Open AccessEvaluation of HFC-245ca for commercial use in low pressure chillers. Final report, Volume I
Author(s) -
E.F. Keuper
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/219494
Subject(s) - chiller , refrigerant , refrigeration , engineering , flammability , impeller , environmental science , waste management , volume (thermodynamics) , gas compressor , automotive engineering , mechanical engineering , process engineering , materials science , physics , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics , composite material
Federal regulations banned the production of CFC-11 on January 1, 1996. HCFC-123, the only commercial alternative, will be limited to service applications after January 1, 2020 and will be eliminated from production on January 1, 2030. HFC-245ca has been identified as a potential replacement for CFC-11 in retrofit applications and for HCFC-123 in new chillers, but the marginal flammability of HFC-245ca is a major obstacle to its commercial use as a refrigerant in the United States. This report assesses the commercial viability of HFC-245ca based on its experimental performance in a direct drive low pressure centrifugal chiller exclusive of its flammability characteristics. Three different impeller diameters were tested in the chiller, with all impellers having identical discharge blade angles. Experimental work included tests in a 200 ton 3 stage direct drive chiller with 3 impeller sets properly sized for each of three refrigerants, CFC-11, HCFC-123, and HFC-245ca. The commercial viability assessment focused on both retrofit and new product performance and cost