Natural Refrigerant ACs
Natural Refrigerants ACs : Content Flow
Refrigerant Issues
Refrigerants Overview
Natural Refrigerants
R290 (Propane)
R290 Split ACs, Central ACs
SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL REFRIGERANTS FOR AC
Source: Hydrocarbon Refrigerants For Room Air Conditioners, Daniel Colbourne, for GIZ Proklima, March 2011
3
Issue: High GWPs
Refrigerants Type GWP (100 Year, AR 2007)
R410A – R32/R125 – 50:50 HFC 2088
R22 – Chloro Difloro Methane HCFC 1810
R134A – Chloro Difloro Methane HFC 1430
R32 – Methylene Fluoride HFC 675
R290 – Propane HC, ‘Natural’ 3.3[16]
R1270 – Propylene HC, ‘Natural’ 1.8[16]
R744 – Carbon Dioxide ‘Natural’ 1
R717 – Ammonia ‘Natural’ 0
Issue: AC Refrigerant Progression
‘leapfrogging’ is possible
HCFCs Natural
CFCs HFCs (stop-gap Refrigerant
(being phased solution) (long term
(banned)
out) solution)
Issue: Increased Refrigerant Use
Increased HFC Consumption
Increased GHG Emissions
Issue: Increased GHG Emissions
Natural Refrigerants: Types
• Natural Refrigerants can be divided into :
– Hydrocarbons – Propane (R290), Propylene (R1270), R600a
– Ammonia
– Carbondioxide
Natural Refrigerants ACs
What are Natural Refrigerants?
• Chemicals which occur in nature’s bio-chemical processes
• Can be used as cooling agents in refrigerators and air conditioners.
• Do not deplete the ozone layer and make negligible contribution to global
warming.
• High efficiency = lower indirect contribution to global warming than many FC’s
Why use Natural Refrigerants?
• Natural refrigerants deliver on the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols.
• Natural refrigerants have no or very low Global Warming Potential (GWP)
• Zero Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) – Montreal Protocol
• Reduction of CO2-equivalent emissions – Kyoto Protocol
Applications and Limitations
• Ammonia
– Application: Large air conditioning systems (chillers), commercial & industrial
refrigeration (storage, food, brewing, heat extraction, ice rinks etc.)
– Limitation: Ideal & efficient refrigerant if used in accordance with national safety
standards and codes of practice.
• Carbon Dioxide
– Application: Static/mobile air conditioning systems, warehousing, commercial
refrigeration, chill cabinets and vending machines, process chilling, low- and ultra-low-
temperature applications.
– Limitation: Often used as a secondary refrigerant along with ammonia, thereby opening
up applications where ammonia as a single-stage refrigerant would not be applicable
• Hydrocarbon Refrigerants
– Applications- Industrial and domestic air conditioning, domestic appliances, commercial
and industrial refrigeration, chill cabinets and vending machines, heat pumps, low- and
ultra-low temperature applications
– Limitation- Extremely inflammable
Benefits
• Regulatory Compliance – In many countries, the use and availability of HCFCs and HFCs
are controlled by legislation due to their environmental impact.
– Not subject to the Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol or other related local
environmental legislation.
• Low environment impact – They have zero ODP and minimal GWP. In comparison,
commonly used HCFCs and HFCs have a GWP varying from hundered to thousands.
• High Performance- They have excellent thermodynamic properties.
• Cost competitiveness- Use of natural refrigerants generally leads to lower operating
costs due to less leakage, lower maintenance requirements and better energy
efficiency.
• Compatibility – Natural refrigerants work well with commonly used oil and fluids.
