As you probably know, matter can exist in three states—solid, liquid, and gas. But in order for refrigeration to work, you need something that has a low boiling point, something that exists as a gas at room temperature and can be easily pressurized into a liquid so that, when it is allowed to expand, it immediately boils at room temperature and cools.
Because of this, in the early s, a new refrigerant based on a chlorofluorocarbon CFC , specifically dichlorodifluoromethane, was developed. It became known as R12 or Freon. And it was safe—neither poisonous to breathe, nor flammable. In fact, R12 was used for many years as a propellant in a variety of aerosol products and sprayed directly into the air, and it is closely related to the halon used in fire extinguishers.
By international agreement in the Montreal Protocol , the use and production of CFCs such as R12 began to be phased out, with automobile manufacturers required to stop using it by the end of the model year. International manufacturing of new R12 ceased in , but existing R12 can still be reclaimed and purified.
Both claims are demonstrably untrue. In the automotive world, the replacement for R12 was tetrafluoroethane, a hydrofluorocarbon HFC branded as Ra. The molecule size of Ra is smaller than that of R12, so there was concern that Ra could leak out through the hoses and flare fittings that R12 systems used.
Ra systems operate at higher discharge-side pressures than R12, which can cause compressor seals to leak. In addition, there was the lubricant issue. So the oil must be compatible with the refrigerant. The advantage of ester oil is that it works with both R12 as well as Ra, so you can fill the system with it and then use either refrigerant. Note also that, unlike mineral oil, both PAG oil and ester oil are hygroscopic—that is, they absorb water. This is why it is crucially important that Ra systems be properly evacuated pumped down to boil off any moisture and kept sealed.
Use your wrench to close the service valve that you will see on the condensing unit's low-pressure side. Now, close the high-pressure side's service valve just slightly. Can you still buy r22 condensers? If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it probably uses R Well, it turns out that R22 is very dangerous to the environment.
That's why it's being phased out as per regulations from the EPA. R22 can no longer be imported or manufactured in the U. Can I use r22 in my car? However, R22 requires the use of barrier hoses, which older R12 cars may not have. What is the best replacement for r22 refrigerant? The best replacement for R Freon is usually Rc. If a system has R22 in it already you cannot use a replacement refrigerant to simply add to the R Can you replace r22 condenser with ra?
RA on the other hand is a hydrofluorocarbon HFC. CFCs like R12 is known to have a harmful effect on the ozone layer of the earth, and contribute towards global warming. This is also the reason why R12 was banned. You must be certified to purchase R12, and you must also have an R recharge hose that will help you load it into your vehicle. This certification is the EPA But even apart from the legal jargon, continuing to use R12 has moral obligations. You have to know that all uses of R12 will eventually end up in the atmosphere for a very, very long time and contribute to damaging the earth.
You also cannot vent your vehicle. As we mentioned, the biggest risk that you would run from mixing Ra and R12 is an explosion. You can safely avoid this catastrophe by simply not experimenting with combinations that are deemed illegal. This dangerous combination can explode at any point and time, and has done so in the past when people have accidentally or deliberately combined the two refrigerants. There are very few places where you can actively buy R today. When it's time for an AC recharge , turn to AutoZone.
You can shop online for same day in-store pick up or go to your local AutoZone to find the right AC solution for you and your vehicle. As I've said, R12 is a nasty ozone-destroying chemical and should never be released to the environment under any circumstances, so in addition to being illegal to vent it, you have a moral obligation not to vent it.
Ra is not an ozone-destroying agent, but it is a greenhouse gas, and is illegal to vent as well. Ra refrigerant is an alternative that contains no chlorine and hence no ozone depletion potential. It's a greenhouse gas, though, and it doesn't work as well as R Dear Albert: Prices for R refrigerant have definitely risen over the past few years. Other more environmentally friendly alternatives exist, but even those cannot be changed in air conditioners or other refrigeration units with R12 without a thorough cleaning of the unit.
A blend of Ra and R Used for medium temperature refrigeration or for automotive as a drop in refrigerant. Can I put r12 in a ra system? Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality.
This is because Ra doesn't cool as well and needs a larger area to dissipate heat and is charged to higher pressures. That said, the oils used by R12 and by Ra are different and not compatible. If mixed, they form an acidic sludge that is bad for the system.
Do I need to add oil after evacuating AC?
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