Refrigerants are liquids that are used to transfer heat from one location to another. The most common refrigerants are ammonia, chlorine, and fluorine. Each of these refrigerants has its own unique set of properties that make it suitable for different applications. Ammonia, for example, is often used in industrial refrigeration systems because it is an efficient heat transfer fluid and is relatively inexpensive.
Chlorine and fluorine are used in air conditioners and refrigerators because they have a very high boiling point. This allows them to transfer heat very effectively from the inside of the appliance to the outside air. However, these refrigerants are also very dangerous to human health and the environment.
One of the most important properties of a refrigerant is its ability to undergo fractionation. Fractionation is a process in which the different molecules of a substance are separated from each other based on their size and weight. The larger molecules of a substance will tend to settle at the bottom of a container, while the smaller molecules will float to the top.
Fractionation is an important process for refrigerants because it allows the heat transfer properties of the refrigerant to be tuned to the specific needs of the application. For example, a refrigerant with a higher percentage of larger molecules will be more efficient at transferring heat, but will also be more expensive.
The refrigerant that is most likely to experience fractionation is fluorine. Fluorine has a very high boiling point and is used in many air conditioners and refrigerators. However, fluorine is also very dangerous to human health and the environment. For these reasons, it is important to carefully control the fractionation of fluorine in order to ensure that it is used safely and effectively.
What is the difference between a refrigerant and a coolant?
A refrigerant is a fluid that is used in a heat pump or refrigeration system to absorb heat from the space to be cooled and then release it elsewhere. Coolants are liquids or gases that are used to cool down electronic components and prevent overheating.
What is the difference between a refrigerant and a Freon?
A refrigerant is any substance or mixture, usually a fluid, used in a heat engine (including a refrigerator or air conditioner) in which it undergoes a phase transition from a liquid to a vapor and back again. The working fluid used in vapor-compression refrigeration systems, such as grocery store display cases and domestic refrigerators and freezers, is usually a chemical compound of fluorine, carbon, and hydrogen, such as Freon-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane, CFC-12).
Freon is a trade name for a class of fully halogenated alkane refrigerants, used in a wide range of applications including domestic and commercial refrigeration, automobile air conditioning, and as a propellant for aerosol cans and aerosol generators. These refrigerants are manufactured by chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) producers. The production of Freon-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane, CFC-12), for example, culminates in the formation of highly stable, colorless, and Boiling Point: -30.9 °C (- 23.02 °F) Melting Point: -160.0 °C (- 256.0 °F) non-toxic substances that do not burn, have no smell, and do not readily dissolve in water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is refrigerant fractionation and how does it work?
Refrigerant fractionation is the change in composition of a blend because one or more of the components is lost or removed faster than the other(s). Pure refrigerants exert pressure on the cylinder (or a system) because the molecules are moving around.
How does temperature affect the pressure in a refrigerant?
Pure refrigerants exert pressure on the cylinder (or a system) because the molecules are moving around. At higher temperatures they move around faster, which means more pressure. At lower temperatures there is less movement, so lower pressure.
Are all refrigerants created equal?
No, refrigerants are not created equal. Some refrigerants, such as R22 and R134a, are pure compounds. Others, such as propane and butane, are mixtures of different components.
Which of the following is an example of secondary refrigerant?
Air is an example of a secondary refrigerant.
What is the process of fractionation in column chromatography?
In fractional crystallization and fractional freezing, molecules are separated by fractions that conform to their regular order in a crystal lattice. This is accomplished by slowly diffusing organic solvents through fine metal plates which separate the particles with different sizes. In column chromatography, the mobile phase holds dissolved impurities...
