Question

What is a refrigerant? Give two examples.

Hint:

Refrigerant = heat carrier inside AC or fridge!

Answer 1

A refrigerant is a fluid used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems to absorb and transfer heat.
It circulates inside the system, changing phase from liquid to vapor and back, carrying heat from the space to be cooled to the surroundings.
Good refrigerants have suitable boiling points, high latent heat, chemical stability, and are non-toxic.
Common examples of refrigerants are:
1. Ammonia (R-717): Used in industrial refrigeration and ice plants.
2. R-22 (Dichloro difluoro methane): Used in domestic and commercial air conditioning systems.
Other examples include R-134a, carbon dioxide (R-744), and R-12 (historical).