Freon is a fluorine-containing compound. In air conditioners, it carries the function of a coolant. Freon receives heat from the room and transfers it to street air through the evaporator. The temperature of the freon in the air conditioner at the beginning of the cooling cycle is 5 - 10 degrees. This is the boiling point and the transition to a vapor state. After passing through the compressor of the outdoor module, the temperature of freon in the air conditioner increases to 60 degrees.
There are many types of freons, and some refrigerants are not freons at all. What is the difference between them and which freon is better? Let's try to figure it out before buying freon for air conditioners.
Types of Freon
Manufacturers of HVAC equipment fill their air conditioners with different types of freon. They differ in both formulas and physical qualities.
The most common types of freons for air conditioners:
- R-22;
- R-410A;
- R-32.
Freon type R-22 is detrimental to the environment: they violate the integrity of the ozone layer.
Equipment on 22 freon does not work correctly when the temperature drops below -5 degrees and rises above +43. In many countries, including Russia, the import of equipment operating on this type of refrigerant has been banned.
Air conditioners on the R-410A not only do not burn and do not explode, but also are completely safe for the environment. The physical properties of this refrigerant are stored up to -15 degrees. Therefore, the best manufacturers have already switched to freon for air conditioners such as R-410A. This led to an increase in the cost of equipment by 10 percent. The fact is, the thickness of expensive copper pipes for cold tracks depends on which freon is used in air conditioners. The pressure of R-410A is much higher, therefore, the cost of a valuable non-ferrous metal increases. Replacing the refrigerant in no way affects the ability to cool or warm the air.
As for the R-32 refrigerant, this is the latest development of chemists. It is cheaper than R-410A, more efficient, completely safe. Its energy efficiency is 5% higher than that of R-410A. DAIKIN has already released the first heat pump for this type of refrigerant. By 2015, all Chinese-made air conditioners will be produced on the R-32, and by 2020 it is planned to completely replace the existing refrigerants today.
Which freon to buy?
It is only necessary to buy freon for an air conditioner of the type with which it was charged in the factory.
Equipment designed for R-22 will not be able to operate on a new type of refrigerant. The same applies to modern models, they should be refueled only R-410A.
Due to the fact that manufacturers and consumers refuse 22 freon, it is gradually becoming a deficit. And after a few years, the air conditioner will just have to be thrown away.
Since the innovative R-32 has not yet come into widespread use, the choice remains for the more expensive, but effective and safe R-410A.
