Thermophysical-property needs for the environmentally acceptable halocarbon refrigerants

Abstract

The need for and uses of thermodynamic and transport properties in the selection of working fluids for the vapor compression cycle and in equipment design are reviewed. A list of hydrogen-containing halocarbons, as well as their mixtures, is presented as alternatives to the environmentally harmful, fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons. These fluids range from well-characterized, widely available refrigerants to materials available only by custom synthesis about which very little is known. Data priorities for these fluids are presented; most essential are critical point, vapor pressure, liquid density, ideal-gas heat capacity, and vapor p-V-T data. A critical need exists for these data on a number of candidate working fluids in order not to lose the opportunity to select the best set of future refrigerants.