What is automotive refrigerant?
2 Answers
Refrigerant is a working fluid used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems to transfer heat energy and produce cooling effects. In air conditioning systems, it is a substance that facilitates heat transfer through evaporation and condensation, commonly known as Freon. Refrigerant is a substance that easily absorbs heat to become a gas and releases heat to become a liquid. The refrigerant commonly used in everyday air conditioners is chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). However, the CFCs used in the past were found to deplete the ozone layer. Currently, scientists have developed CFCs that do not harm the ozone layer. Advantages of refrigerant: 1. Strong cooling capacity: It has weak corrosion on metal equipment, and its anti-corrosion performance fully meets national standards. Long-term use will not cause severe corrosion damage to equipment. It can reduce valve wear and leakage, pipeline perforation, and maintenance operations, saving energy and reducing consumption due to its strong anti-scaling ability. With less scaling deposition, it can improve the cooling effect of the refrigerant, reduce power consumption, and thus save energy. 2. Low freezing point and low volatility: Therefore, during long-term circulation, evaporation loss is minimal, and refrigerant loss is small. 3. Non-toxic and odorless: It also does not contain water or chemicals that easily rot and produce odors. Long-term use will not have side effects on human health or the environment.
As someone who has been driving for over a decade, let me tell you that car refrigerant is the cooling agent in the air conditioning system, specifically designed to keep the car cool. If the AC isn’t working well in the summer, it might be a refrigerant issue. It circulates through the pipes like blood, gets compressed into high-pressure gas in the compressor, and then expands to absorb heat and cool down. Common types include R134a, while R12 was used in the past but was more polluting. If the refrigerant is insufficient or leaking, the AC will blow hot air, so you need to check and top it up regularly to avoid long-term high temperatures damaging the system. During routine maintenance, don’t forget to check the AC pressure gauge to ensure the level is adequate. Here’s a little tip: turn off the AC when parking to extend the refrigerant’s lifespan.
