A refrigerant is a fluid that facilitates heat absorption and transfer within refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
This fluid circulates through the system, undergoing phase changes between liquid and vapor to transport heat from the cooled area to the external environment.
Desirable refrigerant properties include appropriate boiling points, significant latent heat capacity, chemical inertness, and non-toxicity.
Key refrigerants include:
1. Ammonia (R-717): Employed in industrial refrigeration and ice manufacturing facilities.
2. R-22 (Dichloro difluoro methane): Utilized in residential and commercial air conditioning.
Additional examples comprise R-134a, carbon dioxide (R-744), and the historically used R-12.