Refrigerants Essay

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The art of refrigeration has come a long way from its first origins where cavemen would place their catches under the snow or even in deep caves where it was cooler than the outside temperature. The cavemen noticed their catch lasted a longer time when their food is insulated. Whitman, Johnson, & Tomczyk (1999) stated that one of the most valuable uses of refrigeration is preserving food. The authors added that certain food, such as dairy products, need to be stored at a certain temperature to avoid spoilage and the keep the food from bacterial growth. M. Seno (personal communication, November 21, 2011) stated that the main component of refrigeration and air-conditioning system is a refrigerant. L. Albis (personal communication, November 21, 20011) adds that refrigerants are the working substances in refrigeration. The characteristics of a refrigerant are the dominant factor is choosing a refrigerant (L. Albis, personal communication, Nvember 21, 2011). “Refrigerants have to be psychologically non-toxic and non-flammable. Thermodynamically, there is no working substance which could be called an ideal refrigerant. Different substances seem to satisfy different requirements and sometimes only partially” (Arora, 2001, p. 140). Aside from library and internet sources, interviews have been conducted to add more information on the advantages and disadvantages of alternative refrigerants. The interviewees are current engineers and have a perspective on the field of refrigeration and air-conditioning. This paper intends to investigate the best alternative refrigerants based on the different properties and characteristics of each known refrigerant and the opportunities and challenges they extend to society. Ammonia has been at the forefront of advancement in refrigeration technology, making it essential to the development of industrial plants (Arora, 2001). There are

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