The Evolution of Refrigerants

❄️The Evolution of Refrigerants❄️

❄️ The Evolution of Refrigerants ❄️

The Core Technology of Industrial Chillers【 Refrigerants 】

Refrigerants are the indispensable core of industrial chillers and various temperature control systems.
From the use of natural ice and snow in ancient times to the advent of modern low-GWP eco-friendly refrigerants,
the history of refrigerants reflects humanity’s pursuit of technological advancement and environmental responsibility.
Refrigerants not only determine the efficiency and reliability of cooling equipment but also directly impact energy consumption,
product quality, and even global environmental sustainability.
For industries such as machinery, semiconductors, medical equipment, and energy systems,
choosing the right refrigerant is crucial to achieving precise temperature control, stable operation, and long-term sustainability.

🏺Ancient Wisdom in Refrigeration🏺

In ancient times, without modern chillers or air conditioning equipment, people relied mainly on natural methods to preserve food：
📍Underground temperature control：Storing food in caves or cellars.
📍Ice and snow storage：Collecting ice in winter and using it for cooling in summer.
Although simple, these were the earliest forms of “cooling technology,” showcasing humanity’s wisdom in coexisting with nature.

🧬The Scientific Origins of Refrigerants (1840s–1900s)🧬

Chemists discovered that the evaporation of certain liquids could lower temperatures：
📌1843 ：Diethyl Ether was one of the earliest refrigerants, effective in cooling but highly flammable and toxic, leading to its phase-out.
📌1866 ：Carbon Dioxide (CO₂, R744) was introduced—non-toxic and non-flammable but requiring high-pressure systems.
📌1873 ：Ammonia (R717) came into wide use, offering high efficiency but posing toxicity and corrosion risks.
These experiments and applications laid the scientific foundation for refrigerant development.

🔬The Era of CFCs (1930s–1990s)🔬

In 1930, American chemist Thomas Midgley Jr. developed R-12 (Freon).

Initially, it was designed for domestic refrigerators and air conditioning systems,
offering safety and stability compared to earlier refrigerants like ammonia or CO₂.

Properties: Non-toxic, non-flammable, and chemically stable.

⭕Advantages⭕
Safer than previous options, quickly replacing ammonia and CO₂ to become the global mainstream refrigerant.

❌Drawbacks❌
Later research found that CFCs destroy the ozone layer.

📌In 1974, scientists Mario Molina and Sherwood Rowland published groundbreaking research showing
     that CFCs release chlorine atoms in the atmosphere, which destroy ozone molecules.
     It was estimated that one chlorine atom could break down over 100,000 ozone molecules.
     This led to the thinning of the ozone layer, creating the infamous “ozone hole.”

📌1987：The Montreal Protocol was signed, initiating the global phase-out of CFCs.
📌1996：CFCs were almost completely banned worldwide.

CFCs once symbolized technological progress but ultimately ended due to their environmental impact.

🧪 HCFCs and HFCs – The Transitional Period (1950s–2010s)🧪

As CFCs were phased out, the world turned to transitional refrigerants：

HCFCs (Second Generation)

📍Example：R22 (introduced in the 1950s)
📍Advantages：Lower ODP (ozone depletion potential) compared to CFCs, with good thermodynamic performance.
📍Disadvantages：Still harmful to the ozone layer, now being phased out under the Montreal Protocol.

HFCs (Third Generation)

📍Examples：
     R134a (1990s) – widely used in automotive AC and chillers.
     R410A (1996) – designed for residential AC systems.
     R407C (1990s) – a common replacement for R22.
📍Advantages: ODP = 0, does not destroy ozone.
📍Disadvantages: High GWP (Global Warming Potential), contributing to climate change.

❄️ Fourth-Generation Refrigerants and Emerging Solutions (2010s–Present)❄️

Driven by global carbon reduction goals, the industry shifted toward low-GWP and environmentally friendly refrigerants：

📍HFOs (Fourth Generation)
     Example: R1234yf (introduced around 2010)
     Advantages: Extremely low GWP (<1), ODP = 0.
     Disadvantages: Mildly flammable, requiring safety precautions.

📍Natural Refrigerants
     R744 (CO₂) – Safe, non-toxic, GWP = 1, but requires high-pressure systems.
     R717 (Ammonia) – Energy efficient, still widely used in industrial refrigeration, but toxic and corrosive.
     R290 (Propane) – GWP ≈ 3, efficient but flammable.

📍New Blended Refrigerants
     R513A (2014) – Low GWP, non-flammable.
     R454 Series (2016) – GWP 200–500, mildly flammable.
     R448A (2020s) – Very low GWP, combining safety and performance.

🟩  Comparative Table of Refrigerants 🟩

Trends in Refrigerant Evolution

📍Natural refrigerants：Eco-friendly, increasingly adopted.
📍CFCs：Good performance but ozone-depleting, fully phased out.
📍HCFCs：Transitional solution, gradually phased out.
📍HFCs：Ozone-safe but high GWP, increasingly restricted.
📍HFOs：Extremely low GWP, leading eco-friendly trend.
📍Blended refrigerants：Balance safety and sustainability, mainstream for industrial chillers.

✅ Conclusion：The Future of Refrigerants

The evolution of refrigerants is a story of humanity balancing technological progress and environmental protection.

Future refrigerants will emphasize：

📍Low GWP and zero ODP for eco-friendliness
📍High efficiency and reduced carbon emissions
📍Integration with advanced chillers for stable and reliable process cooling

KAUKAN chillers will continue to uphold professionalism and adopt the latest refrigerant technologies,
providing the global industry with stable, efficient, and sustainable cooling solutions.

⚠️ Disclaimer ⚠️

The contents and data in this article are compiled from publicly available sources and online information, for reference only.

If there are any errors or omissions, please feel free to inform us, and we will make corrections promptly.