What are the environmentally friendly refrigerants?

Chillers and HVAC systems provide cooling because they contain refrigerants. However, some refrigerants can damage the ozone layer.

With the improvement of environmental awareness and the promulgation of environmental protection laws and regulations, ozone-depleting refrigerants are being phased out and replaced by environmentally friendly refrigerants.

What are environmentally friendly refrigerants? What are the common eco-friendly refrigerants? What are their benefits? This article will introduce them to you.

What Is Environmentally Friendly Refrigerant?

Environmentally friendly refrigerants are more environmentally friendly while meeting cooling needs. Whether a refrigerant is environmentally friendly is usually determined by two indicators: ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP). Environmentally friendly refrigerants have very low ODP and GWP values.

In addition, they are low in toxicity and easy to degrade. Even if a leak occurs, the long-term impact on humans and the environment is relatively small.

• Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) – It is usually based on CFC-11 (ODP=1). The larger the value, the more destructive the refrigerant gas is to the ozone layer.

• Global Warming Potential (GWP) – This number is based on the GWP of carbon dioxide (CO2). Consider the GWP of carbon dioxide to be 1 – that is, the amount of heat that 1 kg of carbon dioxide releases into the atmosphere over a certain period of time (usually 100 years). Compare other refrigerants to the GWP of carbon dioxide. For example, R-134a has a GWP of 1430, which means that its greenhouse effect per unit weight is 1430 times that of carbon dioxide.

Common Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants

Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) and natural refrigerants are environmentally friendly types of refrigerants.

HFO have 0 ODP , will not damage the ozone layer, and have a very low GWP, some of which are even less than 1.

Natural refrigerants include propane (R-290), , carbon dioxide (R-744), and ethylene (R-1150), etc. Their ODP is 0, and their GWP values are generally very low, with little impact on the greenhouse effect.

The following is a list of common environmentally friendly refrigerants and their ODP and GWP values:

Refrigerant name	Type	ODP	GWP(100 years)
R-290(Propane)	Natural refrigerant	0	≈ 3
R-600a(Isobutane)	Natural refrigerant	0	≈ 3
R-744(Carbon dioxide)	Natural refrigerant	0	1
R-717(Ammonia)	Natural refrigerant	0	0
R-1270(Propylene)	Natural refrigerant	0	≈ 2
R-1234yf	HFO	≈ 0	≈ 1
R-1234ze(E)	HFO	≈ 0	≈ 6
R-513A	blend refrigerants	0	≈ 573

 

 

Benefits of Using Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants

Comply With Regulations

Using sustainable refrigerants that comply with environmental regulations can save your company from environmental fines and regional sales restrictions.

Environmentally Friendly

Environmentally friendly refrigerants help you and the companies that use your products reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Improve Refrigeration Efficiency

Most environmentally friendly refrigerants have much higher refrigeration efficiency than traditional refrigerants. Moreover, you can fill less environmentally friendly refrigerants to achieve the cooling capacity of traditional refrigerants.

Improve Brand Image

Companies that use environmentally friendly refrigerants focus on sustainable development and have established a corporate image of actively taking environmental responsibility. Many users will choose them.

Want To Learn More?

Communicate with LNEYA refrigeration experts to learn more about refrigerants and choose the right refrigerant for your application.

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