Titled ‘Advantages Of Using Hydrocarbon, Green, Refrigerants In Laboratory Coolers / Freezers’, the article points out how the use of HFC refrigerants is under increasing regulatory pressure both at national and international levels. Faced today with the environmental concerns pertaining chemical refrigerants in conjunction with having now the possibility to design, construct and maintain safe systems applying flammable refrigerants, the use of hydrocarbons as refrigerants has gained interest in recent years.

Suitability of hydrocarbons for low and ultra-low temperature freezers

• For ultra-low temperature freezers down to -80°C, it is particularly relevant that ethane (R170) is available as a low boiling point hydrocarbon refrigerant, according to the authors. The properties that are achieved by mixing ethane with other hydrocarbons, allows the replacement of HFC based low temperature refrigerants.

• For low temperature freezers down to -40°C, it is possible to apply propane (R290) or, when the cooling capacity is not sufficient, propylene (R1270).

An additional merit of hydrocarbons according to the authors is that they can be used with mineral oils and do not require other lubricants such as polyolesters (POE), which are more difficult to handle in the filed due to their hydroscopic nature.

Hydrocarbons in laboratory equipment save on energy and emissions

After drawing on the case of the conversion of a laboratory freezer to hydrocarbos, to discuss safety standards governing hydrocarbon refrigerants (i.e. standard EN 60335-2-24), as well as illustrating the energy and CO₂ savings realised by hydrocarbon technology, the authors conclude that the natural refrigerant forms and excellent solution for laboratory equipment applications. Finally they note that it is important that careful consideration of safety of products be taken and existing provisions of current electro-mechanical safety standards for flammable refrigerants be followed.