HC refrigerants: an ecological solution for automotive A/C systems

摘要

In the automotive range, problems due to the environmental status concerning applicationof new refrigerant fluids for conditioning systems are not still quite solved using HFC 134a.HFCs solved the problem about Ozone Depletion, but not the Global Warming problem.Application of natural gases such as HCs (propane, butane, cyclopropane, their mixtures,etc.) with zero ODP and negligible GWP, could be a possible solution "ecologicallycorrect" in order to fight the Global Warming.HC fluids are flammable, but their flammability can be mitigate through safety measures inmanufacture and product design. Some european domestic refrigeration systems makers aregoing to do this choice.In the automotive range also, in which releases of HFC 134a due to accidents and notcorrect maintenance of the A/C systems are frequent, car and A/C makers shall dosomething to reduce the Global Warming effect.This work is concerning results about experimental activity which has been done aboutperformance evaluations of some low GWP non-inert fluids in a dedicated test benchsimulating car A/C system.