4.1.Refrigerants

Unit 4 - Refrigerants

4.1.Refrigerants
The refrigerant is a heat carrying medium which during their cycle in the refrigeration system absorb heat from a low temperature system and discard the heat so absorbed to a higher temperature system.
The suitability of a refrigerant for a certain application is determined by its physical ,thermodynamic chemical properties and by various practical factors, there is no one refrigerant which can be used for all types of application i.e, there is no idea refrigerant. If one refrigerant has certain good advantages it will have some disadvantages also. Hence a refrigerant is chosen which has greater advantages and less disadvantages.

Desirable properties of an ideal refrigerant
A refrigerant is said to be ideal if it has the following properties:
  • Low boiling point
  • High latent heat of vaporization
  • Low specific volume of vapour
  • Low specific heat of liquid
  • Non corrosive to metal
  • Non flammable and non explosive
  • Non toxic
  • Low cost
  • Easy to liquefy at moderate pressure and temperature
  • Mixes well with oil
Last modified: Monday, 29 August 2011, 6:52 AM