A refrigerant gas is a working fluid used in refrigeration and AC system that goes through a process of thermal exchange to move heat from one place to another by undergoing a phase change, typically from a liquid to a gas and back again. The fluid is converted into low pressure gas which removes heat from an area at a lower temperature and releases it in an area at a higher temperature. This is a heat transfer process.
Refrigerant gas was known as Freon. In the 1920s, Thomas Midgley Jr. and his team at General Motors developed CFCs refrigerant with trade name Freon. And that was their first refrigerant produced, but nowadays there are more of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) refrigerants produced which is safer to the ozone layer.
Refrigerant Gas Types Available in Nigeria Market
There are several types of refrigerant gases available in Nigeria. The most common refrigerant gases include R-22, R-134, and R-410. Below are the major refrigerant gas and its uses in Nigeria.
- R134a is a commonly used hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant. It is used in automotive air conditioning systems and certain refrigeration applications.
- R-410A is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant that is popularly used in residential and commercial air conditioning systems. R-410A is widely used in new air conditioning systems, especially in split-system central air conditioning units and heat pumps. R-410A is the most common R-22 Freon substitute. R-410 is considered to be more environmentally friendly.
- R-22 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerant that is used in air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump systems. It is a widely used refrigerant, however, due to its contribution to ozone depletion, R-22 has been gradually phased out in favor of more environmentally friendly refrigerants, such as R-410A, R-134a, R-407C, and others.
- R-404A is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant blend used primary in various refrigeration systems such as commercial and industrial refrigeration. It’s made up of three components: R-125, R-143a, and R-134a. While it’s not as common in AC systems as it is in refrigeration, R-404A might be found in some specialized or industrial air conditioning units.
- R-407C is a popular HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerant blend used as a replacement for R-22 in various AC and refrigeration applications. R-407C has gained popularity as the R-22 Freon substitute.
- R-507 is a popular hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant blend composed of two components: R-125 and R-143a. Its properties make it suitable for maintaining lower temperatures efficiently. It’s primarily used in medium and low-temperature refrigeration application such as large-scale refrigeration and Industrial cooling
- R-32 is a type of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant that is commonly used in residential and commercial air conditioning systems. It is less commonly used in refrigeration and automotive air conditioning It has gained popularity as an alternative to other refrigerants due to its relatively lower global warming potential (GWP).
- R-290 is a type of hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerant composed of propane. It is commonly used in domestic refrigeration in some newer models of refrigerators and freezers. It can be used in some small scale commercial refrigeration, window air conditioners and certain types of chillers. It’s used in various cooling and refrigeration applications due to its environmentally friendly properties and excellent thermodynamic performance.
- R-417A is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant blend consisting of R-125, R-134a, and R-600a. It’s used as a replacement for R-22, which is being phased out due to its ozone-depleting potential. It is used air conditioning systems and refrigeration units initially designed for R-22 refrigerant. It is suitable for medium-temperature applications, which makes it suitable for a range of cooling purposes where moderate cooling is required without extremely low temperatures.
You can read more of refrigerant gas in Wikipedia.