What Are Hydrocarbon Refrigerants

What are Hydrocarbon and Halocarbon Refrigerants?

• A Hydrocarbon ( HC ) is an organic compound consisting of only carbon and hydrogen atoms
• A Halocarbon is any compound which is derived from a hydrocarbon which has at least one of the hydrogen atom with a halogen
• Halogens are a group on the periodic table of elements which consist of five chemically related naturally occurring elements these include:

1. Fluorine ( F)
2. Chlorine ( Cl )
3. Bromine ( Br )
4. Iodine ( I )
5. Astatine ( At)

•  If the Halogen used to replace a hydrogen atom is Fluorine ( F ) then it is called a Hydrofluorocarbon ( HFC ) refrigerant. 

• Essentially it means that some of the hydrogen atoms are replaced with fluorine atoms

• Popular  Hydrofluorocarbon ( HFC ) currently in use are R-11 – R,14, R-113, R-114, R, 115, R-134a, R-410A, R-449B, R-1234zd

• The Fluorine ( F ) atom will reduce the flammability of the refrigerant, however this is not a green solution as Fluorine ( F ) is harmful to the environment

• Since Hydrocarbons do not have a Fluorine ( F ) atom they are more flammable