Vapour compression refrigeration is used in almost 80 % of the refrigeration industries in the world for refrigeration, heating, ventilating and air conditioning. The application of vapour compression system cycles, using R-12 and R-22 and other halocarbon compounds, had gone deep in the field of refrigeration and air-conditioning before the advent of ozone depletion. The common use of CFC is being phased out due to its impact on the environment, especially to Ozone layer. So, the concerned industry has developed two alternative Refrigerants: one based on Hydro chloro Fluorocarbon (HCFC) and another based on Hydro Fluorocarbon (HFC). The high-grade energy consumption of these devices is very high and the working substance creates environmental problems due to environmental unfriendly refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons, hydro chlorofluorocarbons and hydro fluorocarbons.
The HCFCs have a 2 to 10% ozone depleting potential as compared to CFCs and also, they have an atmospheric life time between 2 to 25 years as compared to 100 or more for CFCs.
The HCFCs have a 2 to 10% ozone depleting potential as compared to CFCs and also, they have an atmospheric life time between 2 to 25 years as compared to 100 or more for CFCs.
The first generation of refrigerants was based on the availability. These refrigerants were often highly toxic, flammable and some very highly reactive.
Example – NH3, Ethers, CO2, etc.