Inert hydrocarbon-based refrigerants

B.Z. Dlugogorski; R.K. Hichens; E.M. Kennedy

doi:10.1016/S0379-7112(01)00023-6

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Journal article

Peer reviewed

Inert hydrocarbon-based refrigerants

B.Z. Dlugogorski, R.K. Hichens and E.M. Kennedy

Fire Safety Journal, Vol.37(1), pp.53-65

2002

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-7112(01)00023-6

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Abstract

This paper determines the flammability properties of two hydrocarbon blends, natural gas and propane-butane refrigerant, mixed with CF3I and C3F7H inerting agents. Four flammability envelopes are obtained allowing the determination of the minimum inerting concentrations and the maximum hydrocarbon to suppressant weight ratios for formulating non-flammable hydrocarbon refrigerants. These ratios are calculated from the slopes of lines drawn from the origin and tangent to the lower branches of the flammability envelopes. The flammability measurements are conducted using a tubular flow burner. The apparatus is convenient to operate, yields reproducible results without repetitive testing necessitated by explosion vessels. More importantly, the tubular flow burner applies a clear criterion for extinction avoiding the innate problems of the explosion vessels, which relate to the strength of the ignition source and the vessel size. The results indicate that it is not possible, using CF3I or C3F7H, to formulate a refrigerant mixture with a substantial hydrocarbon content. Specifically, inertion of the propane-butane blend considered in this study demands 87.7% and 94.2% by weight of CF3I and C3F7H, respectively. CF3I displays similar inerting properties to those of CF3Br. The higher inerting requirement for C3F7H stems from the nature of this agent to decrease the lower flammability limit of the hydrocarbon blends.

Details

Title: Inert hydrocarbon-based refrigerants
Authors/Creators: B.Z. Dlugogorski (Author/Creator) - University of Newcastle Australia
R.K. Hichens (Author/Creator) - University of Newcastle Australia
E.M. Kennedy (Author/Creator) - University of Newcastle Australia
Publication Details: Fire Safety Journal, Vol.37(1), pp.53-65
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Identifiers: 991005543042007891
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 7 Engineering & Materials Science; 7.177 Combustion; 7.177.238 Combustion Dynamics
Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Civil; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
ESI research areas: Engineering