Refrigerant Selection

Considerations
Daniel Dettmers (djdettme@wisc.edu)
Industrial Refrigeration Consortium
University of Wisconsin
www.irc.wisc.edu
(866) 635-4721

What is a Refrigerant?
Refrigerant
- the vital working fluid in refrigeration,
air-conditioning, and heat pumping
systems.
- absorbs heat from one area, such as an
air-conditioned space, and rejects it
into another, such as outdoors, usually
through evaporation and condensation
process, respectively.
- ASHRAE Fundamentals Chpt. 16

Dettmers 2/8/07

Refrigerant Selection Criteria

Safety, risk & regulation

Environmental

impacts
Likelihood of future availability

Refrigerant properties
Toxicity

& flammability
Thermodynamic & transport
Other

Economics
Operating

efficiency
Capital costs (refrigerant & equipment)

Staff capabilities

Dettmers 2/8/07

Composition of Fluorocarbons
CFC-12

Cl

Cl

HCFC-22

HFC-32

Dettmers 2/8/07

Cl
C

H
C

C
F
C

hloro
luoro
arbons

H
C
F
C

ydro
hloro
luoro
arbons

H
F
C

ydro
luoro
arbons

HCFC Phaseout Schedule (US)

% Reduction in National Consumption
HCFC-22
HCFC-22
HCFC-142b
HCFC-142b
Production
Production Freeze
Freeze
Ban
Ban in
in New
New
Equipment
Equipment

100%

65%

All
All other
other
HCFCs
HCFCs
Production
Production
Freeze
Freeze

35% HCFC-141b
HCFC-141b
Production
Production
Ban
Ban

HCFC-22
HCFC-22
HCFC-142b
HCFC-142b
Production
Production
Ban
Ban

All
All other
other
HCFCs
HCFCs
Ban
Ban in
in New
New
Equipment
Equipment

All
All other
other
HCFCs
HCFCs
Production
Production
Ban
Ban

10%
0.5%

2003
Dettmers 2/8/07

2010

2015

2020

2030

ODP and GWP

1.0

ODP

Same as

CFC-11
or CO2

Ozone Depletion Potential

Damage

substance does to the

ozone layer, relative to CFC-11

GWP
Global Warming Potential
Contribution

of substance to the
atmospheres heat retention,
relative to CO2 or CFC-11
0.0

Dettmers 2/8/07

None

ODP and GWP from CFCs

CFCs

HCFCs

HFCs

Ozone Depletion Potentia

Global Warming Potential 0

1.2

11

12

113

0.8

114

0.6

115

0.4
0.2
0 0
0 0

ODP and GWP are relative to CFC-11

Source: World Meteorological Organization
Dettmers 2/8/07

ODP and GWP of Non-CFCs

Global Warming Potential

123

Ozone Pepletion Potential

0.2

0.4

0.8

0.2

CFCs

0.15
0.1

141b

142b

HCFCs

220

0.05

HFCs

124
0

134a

152a
32
ODP and GWP are relative to CFC-11
Source: World Meteorological Organization
Dettmers 2/8/07

0.6

125 0 143a

Safety & ODP/GWP of Refrigerants

Refrigerant

Chemical
Formula

CFC-11
CFC-12
CFC-113
CFC-114
CFC-115

CCl3F
CCL2F2
CCl2FCClF2
CClFCClF2
CClF2CF2

45
100
85
300
1700

1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
0.940
0.440

4680
10720
10720
6030
9880
7250

A1
A1
A1
A1
A1

HCFC-22
HCFC-123
HCFC-124
HCFC-141b
HCFC-142b

CHClF2
CF3CHCl2
CHClFCF3
CH3CCl2F
CH3CClF2

12
1.3
5.8
9.3
17.9

0.050
0.050

1780
1780

A1
B1
A1

HFC-32
HFC-125
HFC-134a
HFC-143a
HFC-152a

CH2F2
CHF2CF3
CF3CH2F
CH3CF3
CH3CHF2

4.9
29
14
52
1.4

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

R-717
R-718
HC-290

NH3
H 2O
C3H8

Dettmers 2/8/07

Lifetime
Years

ODP
(R11)

