Refrigerant is an important substance for today's refrigeration equipment. However, many people do not know What is refrigerant?, what are its principles and effects. So let's find out with Tan Long about what refrigerants are and their applications in today's life!
What is refrigerant?
Refrigerant is a circulating fluid in a refrigeration system. It absorbs heat from the cold chamber by evaporating at low temperature and pressure, then releases heat to the environment at high temperature and pressure.
Refrigerant is the agent that helps the refrigeration equipment capable of regulating ambient temperature, including cooling and heating. During operation, the refrigerant changes between gas and liquid form, and there are changes in temperature and pressure to meet the purpose of use.
Operating principle of chiller using refrigerant
After knowing What is refrigerant?, let's Tan Long Learn the operating principles of refrigeration systems using refrigerants. Refrigeration systems include air compressor, thermal expansion valve and refrigerantThe machine's operating principle will go through 4 states as follows:
State 1: Refrigerant in compressor in the form of saturated vapor with low temperature and pressure. The compressor squeezes the molecules of the refrigerant closer together, increasing the density of molecules in a small volume, leading to collisions and the conversion of kinetic energy into heat energy. The energy from the compressor is converted into internal energy of the refrigerant, increasing the enthalpy, temperature and pressure of the refrigerant.
State 2: After leaving compressor, refrigerant has high temperature and pressure. At this time, the refrigerant is in a superheated vapor state, so it needs a higher temperature than the surrounding environment to easily transfer heat. The refrigerant then enters condenser, through the copper tube in condenser. A fan blows air continuously through the copper tubes cooling the tubes and removing heat from refrigerant. When leaving condenser, refrigerant and condenses into a saturated liquid, high pressure and low temperature.
State 3: Refrigerant go to Thermal Expansion valve. The operating principle of this valve is to keep the superheat of the refrigerant in the evaporator stable, ensuring that the evaporator always has enough liquid refrigerant to operate effectively. The thermal sensor controls the thermal expansion membrane, pressing on the spring to maintain the superheat after the evaporator.
State 4: Refrigerant passes through the evaporator, where a fan blows warm air from the room through copper coils. The room air temperature is higher than the refrigerant temperature, causing the refrigerant to absorb heat and boil into a saturated vapor. The vapor carries heat, and since refrigerant has a very low boiling point, the room temperature is enough to boil the refrigerant.
Common types of refrigerants on the market today
Nowadays, people produce many different types of refrigerants, the most popular of which are the following:
Refrigerant R410A
Gas R410A is kind refrigerant The most popular and often used by many air conditioner manufacturers. Strengths of gas R410A is not harmful to the ozone layer and the environment. However, the maintenance is complicated and the entire gas must be drained to add new refrigerant gas is the disadvantage of this type.
Refrigerant R22
Gas R22 It is a colorless refrigerant with a mild odor and is heavier than air. It is one of the earliest types of refrigerants, with low production costs and a low price. However, it has low cooling efficiency, consumes a lot of electricity, and is particularly harmful to the environment. ozone layer and the environment. Therefore gas R22 has been banned from use since 2020.
Refrigerant R12
Gas R12 is one refrigerant R12 is produced as a colorless, slightly odorless, non-hazardous gas that is heavier than air. Older refrigerators often used this type of gas. However, due to its negative impact on the environment, R12 gas has been banned since 1996.
Refrigerant R171
R171 is a kind of refrigerant has good thermodynamic properties, suitable for the cycle of refrigeration used piston compressor. This type of refrigerant is widely used in industry. However, it should not be used for turbine compressor because the pressure ratio is too low. Although it is cheap and easy to maintain, gas R171 very toxic to human health and negatively impact the environment.
Refrigerant R32
Gas R32 is becoming the most used refrigerant today thanks to its outstanding advantages: good cooling capacity, more environmentally friendly thanks to reducing emissions by up to 75%, saving electricity and having better adaptability. Famous air conditioner brands such as Daikin, Panasonic, Casper, Funiki, ... are all using this type of gas. The only disadvantage of gas R32 is more expensive than other refrigerants on the market.
What is the function of refrigerant?
The refrigerant's function is to transfer heat from one area to another within a refrigeration system. Specifically, the refrigerant absorbs heat from... condenser and transfers it to the condenser, where the heat is dissipated into the external environment through a blower fan and aluminum fins.
As the refrigerant passes through the expansion valve, it changes from liquid to gas at a very low temperature. It then moves to the evaporator to absorb heat from the room and provide cool air. Refrigerant After absorbing heat will be compressor absorbed, converted to liquid at high temperature, and then continued to condenser to release heat to the outside through the blower fan and radiator. After releasing heat, the refrigerant returns to the expansion valve and continues the cycle to cool the air.
What are the applications of refrigerants?
With the use of refrigerant In the refrigeration system, many products have been born to serve people's lives today, from civil to industrial such as air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. On the contrary, refrigerant It can also be applied in heating systems and used in heat pump dryers or heat pump central hot water systems.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of Gas R32 and R410a
Comparison criteria | Gas R32 | Gas R410a |
| Chemical composition | Contains a single element CH2F2-Difluoromethane | One half is CH2F2 and one half is CHF2CF3 |
| Cooling capacity | R32 gas has better cooling capacity thanks to its compression ratio 1.6 times higher than R410a gas. | |
| Price | R32 gas is more expensive than R410a gas. | |
| Popularity | Gas R32 is more popular than gas R410a | |
| Features | R32 gas is more environmentally friendly thanks to reducing emissions by up to 75% Air conditioners using R32 gas are more energy efficient than those using R410a gas. R32 gas has better adaptability than R410a gas. | |
Thus, devices such as air conditioners using R32 refrigerant gas will be better than R410a gas. Major air conditioner brands today such as Panasonic, Daikin, Casper, Funiki,… all use R32 gas.
Conclude
Hopefully the information in the article above is helpful. Tan Long This has helped you understand. What is refrigerant? as well as its applications in life. Refrigerant Not only is it a groundbreaking invention, it also has many great applications. Understanding the operating principles and effects of this system will help us develop more and more useful and advanced products in the future.
Frequently asked questions about refrigerants
What is refrigerant?
A refrigerant is the substance circulating through a refrigeration system, absorbing heat from the space being cooled as it evaporates and rejecting heat outside as it condenses. Through this circuit, heat is carried from where it is unwanted out to the environment.
Which refrigerants are commonly used?
The ones commonly found are R410A, R22, R12, R134a, R404A, and NH3 (ammonia) for large industrial systems. Each has its own working pressure, lubricating oil and pipework requirements.
Can one refrigerant be swapped for another?
Not casually. Each refrigerant has its own working pressure and type of lubricating oil, and the wrong substitution can damage the compressor or cause leaks. Any conversion has to be calculated and carried out by a qualified engineering company.
Why are some refrigerants being restricted?
Because CFC and HCFC refrigerants deplete the ozone layer, they are being phased out under an international timetable and replaced with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Which refrigerant do industrial systems usually use?
Large plants generally use NH3 for its high efficiency and low running costs; small and medium systems use Freon refrigerants. The choice has to be settled at the design stage, because it affects every material in the system.
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- turnkey NH3 refrigeration systems
