Question

Give an example of an eco-friendly refrigerant and also write its properties.

Hint:

R-134a, R-290, R-744 = safer for the ozone and climate!

Answer 1

An eco-friendly refrigerant is one that has low or zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and minimal global warming potential (GWP).
A good example is R-134a (tetrafluoroethane).
Properties of R-134a include:
1. Zero ODP: R-134a does not harm the ozone layer.
2. Moderate GWP: It has lower global warming impact compared to older CFCs like R-12.
3. Non-toxic and non-flammable: Safe for domestic and commercial use.
4. Colorless and odorless: Easy to handle under proper conditions.
5. Good thermodynamic properties: Efficient in automotive ACs, domestic refrigerators, and commercial systems.
Other eco-friendly refrigerants include natural options like R-290 (propane) and R-744 (carbon dioxide) which have near-zero ODP and very low GWP.