Choosing the right refrigerant gas is crucial for the smooth operation of cooling systems. With evolving environmental concerns, one should get a grip on different types of suitable refrigerant gases that are environment-friendly and comply with regulations. This guide will help you in understanding the key factors that are to be kept in mind when choosing a refrigerant gas for your cooling system.
- EU legislation on fluorinated gases
- Environmental Factor
- Safety Factor
- Efficiency Factor
- Economic Factor
- Professional Guidance
EU legislation on fluorinated gases:
In 2015, the EU put a ban on the use of fluorinated gases (usually categorized as F-gases) and put the products containing them on the marketplace. It was because their GWP (Global warming potential) was so high, such as R404A has a GWP of 3921 which makes it destructive for the environment. Also, the Spanish Legislation has put a tax on every refrigerant having a higher GWP than 150. Manufacturers have started making substitutes of F-gases that have low GWP and are easily accessible in the market.
Environmental Factor:
Refrigerants play an essential role in ozone layer depletion and global warming, so we must choose a refrigerant that doesn’t contribute much to these environment-destructing factors. For decades, R404A has been used in cooling systems as a refrigerant but it was banned due to its effects on the environment. Here are some alternative options for F-gases:
Hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs):
These refrigerants include R-22 and have been widely used in the past. But now they are being phased out due to their ozone-depleting characteristics and it is preferred to transition away from HCFCs.
Hydro Fluorocarbons (HFCs):
These gases include R410A and are less harmful to the ozone layer but still are harmful greenhouse gasses. Many countries have started to transition away from them too.
Hydro FluoroOlefins(HFOs):
R-1234yf and R-1234ze are two of the many HFOs and are low-GWP alternatives to HFCs. They have significantly lower impacts on both ozone depletion and global warming. Their popularity is increasing significantly due to their environmentally friendly nature.
Natural Refrigerants:
These are the low-cost refrigerants including carbon dioxide (Co2 or R-744), ammonia (NH3 or R-717), and Hydrocarbons (HCs) such as Propane (R-290) or isobutene (R-600a).
These gases have zero Ozone depletion rate and insignificant Global Warming Potential (GWP). Though, these require ultimate safety precautions and necessary modification to cater to the needs of the system in question.
Safety Factor:
Paying attention to safety factors is a pivotal aspect of refrigerant gas. Ammonia, for instance, is highly flammable and toxic and demands high working pressure. It also irritates the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. It is also a fire and explosion hazard and unsuited with copper wiring. And Propane as another example is also highly flammable. But both are chemically stable, relatively cheap, and highly in demand. So some safety factors can ensure secure installations which are as follows:
- The flammable Refrigerant should be kept away from exploding and burning environment such as open flames and high temperatures. And try to choose the one which is not easily explosive.
- Refrigerants should meet the standards of international legal compliance (non-toxic).
- Ensure a proper ventilation system and choose the refrigerant in which leakage is detectable.
- The refrigerant in question must be compatible with your system.
Efficiency Factor:
Choose a Refrigerant which is energy efficient and provides optimal level performance. Running Refrigerant must have high evaporation pressure than atmospheric pressure; otherwise, the circuit will be running in a vacuum.
Also, the moderate value of saturation pressure must be within the limits of the compressor and it must not exceed the maximum allowed pressure. We can evaluate the coefficient of performance (COP) and energy efficiency ratio (EER) so we can make a better conscious decision. The efficiency of the Refrigerant highly depends on its chemical stability and its component’s compatibility with the compressor lubricant.
Economy Factor:
Economically, a refrigerant is favored which has low energy consumption per unit of capacity. Also, those units will be preferred which have low GWP so there is no tax on the refrigerant. All costs include installation of the system, retrofitting, maintenance, and potential disposal expenses.
Professional Guidance:
Even if you’ve managed to get yourself a highly reliable heat and cooling system, you still have to seek assistance and guidance from professionally trained and certified HVAC Technicians like AL-IMRAN COOLING SYNERGY. We can provide you with the expertise in selecting the right refrigerant gas by assessing your specific requirements, system characteristics, and local regulations to guide you toward the best refrigerant choice.
So, ACT NOW FOR SUSTAINABILITY and Contact Al-Imran Cooling Synergy for guidance and HVAC services.
