Hydrocarbons

For many years, hydrocarbons are used as refrigerant for refrigeration installations and heat pumps. Because of the F-Gas regulation, which bans all refrigerants, with ozone depletion potential, hydrocarbons became very popular; also as they have no impact on the greenhouse effect. As propane hasn’t any corrosive effect against copper and aluminium neither, many components are made out of this raw material.

There are several types that form part of the hydrocarbons family. Isobutane (R600a), propane (R290) and propene (R1270) are used as natural refrigerants. While isobutane is used mainly in household devices, propene is often used commercial refrigeration industry. Propene is particularly suitable for freezing plants in industrial applications.

However, propane’s high flammability in combination with the easy volatility as well as the high solubility in water and the absolute odourlessness are considered as one of the biggest challenges of hydrocarbons. This calls for increased safety measures and is perceived as an obstacle for systems with larger filling charges. In May 2019, the limit for the maximum permissible charge for category A3 refrigerants (non-toxic, flammable) was raised from 150g to 500g for refrigeration circulations. This will further promote the spread of hydrocarbons. When hydrocarbons are used inside buildings with higher filling charges, a machinery-room with additional, country-specific explosion protection measures and specially designed emergency ventilation is required.

Frigo-Consulting used propane as refrigerant within process cooling (cold water installations) and for sub-cooling gas cooler’s output of transcritical CO₂-installations in climatic hot regions (e.g. South of Spain). Not unmentioned should remain the fact that even air condition installations have been put in place successfully.