Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Cyclopentane refrigerant

I saw this on the back of a fridge.


It turns out that cyclopentane has been used as a refrigerant to replace CFCs. It melts at -94oC. This is important because its temperature in the system will never be this low so it will not freeze in the pipes. Its boiling point is 49oC. The contents of the fridge don't heat it this high to turn it into a gas. Evaporation is achieved by compression and expansion to manage the pressure. The main reason for naming the refrigerant on the back must be that it is highly flammable if it escapes!