What refrigerant is replacing R134a?
Thankfully, there are several alternatives to R134a that can be used in multiple applications:
- R450A —Compatible with POE lubricants, this refrigerant blend was designed as a replacement for R134a.
- R513A —This refrigerant is a blend of HFC and HFO that performs similarly to R134a, has an A1 safety designation, but has a low GWP of 631.
- R515B —As of February 2020, Honeywell has developed a new R134a replacement called Solstice N15, or R515B. ...
What are the dangers of R134?
What Are the Dangers of R134?
- Inhalation of Vapor. Problems from inhalation of R134a depend on the dose; small amounts will not harm the lungs. ...
- Concentration Levels. The vapor dilutes the concentration of oxygen in the air to levels low enough to cause harm. ...
- Skin Contact. ...
- Routes of Exposure. ...
Does R134a harm the atmosphere?
R134a possesses the zero potential destruction of the ozone layer (PDOL), and its potential of global warming (PGW) of carbonic acid is 1 300, which is much more lower than the PGW of R-12, which is 8 500. R134a does not ignite at the whole range of the exploitation temperatures.
Is all R134a refrigerant the same?
Yes, almost all the r134a refrigerants are the same. However, the properties of leak detection sometimes change in the refrigerant. So, you can use the leak detector. There is no problem with using the leak detector. How do I add R134a to my refrigerator?
Is R134a refrigerant HFC?
R-134a is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) designed for domestic, commercial and industrial refrigeration systems, as well as air conditioning systems, liquid refrigeration systems and heat pumps. R-134a is used in large chillers and by car A/C and agricultural manufacturers.
Is R134a the same as HFC-134a?
R-134a freon Also referred to as HFC-134a, this freon is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant.
What kind of refrigerant is 134a?
HFCR134a Refrigerant is a common refrigerant that is used in many air conditioning applications, usually packaged in blue colour cylinders. Due to the nature of R134a properties which is of a HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerant, it does not have any ozone depletion potential and has little greenhouse effect.
Is R134a a hydrofluorocarbon?
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone ...
What does HFC-134a stand for?
Hydrofluorocarbon-134aHydrofluorocarbon-134a or 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) has been developed as a replacement for fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons because, compared with chlorofluorocarbons, its residence time in the atmosphere is shorter and its ozone depleting potential is insignificant.
What did R-134a replace?
For many years, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-134a was the alternate refrigerant of choice to replace chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 in many medium- and high-temperature stationary refrigeration, air conditioning, and automotive air conditioning applications.
Why R134a is not used in AC?
R134a has been found to have a lot of greenhouse gas potential, as it can end up in the atmosphere and take forever to break down. For that reason, all new vehicles sold in America after the year 2021 can no longer use this type of refrigerant.
Is refrigerant R134a toxic?
No toxicity data are available on humans following exposure to HFC-134a. Animal studies indicate that HFC-134a has a low level of systemic toxicity following acute, subacute, subchronic, and chronic exposures.
Is R134a banned?
It has been banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Newer Residential A/C Use R-134A Refrigerant. Starting in 2021, R-134A will be banned and phased out in a similar manner as Freon® was.
What refrigerants are HCFC?
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or HCFCs, are chemicals that are mainly used as refrigerants. Unfortunately, releases of HCFCs deplete the Earth's protective ozone layer and contribute to climate change. R-22 is an HCFC refrigerant that is often used in air-conditioning equipment.
Is R1234yf a HCFC?
This refrigerant, designated R1234yf, belongs to the group of hydro fluoro olefins (HFO). These refrigerants are unsaturated HFCs with a chemical double bond.
Is R134a CFC free?
It is now being used as a replacement for R-12 CFC refrigerant in the area of centrifugal, rotary screw, scroll and reciprocating compresssors. It is safe for normal handling as it is non-toxic, non-flammable and non-corrosive.
Can you use R134a in a home AC system?
R134 was specifically designed to replace R12 used in smaller air conditioning units, such as those used in vehicles. R134 is also used in home appliances, mobile refrigeration units and stationary commercial units, such as cold cases in grocery stores.
How do you tell if you have R12 or 134a?
To tell if it has been converted you can look for a sticker on the unit under the hood, which would indicate that it is R134a. And you can also look for R134a adapters, which would be located on the charge parts.
When was the R-134A introduced?
As a replacement product R-134a was introduced into the automotive market in 1993. Like it’s predecessor, R-12, R-134a was and is used across a wide array of applications in the automotive world. You can find R-134a in your Ford Focus or you could find it in your gigantic Semi-Trucks or in your Gray-hound Bus.
What are the downsides of HFC refrigerants?
