Classification, Applications, Identification of Common Refrigerants and Impact of Purity on Refrigeration Systems

In recent years, the refrigerant market has been in chaos. One of the most abhorrent phenomena is that unscrupulous merchants pass off inferior refrigerants as high - quality ones and sell them to users. As a result, a large number of inferior refrigerants flood the market, causing serious harm to consumers and market order. Some merchants clearly state that genuine refrigerants, due to high cost pressures, find it difficult to compete with inferior ones. Using inferior refrigerants not only affects the operating performance and stability of the system but, more seriously, can cause damage to system components and compressors. Next, Lengzui Jun will sort out the classification, applications, identification of common refrigerants, and the impact of purity on refrigeration systems for you.

Classification of Common Refrigerants
I. HFC Series Refrigerants
R134a, R410A, R407C, R417A, R404A, R507, R23, R508A, R508B, R152a

Main Applications: R508A is mainly used to replace R13, R23, and R503. It has features such as being clean, low - toxicity, non - flammable, and having good refrigeration performance. It is widely used in ultra - low - temperature refrigeration systems, such as medical refrigeration and scientific research refrigeration. Packed in cylinders with net weights of 10kg and 20kg. It can also be shipped in ISO containers or transport tanks according to user requirements; the packaging cargo category is 2.2.
9. R508B
R508B is a chlorine - free azeotropic mixed refrigerant. At normal temperature and pressure, it is a colorless gas, and when stored in a cylinder, it is a compressed liquefied gas. Its ODP is 0, so R508B is an environmentally friendly refrigerant that does not damage the atmospheric ozone layer.
Main Applications: R508B is mainly used to replace R13, R23, and R503. It has features such as being clean, low - toxicity, non - flammable, and having good refrigeration performance. It is widely used in ultra - low - temperature refrigeration systems, such as medical refrigeration and scientific research refrigeration. Packed in cylinders with net weights of 10kg and 20kg. It can also be shipped in ISO containers or transport tanks according to user requirements; the packaging cargo category is 2.2.
10. R152a (Difluoroethane)
HFC - 152a (1,1 - Difluoroethane, CH3CHF2), with a molecular weight of 66.1, a boiling point of - 24.7℃, a critical temperature of 113.5℃, a critical pressure of 4.58MPa, a combustion limit in air of 5.1 - 17.1% (V/V), and an ozone - depleting potential value (ODP) of 0.
Main Applications: It is mainly used as a refrigerant, blowing agent, aerosol, and cleaning agent. It is also an important component of mixed working fluids. Available in 18kg/bottle and 640kg/bottle.
II. HCFC Series Refrigerants
R22, R123, R124, R141b, R142b, R402A, R402B, R408A, R409A

33kPa, dielectric constant (25℃, 0.5MPa) 1.0006.
It has a relatively high volatility and is one of the most stable organic compounds. At 900 degrees Celsius, it does not react with steel, nickel, tungsten, or molybdenum. It only decomposes slowly at the carbon arc temperature. It is slightly soluble in water, and its solubility is 0.0015% (by weight) at 25 degrees Celsius and 0.1MPa. However, when burned with flammable gases, it decomposes to produce toxic fluorides. Its hazard category is Class 2.2 non - flammable gas.
Main Applications: Tetrafluoromethane is currently the most widely used plasma etching gas in the microelectronics industry. Its high - purity gas and the mixture of tetrafluoromethane high - purity gas with high - purity oxygen can be widely used in the etching of thin - film materials such as silicon, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, phosphosilicate glass, and tungsten. It is also widely used in aspects such as surface cleaning of electronic devices, production of solar cells, laser technology, gas - phase insulation, ultra - low - temperature refrigerants, leak detection agents, and detergents in printed circuit production.
Packaging and Transportation: Tetrafluoromethane does not corrode metals and alloys. It can be transported in seamless steel cylinders and aluminum alloy containers. The filling pressure is usually less than 12.5MPa. It is transported as a compressed gas. The steel cylinders are inspected every five years. Abroad, it is stipulated that it can be transported by cars, trains, ships, and airplanes. Currently, there are no such regulations in China. Packed in steel cylinders (14MPa) (DOT - 3AA GB - 5099), with valves (CGA - 580/590, QF - 2), 32kg/48.8L, 30kg/43.3L, 5kg/8L, 2.5kg/4L.
2. PFC - 116 (Hexafluoroethane, Perfluoroethane)
It is a colorless, non - toxic, non - corrosive, non - flammable, and extremely stable liquefied gas. Molecular weight: 138.01, critical temperature: 68°F, critical pressure: 432 Psia, boiling point: - 108.8°F (- 78.2℃) @1 atm, Hazard: Heating generates toxic by - products, CAS No.: 76 - 16 - 4, specific gravity (Air = 1): 3.8, gas density: 0.361lb/cf @NTP.
Main Applications: Hexafluoroethane is mainly used as a gaseous dielectric and a dry etching agent for manufacturing integrated circuits. It is also often used as a component of ultra - low - temperature mixed refrigerants. Packed in 40kg/bottles, in high - pressure steel cylinders. Safety Precautions: Hexafluoroethane is a non - flammable, colorless, odorless bottled liquefied compressed gas with a pressure of its vapor pressure 418 psig at 70°F. When its content increases to make the oxygen content less than 19.5%, it can cause asphyxiation.

Contact with the liquid can cause frostbite. Avoid breathing the gas. Self - contained breathing apparatus should be equipped in rescue work.
3. PFC - 218 (Octafluoropropane, Perfluoropropane)
Octafluoropropane, alias: Perfluoropropane, molecular formula: C3F8, English name: octafluoropropane, perfluoropropane, Halocarbon218. It is a colorless, non - flammable gas. It is a low - pressure liquefied gas at normal temperature. It has an inert chemical property and good thermal stability. When in contact with glass, silicon steel, and mild steel at 280℃ for more than 6 months, it neither corrodes nor decomposes significantly. During the handling of octafluoropropane, it can be treated as a non - toxic gas. However, when burned together with flammable gases, it decomposes to produce toxic fluorides.
Main Applications: It is applied in plasma etching in the microelectronics industry, surface cleaning of devices, carbon isotope separation working fluid, low - temperature refrigeration, medical gas, gas insulation, etc. Packaging and Storage and Transportation: Octafluoropropane does not corrode metals and alloys. It can be transported in steel and alloy containers. It is transported as a low - pressure liquefied gas. The gas cylinders are inspected once every five years. Abroad, it is stipulated that it can be transported by cars, trains, ships, and airplanes. Currently, there are no such regulations in China. Toxicity and Protection: It can be regarded as a non - toxic gas, but when burned together with flammable gases, it decomposes to produce toxic fluorides. In case of poisoning, the victim should be immediately transferred to a pollution - free area. Artificial respiration should be given if necessary, and a doctor should be called in time.
V. HC Series Refrigerants
R170, R290, R600a, R1270