GWP
(CO2)

Safety
Classification

0.020
0.020
0.120
0.070

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

76
599
713
2270

A2

543
3450
1320
1320
4400
122

A2
A1
A1
A2
A2

00
0
0

B2
A1
A3

ASHRAE Standard 34-2004

Refrigerant Classification
Safety Group
Higher
Flammability
Lower
Flammability
No Flame
Propagation

Increasing
Flammability

Dettmers 2/8/07

Increasing
Toxicity

A3
Propane, Butane

B3

A2

B2

R-142b, R-152a

Ammonia

A1

B1

R-11, R-12, R-114

R-123, SO2

Lower
Toxicity

Higher
Toxicity

Ideal Cycle Efficiency Comparison:

Influence of Refrigerant Selection
Refrigerant

COP

kW/ton

HP/ton

CFC-11

4.895

0.718

0.963

CFC-12

4.497

0.782

1.048

HCFC-123

4.717

0.745

0.999

HFC-134a

4.376

0.803

1.077

HCFC-22

4.444

0.791

1.061

R-717

4.643

0.757

1.015

R-290

4.293

0.819

1.098

R-410A

4.137

0.850

1.140

R-407C

4.248

0.828

1.110

R-404A

3.853

0.913

1.224

Dettmers 2/8/07

Source: ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, 20 F evaporating and 105 F condensing temperatures

ASHRAE Numbering System

From ASHRAE Standard 34

Single Component Fluorocarbons

000

Series - Methane Based Molecules

100 Series - Ethane Based
200 Series - Propane Based Fluids
300 Series - Butane Based

Mixtures
400

Series - Zeotropic Blends (or Non-Azeotropic)

500 Series - Azeotropes

Others
600

Series - Miscellaneous Organic Compounds

700 Series - Inorganic Compounds
Dettmers 2/8/07

ASHRAE Numbering System

From ASHRAE Standard 34

Single Component Fluorocarbons

000

Series - Methane Based Molecules

100 Series - Ethane Based
200 Series - Propane Based Fluids
300 Series - Butane Based

Mixtures
400

Series - Zeotropic Blends (or Non-Azeotropic)

500 Series - Azeotropes

Others
600

Series - Miscellaneous Organic Compounds

700 Series - Inorganic Compounds
Dettmers 2/8/07

Refrigerant Mixtures

Zeotropes (Blends or Simple Mixtures)

R-400

series
Tend to average properties
Segregate (Easy to separate)
Offer greatest flexibility

Azeotropes
R-500

series
Behave like pure fluid
Higher or lower B.P. than components
Non segregating (Difficult to separate)
Some
SomeZeotropes
Zeotropesare
arevery
veryclose
closeto
toAzeotropes
Azeotropes

Dettmers 2/8/07

Evaporation Characteristics-Blends
Boiling Point
Dew

GLIDE

Bubble
Boiling Point

FLUID A
Low-Boiler

Dettmers 2/8/07

Point

RANGE
Point

BLEND
Non-Azeotropic
(400 Series)

FLUID B
High-Boiler

Zeoptropic Refrigerant Behavior

250

Pressure [psia]

R-407c
Dew Point

200

Bubble Point
150

T~11F
100

50

0
-25

25

50

75

Temperature [F]
Dettmers 2/8/07

100

125

Phaseout Refrigerants
Refrigerant

Application

Alternative

CFC 11

Low Pressure Chillers

HCFC 123

CFC 12

Refrigerators, MVAC,
Commercial Refrigeration Units

HFC 134a

CFC 502

Low Temperature Refrigeration

R-404A (HFC)
R-507A (HFC)

CFC 13/R-503

Extremely Low Temperature

Refrigeration

HFC 23, R-508B,

NH3,
NH3-CO2 Cascade

HCFC 22

Everywhere

R-717, R-410A

HCFC 123

Low Pressure Chillers

R-245ca*

*Allowed by EPA, but I wouldnt use it quite yet.

