Air Conditioning Transformer – Chemical Products.

Refrigerant gas is a chemical product used in refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and heating, ventilating and air conditioning units (HVAC). These gases, which have very low evaporation points, are condensed under pressure to chill the air. Through a process of repeatedly evaporating and condensing the gasses, heat is pulled out of the air and the temperature inside the room or unit is reduced. Different types of refrigerant gases include chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), perfluorocarbon (PFC), and blends made from ammonia and carbon dioxide.

The first refrigerators built from the 1800’s until the 1920’s primarily used toxic gases such as ammonia (NH3), methyl chloride (CH3Cl), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Unfortunately, the units occasionally leaked and caused several deaths, which prompted the refrigeration industry to put forth a concerted effort to find a safer refrigerant gas. The result was the discovery of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gas, which was a mixture of chlorine, fluorine and carbons. Freon® became the trademark name for a CFC gas that was primarily used as a refrigerant. This gas was colorless, odorless, nonflammable and non-toxic, and soon became the predominant refrigerant gas.

In the 1970’s, scientists discovered that when CFCs leaked into the atmosphere, a chemical change occurred as a result of exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the Sun, resulting in a greenhouse effect and depletion of the ozone. Since that time, Freon® has been banned in many countries throughout North America and the European Union. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Air Act established strict guidelines for the installation, repair, recovery and recycling of refrigerant gas. The European Union (EU) has also enacted strict controls through the EU F-gas regulations.

Some applications have replaced CFCs with HCFCs, which are a mixture of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine and carbon. These have a shorter life when exposed to the atmosphere, resulting in less potential damage to the ozone. Another popular refrigerant gas is HFC, which contains no chlorine and is thought to have absolutely no negative effect on the ozone. PFCs are man-made chemicals composed of only fluorine and carbon ions, and are also considered ozone-safe. These replacement refrigerant gases still cause environmental concerns if they leak into the atmosphere because they are considered greenhouse gases and may contribute to climate change.