The downside of HFC refrigerants is their very high Global Warming Potential. As an example, R-404A has a GWP of three-thousand nine-hundred and twenty-two times that of Carbon Dioxide. Can you begin to see why these are seen as a problem? It was around 2010 when the push to begin phasing down HFC refrigerants began. Everyone’s first target was R-404A as it had the absolute highest GWP of them all. Depending on the applications 404A was to be replaced with Hydrocarbons, lower GWP HFC refrigerants, or the new HFO refrigerant line from Chemours and Honeywell.
What is the rule 20 for refrigerant?
This rule called ‘ Rule 20, ‘ was aimed at phasing down and out HFC refrigerants including R-134a. This regulation aimed at preventing vehicle manufacturers from using R-134a in new vehicles as of model year 2021. These regulations were on the books until August of 2017. At that time a court overturned the EPA’s regulations stating that they had overreached their authority. Since then in the United States there is not a formal R-134a phase out date. This has caused a lot of confusion and unknowns within the automotive refrigerant industry.
What was the first target of the R-12 treaty?
This treaty was enacted in countries all over the world. The first target was CFC refrigerants such as R-12. In 1992 R-12 was phased out of the automotive market in the United States and was replaced with the newer HFC refrigerant known as R-134a.
What caused the R-12?
Because of the revolution CFC and HCFC refrigerants caused R-12 along with R-11, R-22, and R-502 were found all over the world in various applications. By the time we got into the 1970’s the product was everywhere ranging from automobiles, refrigerators, freezers, ice machines, vending machines, industrial plants, refrigerated trucks, and on and on. It was in the 1980’s that a team of scientists out of California realized that all of the Chlorine that was in CFC and HCFC refrigerants were causing damage to the Ozone layer. When vented or leaked the refrigerant would drift up and into the atmosphere. It is there where the Chlorine would do it’s damage. Eventually it got so bad that a thinning of the Ozone layer began to form over the Arctic. The scientists noticing this sounded the alarm and the world’s governments took action by creating the Montreal Protocol.
What is the most commonly used refrigerant for a semi truck?
R-134a is the most commonly used refrigerant for automotive applications rather it be your twenty year old Toyota Camry or your Kenworth T-200 semi-truck. Ever since 1993 R-134a has been the staple refrigerant for automotive applications. Before 93 we used R-12 for our vehicles and now, as I write this article in 2018, there is a push to phase down R-134a and replace it with the new HFO refrigerant known as R-1234yf.
Why is it important to know the temperature of a refrigerant?
Knowing the pressure and the temperatures associated to the machine you are working on is essential to being able to diagnose any possible issues. Without knowing the temperatures you are more or less walking blind. These pressure checks give you the facts so that you can move onto the next step of your diagnosis. Instead of pasting a large table of information here I will instead direct you to our specific refrigerant temperature page.
What refrigerant is chlorine free?
Although chlorine-free refrigerants, such as R134a and R404A/R507A ( Structural classification of refrigerants and Substitutes for CFC and HCFC refrigerants) have been widely used − but are already being replaced by alternatives with lower GWP in the EU for example − R22 is still used internationally in many areas, both for new installations and for retrofitting existing ones.
Is R22 a low ozone refrigerant?
Despite of the generally favourable properties R22 is already subject to various regional restrictions* which control the use of this refrigerant in new systems and for service purposes due to its ozone depletion potential – although being low.
What is a HFC?
HFCs, or HydroFluroCarbons, are a commonly used refrigerant classification used across the globe. Some of the most common HFC refrigerants that you may have heard of are R-134a, R-404A, R-410A, R-125, and R-32. These refrigerants are used in a variety of applications from automotive, to home air conditioners, all the way to industrial refrigeration.
What refrigerant replaces R-12?
R-12 was majorly found in car air conditioners and it was replaced by the HFC refrigerant known as R-134a. Not too many years afterward R-404A began to see popularity after replacing R-502 and recently in 2010 R-22 was phased down and intended to be replaced by the HFC R-410A.
What refrigerant was used in the 1990s?
The more Chlorine that was released the faster the damage occurred. There was an immediate push from various countries to phase out CFC and HCFC refrigerants. The first target was R-12 in the early 1990’s. R-12 was majorly found in car air conditioners and it was replaced by the HFC refrigerant known as R-134a.
When did HFC refrigerants become popular?
HFC refrigerants first started becoming popular and widespread in the early 1990’s. This came about due to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
Is HFC refrigerant going to be around?
In the United States HFC refrigerants are going to be around for quite a while. The transition away from them is going to be a long and slow process. We are already beginning to see some signs of with automotive manufacturers voluntarily moving away from R-134a and opting for the HFO 1234yf. On top of that some states have announced they will be doing a full phase down and phase out of HFCs. (California and New York.) There are more states expected to announce similar plans.
