6 Refrigerant for AC
Refrigerant for AC or air conditioning refrigerant is the working medium of an air conditioner.
Air conditioning is a device that uses artificial means to regulate and control the temperature, humidity, airflow, and other parameters of the indoor air environment in buildings or structures. Therefore, refrigerants are crucial for air conditioning.
Initially, air conditioners used toxic gases like ammonia and chloromethane. Thomas Midgley invented chlorofluorocarbon gas in 1928 and named it Freon. This refrigerant was much safer for humans but harmful to the atmospheric ozone layer. As alternatives, some ozone-safe refrigerants have been introduced.
Here's a brief overview of six common refrigerant for ac:
R22 Refrigerant
R22 refrigerant for ac is used in reciprocating compressors. It is applied in residential air conditioners, central air conditioning systems, portable air conditioners, heat pump water heaters, dehumidifiers, freezer dryers, cold storage, food freezing equipment, marine refrigeration equipment, industrial refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, refrigeration-condensation units, supermarket display cases, and more.
R32 Refrigerant
R32 refrigerant for ac is a new environmentally friendly refrigerant that does not contain chlorine; thus, it does not harm the ozone layer. However, it is flammable and combustible. It serves as a substitute for R22 and R410a refrigerant for ac.
R134a Refrigerant
R134a refrigerant for ac is the most widely used medium and low-temperature refrigerant. Due to its good overall performance, it is an effective and safe replacement for R12 in many applications, including refrigerators, freezers, water coolers, automotive air conditioning, central air conditioning, dehumidifiers, cold storage, commercial refrigeration, ice makers, ice cream machines, refrigeration-condensation units, and more.
R290 Refrigerant
R290 refrigerant for ac belongs to hydrocarbon refrigerants. It doesn’t damage the ozone layer and has a minimal greenhouse effect, making it an environmentally friendly option. It is mainly used to replace R22 and R502 in low-temperature refrigeration equipment.
R407C Refrigerant
R407C refrigerant for ac is an environmentally friendly medium-to-high-temperature refrigerant composed of R32, R125, and R134a in certain proportions. It is used in various air conditioning systems and non-centrifugal refrigeration systems.
R410A Refrigerant
R410A refrigerant for ac is a new environmentally friendly refrigerant that doesn’t harm the ozone layer. It has a higher working pressure and cooling efficiency compared to R22. It is composed of a blend of R32 and R125 in equal proportions.
The above six refrigerant for ac are the more commonly used air-conditioning ones.
Among them, R22 has ceased to be used and produced in developed countries according to the Montreal Protocol, and it can still be produced in developing countries, but its production and use deadline is 2030. Several alternatives have also appeared, such as R454B can replace R410A. In recent years, refrigerants have been continuously updated, but environmental protection is a feature of their design and development.
