Performance of a new refrigeration cycle using refrigerant mixture R32/R134a for residential air-conditioner applications (2023)

FAQs

Can you use R134a in a home AC system? ›

R134 is manufactured and sold by DuPont under the trademarked name Suva. The trademark label itself reads: "Refrigerant for Automotive Air Conditioners." It was not designed for use in residential air conditioning systems.

The GWP of R32 is 675, whereas the GWP of R410A is 2,088. For comparison, the GWP of R-508B is 13,396. Furthermore, R32 is about 20% more efficient than R-410A. This brings down operating and maintenance costs.

R32 has a higher compressor discharge temperature than R410A, and will increase wear on the compressor, reducing its life significantly.

R32, better known as difluoromethane, is an organic gas, much like R410A. With an ODP of 0, the two gases are also equally harmless to the ozone layer. Still, R32 has a GWP of 675, which is significantly lower than those of R22 and R410A. That makes it a seemingly better alternative.

R134a reacts with water to form hydrofluoric acid which damages the internal A/C components.

Many residential and commercial system use copper lines. R-134a is highly corrosive to copper, and causes copper plating to non copper parts in the system.

The average coefficient of performance (COP) obtained using R152a is 4.7% higher than that of R134a while average COP of R32 is 8.5% lower than that of R134a.

The working (operating) pressure of R32 is about 12 – 26 Bar (174-377 Psi).

R32 systems use up to 20% less refrigerant than R410A, making them more efficient and cost less to operate. Ozone Depletion Potential of 0. Easier to recycle than R410A, as R32 is a single component refrigerant.

In the conventional refrigeration cycle (CRC), the mixture R32/R134a has a close performance to that is obtainable with pure refrigerant R22. However, the mixture R32/R134a in the NRC will result in a better performance.

What are the problems with R32 refrigerant? ›

Toxic substances like hydrogen fluoride and carbon dioxide are created when R32, like all fluorinated refrigerants, is burnt. Asphyxiation and freeze burns are also a risk.

No. R32 is not suitable as a drop-in replacement for R410A and must only be used in systems specifically designed for R32.

R32 and R410A are the most commonly used refrigerant in the residential air conditioners having zero ODP, R410A is having higher GWP than R32. R32 is slightly flammable and because of risk of hazard, R410A was developed with lower flammability hazard with the mixture of R32 and R125.

The most commonly mixed refrigerants in the field are the replacements for R-22 — R-427A, R-438A, R-422D, and R-407C — which are often combined with the remaining R-22 in the system, said Maiorana.

Relatively, R32 has very low GWP compared to R22, and therefore leading R32 to be a potential substitute for R22.

HFC-134a will no longer be approved for use in new light-duty vehicles manufactured or sold in the United States as of model year 2021 as a result of EPA's July 2015 final rule under SNAP (July 20, 2015, 80 FR 42870 ).

R134a may take up to 10 years to break down into a non-greenhouse gas. Twenty-five years ago, this was seen as considerable improvement over the 100-year-plus lifespan of R12. But R1234yf is a further advancement over R134a, as it takes only three to four years to break down in the upper atmosphere.

R134a is a very safe refrigerant with an ASHRAE safety classification of A1. It is not flammable and has very low toxicity levels. Classified as A1, R134a has no flammability issues or whatsoever.

R134a has fairly good dielectric properties as it has high thermal stability, low boiling point, and chemical inertness against the construction materials used; and is non-toxic and non-flammable. . A dielectric substance in its gaseous state can be used to prevent electric discharges.

Also, R-134a is a very safe refrigerant with an ASHRAE safety classification of A1. This means it is not flammable and has very low toxicity levels. Because HFC-134a has no chlorine in its molecule, it has a zero ozone-depletion potential (ODP) and doesn't deplete the stratospheric ozone layer.

What refrigerant will replace R134A? ›

There are three refrigerants that can be used to replace R-134a: R-1234yf, R-152a, and R-744.

Although there are various types of refrigerants, R-32 is a new refrigerant currently receiving the most interest. Because R-32 efficiently conveys heat, it can reduce electricity consumption up to approximately 10% compared to that of air conditioners using refrigerant R-22.

Notably, the revered status of the R32 is due mainly to the exploits of the R32 GT-R on and off the race tracks. Amazingly, the R32 GT-R is powered by the awesome RB26DETT engine that was designed to produce around 500 horsepower in the racing versions but was understated to 276 horses in production trims.

R32 is a candidate to replace R-410 in commercial comfort. It has a GWP of 675, good properties making it suitable to meet the minimum efficiency performance standards. The R32 refrigerant has comparable properties to R410A. The normal boiling point and the critical temperatures are -51.7 °C and 78.1 °C.

