With the development of science and technology, humanity has partially subjugated the forces of nature. Today, controlling the temperature in a room has become much easier thanks to heaters and air conditioners. Automatic climate control is already commonplace in the automotive industry, the tourism industry, in production of any kind and in everyday life. And in our review we will touch on a narrower topic, the topic of cooling. And, in particular, let’s talk about a popular group of substances – refrigerants, namely Freons, which are capable of absorbing and transferring excess heat for further cooling of something. So where is freon used? The areas of application in our daily life are very wide!
Types of refrigerants
Refrigerants are substances used in air conditioning systems and refrigerators to create cold. Among various refrigerants, freons occupy a special place. Freons are a class of organic compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon. The most well-known freons are CFC (chlorofluorocarbons), HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) and HFC (hydrofluorocarbons).Refrigerants are substances used in air conditioning systems and refrigerators to create cold. Among various refrigerants, freons occupy a special place. Freons are a class of organic compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon. The most well-known freons are CFC (chlorofluorocarbons), HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) and HFC (hydrofluorocarbons).
Freons and their scope
Freons were invented in the mid-20th century and are widely used due to their unique refrigerant properties. However, their chemical structure has also been found to be responsible for the destruction of the ozone layer, leading to efforts to gradually replace them with less hazardous alternatives.
Where is freon used?
Air Conditioners: Freons have been widely used in domestic and commercial air conditioners to cool indoor air. They ensured efficient and even distribution of cold, making life in hot climates more comfortable.
Refrigerators and freezers: Freons were also used in refrigerators and freezers to preserve food at low temperatures. This ensured a long shelf life for food.
Car air conditioners:Car air conditioning systems also used freons to cool the air inside the car.
Refilling air conditioners
To maintain air conditioners and refrigerators, periodic refilling with freon is required. Due to leaks or other reasons, the system often has to be refilled. This helps maintain optimal equipment performance. However, due to environmental problems associated with CFCs, many countries have implemented strict regulations for the control and disposal of CFCs to prevent their release into the atmosphere. According to the standards, today freons are used only those permitted by state regulations. Refilling air conditioners of various types in the CIS countries is usually done with R22 grades; R410a; R134a, as well as R407c, R600 and R32. All listed types are approved for widespread use.
Industrial applications of freon
Freons have also found wide application in various industrial processes:
Fire Extinguishers: Freons have been used as fire extinguishers due to their ability to extinguish fires without damaging electrical equipment.
Electronics Manufacturing: Freons were used in electronics manufacturing processes to cool equipment and solder small components.
Environmental standards
The use of CFCs has become a serious environmental problem due to their destructive effects on the ozone layer and contribution to global warming. As a result, measures were taken to limit the production and use of freons. The replacement of CFCs and HCFCs with safer HFCs has become one of the steps in this direction.
Where else is freon used?
Aerosols: Freons were used in aerosol sprays such as deodorants and cosmetics. However, this application has become less popular due to environmental restrictions.
Electronics cleaners: In some cases, CFCs are still used as cleaners for electronic components.
Medical inhalers: Freons can be used in medical inhalers to deliver medications to patients.
Around the world, freons of various brands are widely used as refrigerants, but due to their negative impact on the environment, they are gradually disappearing from use, giving way to more environmentally friendly alternatives. This serves as a good example of the importance of paying attention to environmental aspects when selecting chemicals for various applications.
