Guidelines for the use of DURACOOL® Refrigerants in
Static Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems
While the most notable aspects associated with hydrocarbon refrigerant system designs
are safety matters, general refrigeration issues should also be considered. These include
thermodynamic properties, material compatibility and component selection.
1.1 REFRIGERANT SELECTION
Refrigerant selection is generally based on matching refrigerant vapor pressures to
operating conditions, although this is not always the case. Refrigerants should also be
selected so that they contribute to good system efficiency. With respect to blended
refrigerants, these should only be selected when the effect of temperature glide and
composition shift is not an issue. As general guidance on refrigerant selections, table 1.1
provides an indication to the application ranges and equivalent fluorinated refrigerants
where hydrocarbons could be employed. Please contact the DURACOOL Refrigerants
Technical Assistance Line if you require more information regarding correct refrigerant
selection.
Table 1.1: Application ranges for DURACOOL® Refrigerant Products
Refrigerant Application Range Replacement
DURACOOL 12a® High/medium temperature; domestic
appliances; automotive
R12
R134a
DURACOOL 22a® High/medium temperature; commercial; reefer R22
R407c
R410a
R411a
DURACOOL 502a® Medium/low temperature; commercial;
industrial; industrial process refrigeration;
chillers; reefer
R502
R404a
R408a
R507a
When using hydrocarbon refrigerants it is essential to use refrigerant grade products
only. Commercial grade hydrocarbons contain significant quantities of water and other
impurities and could contribute to oil degradation and shorten the compressor life.
Another problem with commercial LPG is that the composition of any specific hydrocarbon
can be variable thus drastically changing the properties of the refrigerant from cylinder to
cylinder.
1.2 REFRIGERANT PROPERTIES
Refrigerant properties are necessary to describe the operating characteristics of the
refrigerant within a system. In particular, physical properties of refrigerants are useful
for determining the applicability of a refrigerant under design operating conditions.
Thermodynamic and transport properties of refrigerants are necessary for predicting
system behavior and performance of components. Basic properties are provided in table
1.2. For more comprehensive properties information, please consult the MSDS and/or
contact the DURACOOL Refrigerants Technical Assistance Line.
Duracool Refrigerants Inc. 4