Is HFC refrigerant price stable?
Here in the United States things are a lot less hectic. The price on HFC refrigerants has been pretty stable over the past few years. Sure, we’ll always have our ups and downs, especially in the summer, but we haven’t seen anything like the European price jumps.
Is HFC a sustainable refrigerant?
While HFCs saved the Ozone layer we now understand that they are not a sustainable alternative refrigerant due to their high GWP. The push is on now to begin phasing down or completely phasing out HFC refrigerants for lower GWP/Non Ozone depleting alternatives. Depending on where you are in the world you may have already seen the ramifications ...
What is HFC 134A used for?
The major uses of HFC-134a are in mobile air conditioning and refrigeration; it may also be used as a propellant in medications, such as anti-asthmatic preparations (Olson et al., 1990).
What is the 3-2 summary of HFC-134A?
Table 3-2summarizes the studies on HFC-134a for cardiac sensitization and subacute, developmental, and reproductive toxicity. Table 3-3summarizes the studies on HFC-134a for genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.
How much HFC 134A is toxic?
Silber and Kennedy (1979a) exposed six groups of rats (each group containing six animals) to HFC-134a at concentrations ranging from approximately 80,000 ppm to 653,000 ppm. Clinical signs of toxicity included lethargy, labored and rapid respiration, foaming at the nose, tearing, salivation, and weight loss.
What is a 134a?
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-134a or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane is a gaseous halocarbon that is being considered as a prime candidate for replacing other halocarbon materials, such as Freon 12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) and Freon 22, for use in air conditioning and refrigeration systems and possibly as an aerosol propellant or foam expansion agent. Due to a federal regulation that mandates switching from CFCs to other suitable compounds that either do not damage the ozone layer or damage the ozone layer less than CFCs, the U.S. Navy requested that the NRC review the toxicity data on HFC-134a and recommend 1-hr and 24-hr EEGLs. The Navy also requested that the NRC recommend a 90-day CEGL for HFC-134a and identify appropriate research to fill data gaps. The remainder of this chapter consists of the supporting documentation assembled and evaluated by the subcommittee in support of its recommendations.
How long was HFC 134A used in rats?
In a 52-week study, male and female rats were exposed to HFC-134a. The rats were exposed for 1 year by gavage 5 days/wk with HFC-134a dissolved in corn oil at a daily dose of 300 mg/kg of body weight. No carcinogenicity was observed in this investigation. However, only one concentration was used, and it is possible that the route of administration and the dose of the compound used were incapable of detecting a weak carcinogen (Longstaff et al., 1984).
How long did rats die from HFC-134A?
Rissolo and Zapp (1967) exposed rats to HFC-134a at concentrations of 750,000 ppm for 30 min. Two of four animals died. During exposure to the chemical, animals showed incoordination, pumping respiration, darkening of the eyes, unresponsiveness, cyanosis, convulsions, and death. Upon removal from exposure to HFC-134a, the surviving animals became coordinate within 5 min and appeared normal. Pulmonary congestion and edema were observed during necropsy of the two rats who died during exposure. Surviving rats were necropsied 14 days after exposure and showed no abnormalities.
What are some alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons?
Toxicity of Alternatives to Chlorofluorocarbons: HFC-134a and HCFC-123.
What are the properties of refrigerant?
The table is sortable by each of the following refrigerant properties (scroll right or reduce magnification to view more properties): 1 Type/Prefix (see legends) 2 ASHRAE number 3 IUPAC chemical name 4 molecular formula 5 CAS registry number / Blend Name 6 Atmospheric Lifetime in years 7 Semi-Empirical Ozone depletion potential 8 net Global warming potential over a 100-year time horizon 9 Occupational exposure limit / Permissible exposure limit in parts per million (volume per volume) over a time-weighted average (TWA) concentration for a normal eight-hour work day and a 40-hour work week 10 ASHRAE 34 Safety Group in Toxicity & Flammability (in Air @ 60 °C & 101.3 kPa) classing (see legends) 11 Refrigerant Concentration Limit / Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health in parts per million (volume per volume) & grams per cubic meter 12 Molecular mass in Atomic mass units 13 Normal Boiling Point (or Bubble & Dew Points for the Zeotrope (400)-series) (or Normal Boiling Point & Azeotropic Temperature for the Azeotrope (500)-series) at 101,325 Pa (1 atmosphere) in degrees Celsius 14 Critical temperature in degrees Celsius 15 Critical pressure (absolute) in kiloPascals
What does HOC mean in refrigeration?
