List of refrigerants explained

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

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:

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

Columns

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,[1] this list should only have notable refrigerants and refrigerant blends.

List

Type and flammability

Legends
Types / Prefixes!Type!!Meaning!!Atoms 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
PCCCl, C
HHalon/HaloalkaneBr, Cl (in some but not all), F, H (in some but not all), C
ASHRAE 34 Safety group
Higher Flammability
LFL or ETFL60 = 100 g/m3 OR HOC = 19 MJ/kg
A3B3
Lower Flammability
LFL or ETFL60 > 100 g/m3 & HOC < 19 MJ/kg
A2B2
Lower Flammability
LFL or ETFL60 > 100 g/m3 & HOC < 19 MJ/kg
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
Higher Toxicity
OEL < 400 ppm
LFL = Lower Flammability Limit
ETFL60 = Elevated Temperature Flame Limit @ 60 °C
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.
Educated Estimates

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Refrigerant blends to challenge hydrocarbon efficiencies. 22 December 2019.
  2. Myhre, G., D. Shindell, F.‐M. Bréon, W. Collins, J. Fuglestvedt, J. Huang, D. Koch, J.‐F. Lamarque, D. Lee, B. Mendoza, T. Nakajima, A. Robock, G. Stephens, T. Takemura and H. Zhang, 2013: Anthropogenic and Natural Radiative Forcing. In: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Stocker, T.F., D. Qin, G.‐K. Plattner, M. Tignor, S.K. Allen, J. Boschung, A. Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, US.
  3. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. UNEP, 2000.
  4. [Critical point (thermodynamics)#Table of liquid–vapor critical temperature and pressure for selected substances]
  5. 10.1021/jp407823k . 24079521 . 1,2-Dichlorohexafluoro-cyclobutane (1,2-c-C4F6Cl2, R-316c) a Potent Ozone Depleting Substance and Greenhouse Gas: Atmospheric Loss Processes, Lifetimes, and Ozone Depletion and Global Warming Potentials for the (E) and (Z) Stereoisomers . The Journal of Physical Chemistry A . 117 . 43 . 11049–11065 . 2013 . Papadimitriou . Vassileios C. . McGillen . Max R. . Smith . Shona C. . Jubb . Aaron M. . Portmann . Robert W. . Hall . Bradley D. . Fleming . Eric L. . Jackman . Charles H. . Burkholder . James B. . 2013JPCA..11711049P . 2060/20140012685 . 25162740 . free .
  6. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter2.pdf IPCC Assessment Report 4 (AR4) 2007, Table 2.14, page 212
  7. Web site: Solstice® N40 (R-448A) European Refrigerants. 2020-12-13. www.honeywell-refrigerants.com.
  8. Web site: Solstice N40 TDS.
  9. Web site: Forane® 449A (XP40) Refrigerant - Product Information . Arkema . 2020-10-14 . 2020-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201016090957/https://www.forane.com/en/forane-refrigerants/our-products/product-viewer/Forane-449A-XP40/ . dead .
  10. Web site: Opteon™ XL55 Refrigerant - Product Information . Chemours . 2020-10-13 .
  11. Web site: Solstice® L41y (R-452B) Refrigerant - Brochure . Honeywell . 2020-10-13.
  12. Web site: Features and uses of RS-70 . Gas Servei . 2022-07-19.
  13. Web site: Opteon™ XL40 Refrigerant - Product Information . Chemours . 2020-10-13 .
  14. Web site: Opteon™ XL41 Refrigerant - Product Information . Chemours . 2020-10-13.
  15. Web site: Carrier Introduces Puron Advance™ . 19 December 2018 . Carrier . 2020-10-13.
  16. Web site: Opteon™ XL20 Refrigerant - Product Information . Chemours . 2020-10-13 .
  17. Web site: Solstice® L40X (R-455A) European Refrigerants . www.honeywell-refrigerants.com . en-US . 2018-09-24.
  18. Web site: Fluorinated alternatives in residential and light commercial applications - Forane Refrigerants . Arkema . 2020-10-13.
  19. Web site: 2020-06-12. Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Listing of Substitutes Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program. 2020-07-01. Federal Register.
  20. Web site: Federal Register :: Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Determination 33 for Significant New Alternatives Policy Program. www.federalregister.gov. en-US. 2019-08-16.
  21. Web site: Solstice® N41 (R-466A) . 2024-03-17 . advancedmaterials.honeywell.com . en-NZ.
  22. https://www.opteon.com/en/-/media/files/opteon/opteon-xp30-product-information.pdf?la=en&rev=dbb567acf6554988840dff8d3c725d97
  23. Web site: Trane adopts new low GWP refrigerant R514A. 15 June 2016.
  24. Web site: Honeywell launches R515B, its latest nonflammable HFO, as R134a replacement. 4 February 2020.
  25. Web site: HC Refrigerant.
  26. http://hpc2017.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/O.3.3.4-Novel-Working-Fluid-HFO-1336mzzE-for-Use-in-Waste-Heat-Recovery-Applications.pdf
  27. Web site: EPA Adds SP34E to SNAP Program.
  28. Web site: ICSC 0687 - VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE. www.ilo.org. en. 2018-06-18.
  29. Web site: 2017-10-23. New HCFO refrigerant is ASHRAE listed. 2021-02-06. Cooling Post. en-GB.
  30. Web site: NEC develops cooling technology for data centers that reduces air conditioning power by 50%. 2021-02-06. NEC. en.
  31. Web site: NEC, NTT develop data center cooling system using new low pressure refrigerant. 2021-02-06. www.datacenterdynamics.com. en.
  32. https://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/new-hcfo-refrigerant-ashrae-listed/
  33. Web site: Everitt . Neil . 2014-02-03 . IPCC confirms HFO GWPs are less than 1 . 2024-09-16 . Cooling Post . en-GB.
  34. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2524&context=iracc