Conference Year
2016
Keywords
R-134a, Low GWP, new refrigerant
Abstract
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have replaced chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as non-ozone depleting fluids in many applications, including as refrigerants, solvents, aerosols, and blowing agents for insulating foams. However, some HFCs have relatively high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and are coming under closer scrutiny due to the increasing concern over global climate change. The focus now is on the search for the next generation of environmentally sustainable working fluids with negligible direct environmental impact in terms of both ozone depletion and global warming potential. Development of low-GWP options should be balanced with respect to safety, performance, ease of use, and energy efficiency. Indeed, greenhouse gas emissions come not only from direct emissions but also largely from indirect sources based on energy consumption. It is therefore important that energy efficiency remain a primary consideration when implementing low-GWP solutions, as replacing a high-GWP fluid with a lower GWP, but less efficient option may actually increase greenhouse gas emissions, thereby degrading the overall Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP). This paper introduces a novel low GWP refrigerant composition to replace R-134a. Thermodynamic properties as well as theoretical and experimental evaluation of this refrigerant is being discussed. Results are compared to baseline