones are global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP) and flammability. Why are ODP and GWP so important if the refrigerant stays inside the refrigeration system? Because refrigeration systems leak. These leaks may occur through refrigerant piping contraction/expansion at different welds. through system recharging, or during disposal. Federal regulations have tried to minimize global warming and ozone depletion through mandating refrigerants that are more environmentally friendly with low GWP and ODP potential. Older refrigerants that are currently being phased out include R12 (also known as freon) and R22. These refrigerants have GWP values of 10,900 and 1,810 and ODP values of 0.82 and 0.06, respectively. The rule of thumb with GWP and ODP values is the higher the number, the worse it is for the environment. Nowadays these refrigerants are quite rare. Most modern refrigerants are zero ODP, however refrigeration units older than 20 years may still use R12 or R22. Most modern lab-grade freezers use R404A refrigerant, which has a GWP of 3,920. Ultra-low temperature freezers also use R508B as the secondary refrigerant, which has a GWP of 13,396. Natural refrigerants are the most environmentally-friendly option. Natural refrigerants include propane (R290), CO2 (R744) and ammonia (R717), and all have zero ODP and almost zero GWP. So why are we not using natural refrigerants in our equipment? There are drawbacks to each of the three: propane is flammable, CO2 requires very high pressure piping, and ammonia is poisonous. With technological advancements, refrigeration engineers have been able to minimize the risks associated with each type of refrigerant. The most prevalent natural refrigerants in laboratory refrigeration are propane (R290), and ethane (R170) for ultra-low temperature applications. By using small quantities of refrigerant, manufacturers have been able to minimize the potential flammability of the system while drastically reducing the global warming potential of refrigeration systems. Manufacturers are also required to perform safety testing to demonstrate that even a large leak of refrigerant in the freezer will not cause a fire. Energy testing has also proven that freezers with natural refrigerants consume significantly less energy. If you are not sure what kind of refrigerant your freezer uses, try checking the nameplate - it should be clearly labeled on there. And if you find that it's time to upgrade to a freezer with natural refrigerants, make sure you use an EPA-certified refrigerant reclaimer when disposing of the old unit.
27 Comments
Israel
6/4/2019 12:46:06 pm
1. What gas has the fastest cooling rate between R600a, R717, R290, R744, R170 and R508? 4/3/2020 09:58:02 pm
Very useful post regarding refrigerator gas leakage issues. Automatically gas leakage is a different issue but there are times when people clear the chiller box with knife and spoon which damages the box and gas leaks out. I work in Whirlpool service center and this post was extremely useful to update ourselves. Thank you. 6/17/2020 06:27:58 am
It's good to know that refrigerant cools the inside of a freezer. My sister wants to make sure that she can store things at the right temperature soon. I'll share this information with her so that she can look into her options for cool rooms that can help with this. 9/17/2020 02:30:03 pm
I liked what you said about how environmentally safe refrigerants can minimize the risks and reduce the global warming potential. I can see how a business could really benefit from getting the right equipment and making sure that things stay the right temperature. It could be really useful for them to get some refrigerant from a professional and get it certified. 10/9/2020 04:43:02 am
Gas leakage is a common issue in refrigerator. I have worked for many years in lg service center and my experience tells that aged copper tubes are the main reason for gas leak. It can be repaired by a technician. Really this is a good post and I enjoyed reading it. Thanks a lot. 10/29/2020 10:41:09 pm
Here we get to know about refrigerants 101 information in detail. It helps us to decide that which one is best among its types. I enjoyed reading this article and would suggest others it as well. Thank you for this article! This is really very informative for us.I must say this, if you get time can visit Comfortgroup.co.nz for ideas on this topic. 6/6/2021 02:14:39 am
I read many posts on refrigerators & their effect. But no post could make me satisfied. In your article, you describe everything in detail. I get answers to all of my questions. Thanks for sharing your valuable article. 7/20/2021 11:24:54 am
According to Value Market Research, the latest technology trends and global market opportunity analysis in the Refrigerant Market industry growing with a high CAGR in the upcoming year. Our report has categorized the market based on technology, service, development, vertical and region. https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/report/refrigerant-market 8/25/2021 10:00:42 am
Thanks for sharing how ammonia is poisonous. I had never heard of it before reading your article. So getting ammonia cold be helpful but it'd also be dangerous. 8/27/2021 03:16:36 pm
It was really interesting when you explained that federal regulations are trying to minimize global warming by regulating refrigerants. If you are trying to build a refrigeration system, you should probably work with a professional. This seems like the best way to follow federal regulations. 9/7/2021 06:48:12 am
Insightful, I really enjoyed the post. Very Informative.Thank you for sharing it! 12/15/2021 11:30:48 am
According to Value Market Research, the latest technology trends and global market opportunity analysis in the Natural Refrigerant Market industry growing with a high CAGR in the upcoming year. Our report has categorized the market based on technology, service, development, vertical and region. https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/report/natural-refrigerant-market Thanks for pointing out that ammonia can be poisonous aside from propane being flammable and CO2 having the need for high-pressure piping. With that in mind, it would really be important to have ammonia detectors and the right inspection before moving into a property. I will make sure that we have this done now that we plan to move into the new property we bought last year this coming March. 1/24/2022 06:28:10 pm
It's interesting to know that the refrigerant would be the substance that would cool down the inside of the fridge or freezer by changing gas to liquid and vice versa. I guess it would be best to hire commercial refrigeration repair if that process is not working properly to keep your items cool and keep them from being spoiled as well. It would definitely be a vital part of a restaurant's day to day production to ensure that they have quality meals being cooked.
John Hoyt
4/2/2022 04:03:56 pm
Do you have any recommendations for purchasing a fridge/freezer that would be unplugged for several months out of the year sitting in sub-zero temperatures. (Current OLD fridge does fine.) 5/20/2022 03:40:24 am
I agree! Ironically, the last thing on your mind happens to be the most important. The refrigerant is an often un-talked about component of your A/C system, but it contributes directly to its functionality. The refrigerant lines are what’s used to chill and condition the air in your home, and when there is a problem with them, you don’t get the cool air you want. 7/27/2022 05:27:18 am
It captured me the most when you discussed that the most environmentally-friendly choice are natural refrigerants. My friend is planning to add a used two-door commercial freezer to his restaurant. I should advise him to look for a dealer that sells a wide selection of freezers. 8/8/2022 06:27:56 am
My friend has been having issues with his commercial refrigerator. It makes sense that he might want to get a professional to fix it properly. I can see how getting a professional to help out with that kind of thing. 9/26/2022 10:17:13 am
I noticed that my commercial refrigerator has been leaking as of late. I do believe that it is important for us to hire a professional contractor. It makes sense as in doing so, it ensures that it is repaired properly. I will definitely look at their credentials before hiring them. 10/11/2022 04:28:56 am
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The Freezer Challenge is a program coordinated by the non-profit organizations
My Green Lab® and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories, and sponsored by various companies with an interest in promoting the most energy efficient cold storage options.
My Green Lab® and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories, and sponsored by various companies with an interest in promoting the most energy efficient cold storage options.
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