Ziel
To investigate a number of refrigerants on their suitability to replace presently used refrigerants such as R12, R502 and R22 which attack the ozone layer and for which the utilization in future may be strongly limited.
R12, R502 and to a less extend R22 used in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment and in heat pumps attack the ozone layer. The use of R12 and R502 is strongly restricte by the Montreal protocol and also R22 is under attack. New refrigerants generally result in lower efficiencies of equipment and a higher cost; in addition lubricants have to be identified which are compatible with these new refrigerants.
In this project a number of refrigerants are investigated on their suitability to replace R12, R502 and R22. It is proposed to examine single fluids and non-azeotropic mixtures of fluids.
Emphasis is placed on establishing a clear understanding of the properties of the candidate fluids and their compatibility with different lubricating oils. The fluids are tested under realistic operating conditions; and the design implications are examined for new and existing plants and for different application fields taking into account energy efficiency.
The distribution of activities is outlined below. The universities of Ulster and Hannover carry out much of the fundamental work into identification and properties of materials, development of equations of state, oil-refrigerant interaction behaviour, etc. TNO and ITF concentrate on the more immediate commercially and industrially relevant aspects of system design and testing, actual cycle simulation, etc. ICI strongly supports the programme and is providing materials and know-how.