R-410A
Encyclopedia
R-410A, sold under the trademarked names Puron, EcoFluor R410, Genetron R410A, and AZ-20, is a zeotropic, but near-azeotropic
mixture of difluoromethane
(CH2F2, called R-32) and pentafluoroethane
(CHF2CF3, called R-125), which is used as a refrigerant
in air conditioning
applications.
, and is therefore becoming more widely used as ozone-depleting refrigerants like R-22
are phased out. However, it has a high global warming potential
(1725 times the effect of carbon dioxide), similar to that of R-22.
) in 1991.
Other producers around the world have been licensed to manufacture and sell R-410A, but Honeywell continues to be the leader in capacity and sales. R-410A was successfully commercialized in the air conditioning segment by a combined effort of Carrier Corporation
, Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc., Copeland Scroll Compressors (a division of Emerson Electric Company
), and Allied Signal. Carrier Corporation was the first company to introduce a R-410A based residential air conditioning unit onto the marketplace in 1996 and holds the trademark "Puron".
Parts designed specifically for R-410A must be used as R-410A operates at higher pressures than other refrigerants. Thus R-410A systems require service personnel to use different tools, equipment, safety standards and techniques. Equipment manufacturers are aware of these changes and require the certification of professionals installing R-410A systems. In addition the AC&R Safety Coalition has been created to help educate professionals about R-410-A system.
has mandated that R-22
along with other hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) be phased-out in the United States - and in EU and the USA virgin R22 cannot be used for manufacture of new air conditioning or similar units from the 1st of January 2010. In the rest of the world the phase out date is different from country to country. Today all newly manufactured window unit air conditioners in the United States are available with R-410A. However, all of the largest central air conditioning systems manufacturers in the United States offer R-410A. As an alternative to window-mounted systems, a ductless "split" system is available which uses R-410A refrigerant, and can be installed with a 3-inch hole through the wall (or window opening).
Azeotrope
An azeotrope is a mixture of two or more liquids in such a ratio that its composition cannot be changed by simple distillation. This occurs because, when an azeotrope is boiled, the resulting vapor has the same ratio of constituents as the original mixture....
mixture of difluoromethane
Difluoromethane
Difluoromethane, also called HFC-32 or R-32, is an organic compound of the dihalogenoalkane variety. It is based on methane, except that two of the four hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine atoms...
(CH2F2, called R-32) and pentafluoroethane
Pentafluoroethane
Pentafluoroethane is a refrigerant that has zero ozone depletion potential.It has the formula CF3CHF2. Although it has zero ozone depletion potential, it has high global warming potential, reported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as 3450 times that of carbon...
(CHF2CF3, called R-125), which is used as a refrigerant
Refrigerant
A refrigerant is a substance used in a heat cycle usually including, for enhanced efficiency, a reversible phase change from a liquid to a gas. Traditionally, fluorocarbons, especially chlorofluorocarbons, were used as refrigerants, but they are being phased out because of their ozone depletion...
in air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
applications.
Environmental effects
Unlike many alkyl halide refrigerants, it does not contribute to ozone depletionOzone depletion
Ozone depletion describes two distinct but related phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a steady decline of about 4% per decade in the total volume of ozone in Earth's stratosphere , and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone over Earth's polar regions. The latter phenomenon...
, and is therefore becoming more widely used as ozone-depleting refrigerants like R-22
Chlorodifluoromethane
Chlorodifluoromethane or difluoromonochloromethane is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon . This colorless gas is better known as HCFC-22, or R-22. It was once commonly used as a propellant and in air conditioning applications...
are phased out. However, it has a high global warming potential
Global warming potential
Global-warming potential is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. It compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide. A GWP is calculated over a specific time...
(1725 times the effect of carbon dioxide), similar to that of R-22.
History
R-410A was invented and patented by Allied Signal (now HoneywellHoneywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
) in 1991.
Other producers around the world have been licensed to manufacture and sell R-410A, but Honeywell continues to be the leader in capacity and sales. R-410A was successfully commercialized in the air conditioning segment by a combined effort of Carrier Corporation
Carrier Corporation
The Carrier Corporation is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, and a global leader in the commercial refrigeration and food service equipment industry...
, Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc., Copeland Scroll Compressors (a division of Emerson Electric Company
Emerson Electric Company
Emerson Electric Company is a major multinational corporation headquartered in Ferguson, Missouri, United States. This Fortune 500 company manufactures products and provides engineering services for a wide range of industrial, commercial, and consumer markets.Emerson is one of the largest...
), and Allied Signal. Carrier Corporation was the first company to introduce a R-410A based residential air conditioning unit onto the marketplace in 1996 and holds the trademark "Puron".
Availability
R-410A has replaced R-22 as the preferred refrigerant for use in residential and commercial air conditioners in Japan, Europe and the United States.Parts designed specifically for R-410A must be used as R-410A operates at higher pressures than other refrigerants. Thus R-410A systems require service personnel to use different tools, equipment, safety standards and techniques. Equipment manufacturers are aware of these changes and require the certification of professionals installing R-410A systems. In addition the AC&R Safety Coalition has been created to help educate professionals about R-410-A system.
R-22 Phaseout
In accordance with terms and agreement reached in the Montreal Protocol (The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer) the United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
has mandated that R-22
Chlorodifluoromethane
Chlorodifluoromethane or difluoromonochloromethane is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon . This colorless gas is better known as HCFC-22, or R-22. It was once commonly used as a propellant and in air conditioning applications...
along with other hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) be phased-out in the United States - and in EU and the USA virgin R22 cannot be used for manufacture of new air conditioning or similar units from the 1st of January 2010. In the rest of the world the phase out date is different from country to country. Today all newly manufactured window unit air conditioners in the United States are available with R-410A. However, all of the largest central air conditioning systems manufacturers in the United States offer R-410A. As an alternative to window-mounted systems, a ductless "split" system is available which uses R-410A refrigerant, and can be installed with a 3-inch hole through the wall (or window opening).