Whirlpool R600A - Refrigerants Overview

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R600A Sealed System 2017
GENERAL INFORMATION
Refrigerants
Refrigerants
The use of ammable refrigerants in refrigeraon systems was
disconnued aer the appearance and large scale producon
of CFC refrigerants. CFC refrigerants became the refrigerants of
choice because they are low in cost, non-toxic and are not
ammable.
However, studies have shown that CFCs have damaged, and
connue to threaten, the Earth’s delicate ozone layer. In light
of this, the Montreal Protocol was established to manage the
disconnuaon of these refrigerants.
Various alternave refrigerants to CFC12 were studied
and some are now being used by the refrigeraon industry
worldwide. Among them, are some ammable
refrigerants.
Refrigerants such as (R 600a) isobutane have increased in
popularity with the consumer populaon primary because of its
environmentally benign properes. More specically, hydrocarbon
refrigerants are safe to the Earth’s ozone layer.
The Isobutane Refrigerant
Isobutane refrigerant, like other alternave refrigerants,
presents dierent thermodynamic characteriscs dierent from
those of R 12 or R134a (see gure 1).
Figure 1 shows that isobutane (R 600a) presents lower
vapour pressures than R 12 or R 134a, in the standard
operaonal temperature range for a refrigeraon system.
To beer observe the impact of substung R 12 for R 600a
in refrigeraon applicaons, please see the table.
Fig.1. - Behavior of vapor pressure of R 600a and R 134a in
relaon to R 12, according to temperature.
Compressor Label
gure 1