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Refrigeration plants using hydrocarbons like propane (R290, C3H8), propene (R1270, C3H6) or iso-butane (R600a, C4H10) have been in operation all over the world for many years. Hydrocarbons are colourless and nearly odourless gases that liquefy under pressure, and have neither ozone depletion potential (ODP = 0) nor significant direct global warming potential (GWP < 3). Thanks to their outstanding thermodynamic characteristics, hydrocarbons make particularly energy efficient refrigerants. Hydrocarbons are flammable, however, with current safety regulations, refrigerant losses are near zero. Hydrocarbons are available cheaply all over the world; thanks to their ideal refrigerant characteristics they are commonly used in small plants with low refrigerant charges. |
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Characteristics
of propane | ODP | 0 | | GWP | 3 | | Appearance | colorless | | Odor | nearly
odorless | | Molecular
weight | 44.09
kg/kmol | | Physical
condition at 20 ºC | gaseous | | Freezing
point | -186
ºC | | Boiling
point | -42
ºC | | Explosibility
limit (in air) | 2.2-10.0
% | | Ignition
temperature | 470
ºC | | Density
(liquid, near boiling point) | 0.585
g/cm³ | | Relative
Liquid Density at 15 ºC | 0.50-0.51 | | Relative
Gaseous Density compared with air at 15 ºC and 1013.25 mbar | 1.40-1.55 |
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Characteristics
of butane| ODP | 0 | | GWP | 3 | | Appearance | colorless | | Odor | slightly
sour | | Molecular
weight | 58.12
kg/kmol | | Physical
condition at 20 ºC | gaseous | | Freezing
point | -135
ºC | | Boiling
point | -0.5
ºC | | Explosibility
limit (in air) | 1.8-9.0
% | | Ignition
temperature | 365
ºC | | Density
(liquid, near boiling point) | 0.601
g/cm³ | | Relative
Liquid Density at 15 ºC | 0.57-0.58 | | Relative
Gaseous Density compared with air at 15 ºC and 1013.25 mbar | 1.90-2.10 |
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