For a 1.5-ton AC, 700 to 900 g of gas is required whereas around 400 to 600 g of gas is required for a 1-ton AC. However, you need to check which gas you're filling as R22 requires 60 to 65 PSI, R32 requires 110 to 120 PSI, and R410A requires 110 to 120 PSI.

R32 is suitable for industrial refrigerant applications, air conditioning systems of residential buildings and air source heat pumps. It has already been used to replace R410A, which is commonly used in air source heat pumps.

R32 is a chlorine-free, ozone-safe fluorocarbon whose boiling point is -52°C. R32 is a component of R410a, a blend refrigerant widely used in developed coun- tries as a main alternative to HCfC-22, an ozone depleting refrigerant.

The ozone depletion potential (ODP) of R134a is 0, and R22 is 0.06, which is the reason why R134a has become an environmentally friendly refrigerant. The specific volume of R134a is 1.47 times than R22, and the latent heat of evaporation is small, so the cooling capacity of R134a units is only 60% of R22 units.

Can you mix r134 and R134a? ›

You cannot mix refrigerant types, and putting the wrong refrigerant in your car will cause damage to the air conditioning system! If you're not sure which kind of refrigerant your vehicle takes, DIY A/C charging may not be for you.

Working pressures for R32 are very similar to R410A and, when charging, R32 is easier to handle, says Daikin, as, unlike R410A, it can be charged in both a gas and a liquid state.

Having too much refrigerant in your AC can damage the compressor. This can happen because the excess refrigerant will likely collect inside the compressor and cause subcooling, wherein temperatures are below normal. Furthermore, the extra refrigerant can flood the compressor and damage its mechanical parts.

Failure to Maintain Temperature Levels

While there are many different potential causes of compressor failure, high compressor discharge temperatures represent one of the most common problems when it comes to commercial refrigeration.

It has a lower toxicity, which is good for both human health and the wider environment. It is less flammable, making it a safer alternative. It has a high energy efficiency, so will not increase your energy bills. It is easy to handle and can be reused, increasing its environmental credentials.

ECO-32 is a blend of high purity propane R290 and ethane R170. It is a reduced global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerant. It is designed to replace R410a and R32 in most stationary residential and commercial air conditioning systems.

Yet even they have reported phasing out R-32 in 2023 for an alternative with even lower GWP scores. Still other refrigerant alternatives that can meet the new environmental standards are under development such as R-466a by Honeywell, the first nonflammable, low-GWP option.

R-454b Will Be the New (New) Refrigerant Starting January 1st, 2023.

An environmentally more benign refrigerant for replacing refrigerant R410A includes a majority portion of refrigerant R32 and a minority portion of refrigerant R134a, the volumetric capacity of the replacement refrigerant permitting it to be used as a near or exact drop-in replacement for refrigerant R410A in terms of ...

There are two main categories of refrigerants that residential AC systems use. These are R-22 (Freon) and R-410A (Puron). There are other refrigerants that are used in the commercial HVAC industry, but today we're focusing on the types used in residential HVAC.

Can I use car refrigerant in my home AC? ›

No, they are not interchangable. The gauges are marked with specific temperatures and pressures that correspond to the refrigerant you're using. You can't check the charge on a home unit with an auto gauge set, and vice versa.

Alternative refrigerants

A few popular R22 alternatives are R410A, R134A, R407C, R407A, MO99, and RS-44b. This type of refrigerant is safe for the environment, affordable, and easy to store, use, and transport.

While both R134A and R410A are hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant gases Dubai that are ecologically friendly, they are not the same. R134A is a pure refrigerant that is occasionally used in mixes, whereas R410A is a blend in and of itself.

There are three refrigerants that can be used to replace R-134a: R-1234yf, R-152a, and R-744.

The general guideline used when calculating the amount of Freon in a residential A/C unit is 2-4 pounds per ton of cooling. For example, if you install a new A/C system rated for a five-ton load, the system will require 10-20 pounds of refrigerant.

Freon (which is really just a particular brand of refrigerant) lasts forever. It's not like gas in car; it does not get “used up.” You see, your air conditioner's refrigerant system is a “closed/sealed system,” meaning that it does not allow refrigerant to escape in any way.

Has your car's A/C system lost its cool? Refrigerant can leak slowly from your car's air conditioning system over time, but recharging the system so it once again blows cold air is an easy DIY task and takes just about 15 minutes.

Under EPA regulations, only a certified professional can recharge your home's HVAC system. You should never try to recharge the A/C yourself, even if you have a home air conditioner recharging kit. The refrigerant used can be harmful to you and the environment if it's not handled properly.

R-22 is a high pressure refrigerant and R-134a low pressure refrigerant. By charging a R-134a system with R-22 the compressor displacement changes causing hi compression ratios, high discharge line temperatures. Compressor overheating and tripping on the overload. If not corrected the pump will fail.