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Limited options for low-global-warming-potential refrigerants

Author

Listed:
  • Mark O. McLinden

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

  • J. Steven Brown

    (The Catholic University of America)

  • Riccardo Brignoli

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

  • Andrei F. Kazakov

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

  • Piotr A. Domanski

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Abstract

Hydrofluorocarbons, currently used as refrigerants in air-conditioning systems, are potent greenhouse gases, and their contribution to climate change is projected to increase. Future use of the hydrofluorocarbons will be phased down and, thus replacement fluids must be found. Here we show that only a few pure fluids possess the combination of chemical, environmental, thermodynamic, and safety properties necessary for a refrigerant and that these fluids are at least slightly flammable. We search for replacements by applying screening criteria to a comprehensive chemical database. For the fluids passing the thermodynamic and environmental screens (critical temperature and global warming potential), we simulate performance in small air-conditioning systems, including optimization of the heat exchangers. We show that the efficiency-versus-capacity trade-off that exists in an ideal analysis disappears when a more realistic system is considered. The maximum efficiency occurs at a relatively high volumetric refrigeration capacity, but there are few fluids in this range.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark O. McLinden & J. Steven Brown & Riccardo Brignoli & Andrei F. Kazakov & Piotr A. Domanski, 2017. "Limited options for low-global-warming-potential refrigerants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14476
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14476
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    3. Giménez-Prades, P. & Navarro-Esbrí, J. & Arpagaus, C. & Fernández-Moreno, A. & Mota-Babiloni, A., 2022. "Novel molecules as working fluids for refrigeration, heat pump and organic Rankine cycle systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Selim Karkour & Tomohiko Ihara & Tadahiro Kuwayama & Kazuki Yamaguchi & Norihiro Itsubo, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Residential Air Conditioners Considering the Benefits of Their Use: A Case Study in Indonesia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-18, January.
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    7. Yu, Binbin & Long, Junan & Zhang, Yingjing & Ouyang, Hongsheng & Wang, Dandong & Shi, Junye & Chen, Jiangping, 2024. "Life cycle climate performance evaluation (LCCP) of electric vehicle heat pumps using low-GWP refrigerants towards China's carbon neutrality," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    8. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Griffiths, Steve & Kim, Jinsoo & Bazilian, Morgan, 2021. "Climate change and industrial F-gases: A critical and systematic review of developments, sociotechnical systems and policy options for reducing synthetic greenhouse gas emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    9. Yang, Fufang & Yang, Fubin & Liu, Qiang & Chu, Qingfu & Yang, Zhen & Duan, Yuanyuan, 2022. "Thermodynamic analysis of working fluids: What is the highest performance of the sub- and trans-critical organic Rankine cycles?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    10. He, Yijian & Jiang, Yunyun & Fan, Yuchen & Chen, Guangming & Tang, Liming, 2020. "Utilization of ultra-low temperature heat by a novel cascade refrigeration system with environmentally-friendly refrigerants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 204-213.
    11. Tomc, Urban & Nosan, Simon & Vidrih, Boris & Bogić, Simon & Navickaite, Kristina & Vozel, Katja & Bobič, Miha & Kitanovski, Andrej, 2024. "Small demonstrator of a thermoelectric heat-pump booster for an ultra-low-temperature district-heating substation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 361(C).
    12. Santosh Kumar Saini & Mani Sankar Dasgupta & Kristina Norne Widell & Souvik Bhattacharyya, 2022. "Comparative investigation of low GWP pure fluids as potential refrigerant options for a cascade system in seafood application," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(8), pages 1-27, December.
    13. Angelo Maiorino & Manuel Gesù Del Duca & Jaka Tušek & Urban Tomc & Andrej Kitanovski & Ciro Aprea, 2019. "Evaluating Magnetocaloric Effect in Magnetocaloric Materials: A Novel Approach Based on Indirect Measurements Using Artificial Neural Networks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, May.
    14. Qiang Li & Luqi Wei & Ni Zhong & Xiaoming Shi & Donglin Han & Shanyu Zheng & Feihong Du & Junye Shi & Jiangping Chen & Houbing Huang & Chungang Duan & Xiaoshi Qian, 2024. "Low-k nano-dielectrics facilitate electric-field induced phase transition in high-k ferroelectric polymers for sustainable electrocaloric refrigeration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    15. Albà, C.G. & Alkhatib, I.I.I. & Llovell, F. & Vega, L.F., 2023. "Hunting sustainable refrigerants fulfilling technical, environmental, safety and economic requirements," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    16. Qingyong Ren & Ji Qi & Dehong Yu & Zhe Zhang & Ruiqi Song & Wenli Song & Bao Yuan & Tianhao Wang & Weijun Ren & Zhidong Zhang & Xin Tong & Bing Li, 2022. "Ultrasensitive barocaloric material for room-temperature solid-state refrigeration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    17. Wang, Bo & Chao, Yijun & Zhao, Qinyu & Wang, Haoren & Wang, Yabin & Gan, Zhihua, 2021. "A high efficiency stirling-type pulse tube refrigerator for cooling above 200 K," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PB).
    18. You, Tian & Wang, Fang, 2023. "Green ground source heat pump using various low-global-warming-potential refrigerants: Thermal imbalance and long-term performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 159-173.
    19. Mota-Babiloni, Adrián & Mateu-Royo, Carlos & Navarro-Esbrí, Joaquín & Molés, Francisco & Amat-Albuixech, Marta & Barragán-Cervera, Ángel, 2018. "Optimisation of high-temperature heat pump cascades with internal heat exchangers using refrigerants with low global warming potential," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 1248-1258.
    20. Xu, Weicong & Zhao, Ruikai & Deng, Shuai & Zhao, Li & Mao, Samuel S., 2021. "Is zeotropic working fluid a promising option for organic Rankine cycle: A quantitative evaluation based on literature data," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    21. Qin, Yanbin & Li, Nanxi & Zhang, Hua & Jin, Binhui & Liu, Baolin, 2022. "Experimental characterization of an innovative refrigeration system coupled with Linde-Hampson cycle and auto-cascade cycle for multi-stage refrigeration temperature applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).

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