List of refrigerants

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This is a list of refrigerants, sorted by their ASHRAE-designated numbers, commonly known as R numbers. Many modern refrigerants are human-made halogenated gases, especially fluorinated gases and chlorinated gases, that are frequently referred to as Freon (a registered trademark of Chemours).

Freons are responsible for the formation of the ozone hole. The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol are international agreements that oblige signatory countries to limit the emission of ozone-depleting gases.

Numbering scheme

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According to ASHRAE standard 34, the R-number of a chemical refrigerant is assigned systematically according to its molecular structure and has between two and four digits. If there are carbon-carbon multiple bonds, there are four digits in all: the number of these bonds is the first digit and the number of carbon atoms minus one (C-1) is next. If there is more than one carbon atom but no multiple bonds, there are three digits, and the number of carbon atoms minus one is the first digit. If there is only one carbon atom, then there are only two digits. The last two digits are always the number of hydrogen atoms plus one (H+1), followed by the number of fluorine atoms. Any other atoms attached to the carbons are assumed to be chlorine atoms. For example, R-22 has one carbon atom, one hydrogen atom (2−1 = 1), two fluorine atoms, and one chlorine atom (4−2−1 = 1), so it is chlorodifluoromethane, while R-134 has two carbon atoms (2−1 = 1), two hydrogen atoms (3−1 = 2), four fluorine atoms, and no chlorine atoms (6−2−4 = 0), so it is one of the tetrafluoroethanes. This basic scheme is modified as follows:

  • Capital letters "B" and "I" are suffixed, together with atom counts, if chlorine atoms have been replaced with bromine or iodine.
  • If there are two carbons, the isomer without suffix is the most symmetrical; after this, lower-case suffixed letters "a", "b", ..., are added, moving forwards through the alphabet as symmetry decreases.
  • If there are more than two carbons, a more complex system of suffixed letters and possibly numbers is used to distinguish isomers, when necessary.
  • The suffixes "(Z)" and "(E)" may be used to differentiate (Z)- and (E)- (cis- and trans-) isomers.
  • For larger molecules, numerical "digits" exceeding 9 may occur; in this case, these numbers are separated by dashes.
  • For a cyclic carbon skeleton, the prefixed capital letter "C" is used.
  • For an oxygen-containing refrigerant (an ether), the prefixed capital letter "E" is used.[1]:§4

There are separate numbering schemes for zeotropic and azeotropic blends, organic chemicals which don't fit into the scheme above, and inorganic chemicals:

  • Zeotropic blends are numbered starting with 400. Suffixed capital letters "A", "B", ... may be used to distinguish different blends with the same constitutents.
  • Azeotropic blends are numbered similarly to zeotropic blends, but starting with 500.
  • Other organic chemicals may be numbered starting with 600. Suffixed lowercase letters "a", "b", ..., may be used to distinguish isomers.
  • Inorganic chemicals are given numbers equalling 700 plus their molecular weight, if the weight is less than 100, or 7000 plus the molecular weight otherwise. Suffixed capital letters "A", "B", ... may be used to distinguish different chemicals with the same molecular weight.[1]:§4

Columns

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The table is sortable by each of the following refrigerant properties (scroll right or reduce magnification to view more properties):

Since over 100,000 refrigerant blends are possible,[2] this list should only have notable refrigerants and refrigerant blends.

List

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More information Type, ASHRAE number ...
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Type and flammability

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More information Type, Meaning ...
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Types / Prefixes[75]
TypeMeaningAtoms in the Molecule
CFCChlorofluorocarbonCl, F, C
CFOChlorofluoroolefin
HCFCHydrochlorofluorocarbonH, Cl, F, C
HCFOHydrochlorofluoroolefin
HFCHydrofluorocarbonH, F, C
HFOHydrofluoroolefin
HCCHydrochlorocarbonH, Cl, C
HCOHydrochloroolefin
HCHydrocarbonH, C
HOOlefin (Alkene)
PFCPerfluorocarbonF, C
PFOPerfluoroolefin
PCCPerchlorocarbonCl, C
HHalon/HaloalkaneBr, Cl (in some but not all), F, H (in some but not all), C
Safety Classification of Refrigerants[76]
Flammability in Air @ 60 °C & 101.3 kPaASHRAE 34 Safety group
Higher Flammability
LFL or ETFL60 = 100 g/m3 OR HOC = 19 MJ/kg[77]
A3B3
Lower Flammability
LFL or ETFL60 > 100 g/m3 & HOC < 19 MJ/kg[77]
A2B2
Lower Flammability
LFL or ETFL60 > 100 g/m3 & HOC < 19 MJ/kg[77]
with a maximum burning velocity of = 10 cm/s
A2LB2L
No flame PropagationA1B1
Flammability in Air @ 60 °C & 101.3 kPaLower Toxicity
OEL ≥ 400 ppm[29]
Higher Toxicity
OEL < 400 ppm[29]

LFL = Lower Flammability Limit
ETFL60 = Elevated Temperature Flame Limit @ 60 °C
HOC = Heat Of Combustion

Close

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.[78]

Educated Estimates
  1. Some CFCs are assumed to be similar in terms of Semi-Empirical ODP being one.[4][12]
  2. Some HCFCs are assumed to be similar in terms of Semi-Empirical ODP.[4][15]
  3. Some HCFCs are assumed to be similar in terms of Atmospheric Lifetime[3][4] & net GWP over a 100-year time horizon.[3][4]
  4. All HFCs, HFOs, PFCs & PFOs are assumed to be similar in terms of Semi-Empirical ODP being zero.[14][17]
  5. Most hydrocarbons are assumed to be similar to Methane in terms of Atmospheric Lifetime being 12 ± 3 years[3] & Semi-Empirical ODP being < 0(smog chemistry).[20]
  6. Pentane, Isopentane & Ethoxyethane (Diethyl ether) is assumed to have a net GWP over 100-yr to be 4 ± 2.
  7. Air, nitrogen, oxygen & the noble gases are assumed to have an unlimited Atmospheric Lifetime, a Semi-Empirical ODP of zero (except oxygen being slightly less than zero) & net GWP over 100-yr to be zero (except air being the sum of its parts).

See also

References

Notes

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