Dettmers 2/8/07

Composition of R-502 Alternatives

Large Glide

Dettmers 2/8/07

Long Term R-502 Alternatives

Components
Percentage
ASHRAE #
Trade names
Manufacturers
Glide
Pressure *
Capacity **
COP **
*
**
Dettmers 2/8/07

Option 1
125 / 143a
50% / 50%
R-507A
AZ-50
Allied-Signal
0.1F
359 psig
up 10%
up 0-5%

Option 2
125 / 143a / 134a
44% / 52% / 4%
R-404A
HP62 / Forane-404A
DuPont / Elf Atochem
1.6F
354 psig
same
up 5%

Condenser pressure at 130F; R-502 is 321 psig

Relative to R-502

Source: Dave Godwin, ARI AREP results

Composition of R-22 Alternatives

Trade Name

ASHRAE
Number

Several

134A

100%

407C
Large 23%
Glide 25%

52%

KLEA 407C,
AC9000
AZ-20, Puron,
Suva 9100

HFC-32

HFC-125

410A

50%

50%

AC9100

410B

45%

55%

Nu-22,
ISCEON 59

417

Dettmers 2/8/07

46.6%

HFC-134a

50%

R-600

3.4%

Long Term HCFC-22 Alternatives

Option 1
Components
134a
Percentage
100%
ASHRAE #
R-134a
Trade names several
Manufacturers several
Glide
none
Pressure *
200 psig
Capacity ** down 30-40%
COP **
within 5%
*
**
Dettmers 2/8/07

Option 2
Option 3
32 / 125
32 / 125 / 134a
50% / 50% 23% / 25% / 52%
R-410A
R-407C
AZ-20/Puron AC9000/KLEA66
Allied-Signal
DuPont/ICI
0.2F
8-10F
479 psig
310 psig
up 40-50%
up 10%
down 5-13%
down 5%

Condenser pressure at 130F; HCFC-22 is 297 psig

Relative to HCFC-22
Source: Dave Godwin, ARI AREP results

Other HCFC-22 Alternatives

R-507A & R-404a

System

conversion possible with valve and lubricant

change out
Higher operating pressure & capacity

R-417a (Nu-22)
125/134a/600

(46.6%/50%/3.4%)
Drop-in, uses butane for MO miscibility
Reported oil return problems, reduced capacity @ low
temp
Copeland voids warranty if R-417a is used
Many other refrigerants like it (R-422A, R-427A)

Dettmers 2/8/07

Alternatives to R-13/R-503

CFC 13 & R-503 (40.1/59.9 of R-23/R-13)

Traditional

refrigerants for extremely low

temperature refrigeration (below -40F)
applications

HFC 23 & R-508B (46/54 of R-23/R-116)

GWP

of 12,240 and 12,000

respectively
Both have no ODP

NH3-CO2 Cascade
Finding

favor lately both in

U.S. and Europe

Dettmers 2/8/07

CO2-NH3 Cascade Refrigeration System

Evaporative
Condenser(s)
High Temperature Evaporator(s)

High
Pressure
Receiver

Low
Temperature
Evaporator(s)

Low
Temperature
Recirculator

CO2
Compressor(s)
Dettmers 2/8/07

Cascade
Heat Exchanger

Ammonia
Compressor(s)

CO2-NH3 Cascade System

No direct environmental
impacts

High working pressures

for CO2

GWP, ODP

Low side 70 [psig]

High side 300 [psig]

Industrial scale systems

currently in operation in
both Europe and US
Photos: Nestl

Dettmers 2/8/07

CO2-NH3 Cascade Efficiency

4
Am m onia

Efficiency [hp/ton]

3.8

3.6

3.4

3.2

CO2/NH 3 Cascade

2.8
-70

-65

-60

-55

-50

Saturation Temperature [F]

Dettmers 2/8/07

-45

How to Protect Yourself

1.

Check to make sure it is SNAP approved

2.

Check with compressor manufacturer

3.

Make sure they have successfully worked

with this refrigerant in the past

Check cost

Dettmers 2/8/07

Check warranties, oil issues, etc.

Check contractors reference list

4.

800-296-1996
www.epa.gov/air/ozonedep.html

Refrigerant, tax & operating cost