Azeotropic Zeotropic Fractionation and Refrigerant Glide

Azeotrope vs. Zeotrope

By Gary McCreadie

After studying this text, try a brief podcast on this topic.  

Do you perceive your refrigerant? Do you take heed to it, talk with it… wipe it is tears when it is unhappy? Yah in all probability not, however it is very important perceive some terminology, so you possibly can perceive your refrigerant’s deepest, most inside emotions.  Not all refrigerants are pure compounds similar to R22 and R134a, and never all refrigerants are created equal.  

Azeotropic Blends

An azeotropic refrigerant is a combination of two or extra parts that boil on the identical temperature.  The parts in any such refrigerant will evaporate and condense collectively as one. An instance of an azeotropic refrigerant is R502.  There is no such thing as a glide to fret about with with any such combination.

Zeotropic Mix

A zeotropic mix can also be a combination of two or extra parts. The parts of this refrigerant have totally different boiling factors.  These parts will evaporate and condense at totally different temperatures.  An instance of a zeotropic mix is any 400 sequence refrigerant, similar to R407c and R410a, conserving in thoughts that R410a is taken into account to be a close to azeotropic mix.   

In an effort to totally perceive zeotropic blends we should additionally perceive fractionation and glide.

Fractionation

Think about a jug of R407c, which is a combination of three parts, sitting in a room below regular circumstances. The parts will boil off at totally different temperatures separating from the liquid combination.  Consider the three vapour parts separated within the jug occupying their very own house above the liquid, this is called fractionation.  As a result of these parts have totally different properties, there could also be extra of 1 fuel on the prime of the jug than the opposite.  As fractionation happens, the vapour mix that hovers above the liquid is compromised, it isn’t a whole combination.  That is why it is vital to cost any such refrigerant as a liquid, to make sure the system receives the complete mix.  One factor to bear in mind when charging, the refrigerant should depart the jug as a liquid however it may be flashed into the system as a vapour.  Really, it is suggested that it’s flashed into the system to keep away from liquid coming into the compressor.  

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Glide

Glide is a time period that confuses some techs I’ve discovered, but when defined correctly it does not have to be a mind numbing train.  Glide is the distinction between the boiling level of probably the most risky element in comparison with the least risky element inside the refrigerant mix.  So, for instance, if one element have been to boil at 100 levels Fahrenheit and the opposite at 110 levels Fahrenheit, that may be 10 levels of glide.  When a pt chart you will notice bubble level (level of evaporation) and dew level (level of condensation). The house in between these two factors is taken into account to be the refrigerant’s glide.  

Now go love your refrigerant.

Gary McCreadie

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