CUBAN EXPERIENCES WITH HYDROCARBON REFRIGERANTS

摘要

In 1992 Cuba subscribed to Montreal Protocol and it was accepted as Article 5 country (Dijkstra et al., 1996). Hydrocarbons are natural substances used widely in the world as refrigerants. The paper deals about the experience on the use of hydrocarbons as refrigerant in Cuba for seventeen years. The paper shows the quality, as well as, the properties of a ternary hydrocarbons mixture named LB-12 produced in Cuba. The paper outlines the results with regard to the use of LB-12 as drop-in refrigerant for R-12, and for R-134a. It is demonstrated, based on the performance evaluation, that a R-12 household refrigerator running with LB-12 even with higher energy consumption, the value of TEWI for the system is very lower. The results of performance evaluation of R-134a household refrigerator with original refrigerant and LB-12 are shown. In addition, the results of field test performance evaluation of window air conditioner converted to R-290 as substitute of R-22 are presented.