Things You'll Need:
- detailed tracking of HVAC-R systems
- understanding of refrigerant tracking regulations
- systems containing refrigerant gases at your facilities
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Step 1
Adequate pressure, efficiency and stability -- these are the three primary refrigerant properties. These properties are defined as chemical stability in refrigeration and air conditioning systems or heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, vapor pressure and operational efficiency, be it direct or indirect.
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Step 2
We can define refrigerant properties as the combination of substances necessary in the refrigeration or cooling process. The majority of industries use applications that feature refrigerant usage. In addition to refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) systems and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, there are more than 100 different types of refrigerants, including water.
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Step 3
Numerous tests and industry standards have been implemented to document safety levels and efficiency in the refrigeration industry. There are four refrigerant properties used in the design of cooling, refrigeration, or conditioning systems. These operational efficiency, cost effectiveness, flammability and low toxicity.
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Step 4
Worried environmental agencies around the world have taken action to reduce the effects of certain types of refrigerant properties on our environment. It is known that refrigerants can lead to an increase in ozone depletion. The US Clean Air Act, the Kyoto Treaty and the Montreal protocol has been implemented with the aim of regulating emissions.
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Step 5
Elements found within refrigerant properties can cause serious environmental damage, particularly hydrochlorofluorocarbon and chlorofluorocarbon. As these gases can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, the Earth's protective layer can be seriously damaged. If no action were taken, greenhouse gases would contribute to significantly adverse climatologically conditions.
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Step 6
Refrigerant properties can be broken down into different classes. For toxicity levels below or equal to 400 ppm by volume, class A is designated. Class B refers to levels below 400. There are numerical ranges indicating flame propagation, between classic one and three in ascending order of flammability.
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Step 7
Carbon dioxide, propane, ammonia and each H32 are refrigerant properties being considered to replace chemicals that are harmful to the environment. These alternatives do bring additional concerns, however. Ammonia is preferred as there are no global warming concerns, but it is toxic and combustible.
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Step 8
Carbon dioxide does not raise any safety flags, but needs significant additional electricity and thus negates the global warming reduction. Propane is an alternative in refrigerators but in itself is highly combustible. Although HFC 32 has no global warming impact, it too is combustible under certain conditions.
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Step 9
Around the world, government initiatives require the reporting and tracking of refrigerant properties. Scientists will be better able to understand the impact and extent of global warming. We gather the information to assess a better knowledge of the effects of refrigerant use and by tracking the release of dangerous chemicals; we are better equipped for the future.
