HYDROCARBON AS A REFRIGERANT

HYDROCARBON AS A REFRIGERANT

ABSTRACT

CFCs has been used exclusively as a refrigerant due to its superior properties .

The main demerit of CFC is its significant contribution to ozone layer depletion. As this layer go to thinner the incidence of skin cancers and eye cataracts increases and crop yield reduce. The Montreal protocol is an international legal agreement in 1987 which specifies the phase out of production of CFCs. Under this legislation countries with a high use CFCs have already stopped producing them. The HCFCs are also likely to phase out but not before year 2025.

         Ammonia is highly volatile and becomes explosive when mixed with air, also it attacks on nonferrous metals in presence of water. Refrigerator with NH3 gives high discharge temperature which requires more efficient separators and can cause carbonation problems.

         While hydrocarbons are naturally occurring substances that are obtained from refineries after distillation. They perform very well with good capacity and efficiency. They have very low environment impact in comparison with CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs. They are compatible with copper and standard mineral oils. There is no ozone depletion and no global warming by use of hydrocarbon refrigerant. Very low changes are needed to a system and its components to be able to use hydrocarbon refrigerants. However, care is needed to ensure that flammability does not present safety problems. This requires careful design and through employee and service sector training.

   The ecofrig project between Swiss Agency for development and corporation and Indian industries had origin in September 1992 regarding the use of HCs being used as refrigerant. Although the Indian industry had hardly ever known of HCs being used as refrigerant. It was felt that India could learn  from the experience of  European manufacturers on safe practices. A change in attitude of Indian manufacturing towards HCs is required.