Industrial refrigeration systems are critical to many diverse industries, including restaurants, hospitals, manufacturing plants, and chemical processing facilities. Each of these industries has different requirements that dictate the specific refrigeration system needed for its products.
Refrigeration systems are available in a wide range of physical sizes and total cooling capacity. While the systems themselves vary, they all need efficient cooling and a high up-time. Manufacturers select the best refrigerants based on:
– Compatibility
– Stability
– Toxicity
– Flammability
– Performance
For years, industrial refrigeration systems widely used the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) R-12 or hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) R-22 because of the refrigerants’ thermal stability, safety, nonflammability, minimal toxicity, and performance.
Now, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for industrial refrigeration are moving to refrigerant alternatives with the same benefits of CFCs and HCFCs, but that also align with regulations to phase out refrigerants with ozone depletion potential. Other refrigerant options that meet the requirements of industrial refrigeration systems include:
– freon 134a (R-134a)
– freon 23 (R-23)
– freon 404A (R-404A)
– freon 407A (R-407A)
– freon 507 (R-507)