HOC = Heat Of Combustion. Compounds used as refrigerants may be described using either the appropriate prefix above or with the prefixes "R-" or "Refrigerant.". Thus, CFC-12 may also be written as R-12 or Refrigerant 12. An alkene, olefin, or olefine is an unsaturated compound containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond.
How many refrigerant blends are there?
Since over 100,000 refrigerant blends are possible, this list should only have notable refrigerants and refrigerant blends.
Why do HFCs have zero ODP?
HFCs have zero ODP because they do not contain chlorine. A table of all ozone-depleting substances (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.html) shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers. (ODP), Global Warming Potential Global Warming Potential A number that refers to the amount of global warming caused by a substance.
What is the GWP of CFC-12?
CFC-12 has a GWP of 8,500, while CFC-11 has a GWP of 5,000. Various HCFCs and HFCs have GWPs ranging from 93 to 12,100. Water, a substitute in numerous end-uses, has a GWP of 0. A table of all ozone-depleting substances (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.html) shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers, and another table shows ...
What are the replacements for CFCs?
These gases are being replaced by other compounds: hydrochlorofluorocarbons, an interim replacement for CFCs that are also covered under the Montreal Protocol, and hydrofluorocarbons, which are covered under the Kyoto Protocol. All these substances are also greenhouse gases. See hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, ...
Overview
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone depletion potential and a lower 100-year global warming potential (1,430, compared to R-12's GWP of 10,900). It has the formula CF3CH2F and a boiling point of −2…
Uses
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane is a non-flammable gas used primarily as a "high-temperature" refrigerant for domestic refrigeration and automobile air conditioners. These devices began using 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane in the early 1990s as a replacement for the more environmentally harmful R-12. Retrofit kits are available to convert units that were originally R-12-equipped.
History and environmental impacts
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane was introduced in the early 1990s as a replacement for dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12), which has massive ozone depleting properties. Even though 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane has insignificant ozone depletion potential (ozone layer) and negligible acidification potential (acid rain), it has a 100-year global warming potential (GWP) of 1430 and an approximate atmospheric …
Production and reactions
Tetrafluoroethane is typically made by reacting trichloroethylene with hydrogen fluoride:
CHCl=CCl2 + 4 HF → CF3CH2F + 3 HCl
It reacts with butyllithium to give trifluorovinyl lithium:
CF3CH2F + 2 BuLi → CF2=CFLi + LiF + 2 BuH
Safety
Mixtures with air of the gas 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane are not flammable at atmospheric pressure and temperatures up to 100 °C (212 °F). However, mixtures with high concentrations of air at elevated pressure and/or temperature can be ignited. Contact of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane with flames or hot surfaces in excess of 250 °C (482 °F) may cause vapor decomposition and …
Medical use
For its medical uses, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane has the generic name norflurane. It is used as propellant for some metered dose inhalers. It is considered safe for this use. In combination with pentafluoropropane, it is used as a topical vapocoolant spray for numbing boils before curettage. It has also been studied as a potential inhalational anesthetic, but it is nonanaesthetic at doses used in inhalers.
See also
• List of refrigerants
• Dichlorodifluoromethane
• 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (data page)
• Tetrabromoethane
External links
• International Chemical Safety Card 1281
• European Fluorocarbons Technical Committee (EFCTC)
• MSDS at Oxford University
• Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 11, at inchem.org
R-134A Pressure & Temperature Chart
Points of Note
- Alright folks so we’ve gone over some of the basic facts about R-134a but now let’s take a look at some of the more interesting points about this refrigerant: 1. I mentioned this briefly above but R-134a was designed and began to see use as an alternative product to R-12 Freon, or Dichlorodifluoromethane. R-12 has been around since the 1930’s and was being used in auto…
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Happened to R-12?
- What is R-134a?
- Can I Buy R-134a Without a EPA 609 License?
- What Kind of Certification Do I Need to Work With R-134?
History of R-134A
- In order to understand the full history of R-134a we first have to look at it’s predecessor. Before R-134a there was R-12. R-12 was one of first mainstream refrigerants used throughout the world. In fact, R-12 is where the brand name of Freon comes from. In order to trace back it’s origins we have to go all the way back to the 1930’s and a partnership between General Motors and the Du…
Conclusion
- Regardless of what happens with these phase outs and phase downs I can be sure of one thing. R-134a is going to be around for a long time. Even if we switch over our new vehicles today there will still be vehicles manufactured last year that will be on the road twenty or thirty years from now. After all, there are still R-12 vehicles out there, right? In closing, R-134a has served it’s purp…
Sources