A study to determine the existence of an Azeotropic R-22 'Drop-In' substitute

The reduction in chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) production and the scheduled phase-out of these ozone depleting refrigerants requires the development and determination of environmentally safe refrigerants for use in heat pumps, water chillers, air conditioners, and refrigerators. Azeotropic mixtures are attractive as alternative refrigerants because they behave very nearly as pure materials. A simple correlative scheme that allows one to judge whether or not an azeotrope is likely in a binary refrigerant mixture is discussed. This paper presents laboratory and computer simulation model evaluation of two of the azeotropic refrigerant mixtures which are identified, HFC-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) with R-C290 (Propane) and HFC-134a with R-600a (Isobutane), in a generic heat pump apparatus. A third azeotropes mixture, HFC-134a with R-C290 (Cyclopropane) is examined by computer simulation only.