Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering (설비공학논문집)

The Society of Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea (대한설비공학회)
권호 표지

Lower Flammability Limits of Flammable Refrigerants According to ASTM E681-04 Standard

ASTM E681-04 표준에 따른 가연성 냉매의 희박가연한계

  • Park, Ki-Jung (Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University) ;
  • Woo, Seung-Gyoo (Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University) ;
  • Jung, Dong-Soo (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University)
  • Published : 2007.10.10
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

In this study, lower flammability limits (LFLs) of three hydrocarbon refrigerants (R600a, R290, R1270) and two hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (R152a, R32) and DME (RE170) are measured by the method proposed by ASTM E681-04 Standard. Flammability tests are carried out at three temperatures of $23^{\circ}C,\;60^{\circ}C\;and\;100^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity 50%. Test results show that the present data for isobutane and propane obtained at $23^{\circ}C$ are similar to those found in the literature, confirming indirectly the reliability of the present test method and facility. For propylene, R152a, and R32, LFLs found in the literature differ considerably. Especially, the deviation of LFL of propylene is more than 30% among the literature data. The present data for propylene, R152a, and R32 agree with either of the data sets available. As the temperature increases from $23^{\circ}C\;to\;100^{\circ}C$, LFLs of all refrigerants tested decrease. LFLs of most refrigerants tested in this study at $60^{\circ}C$ decrease by $0.1{\sim}0.3%$ as compared to those at $23^{\circ}C$. Also LFLs of most refrigerants tested in this study at $100^{\circ}C$ decrease by $0.1{\sim}0.3%$ as compared to those at $60^{\circ}C$.

Keywords

References

  1. Molina, M. J. and Rowland, F. S., 1974, Stratospheric sink for chlorofluoromethanes : chlorine atom catalyzed destruction of ozones, Nature, Vol. 249, pp. 810-812 https://doi.org/10.1038/249810a0
  2. Montreal protocol on substances that de-plete the ozone layer, 1989, Final Act, United Nations Environment Programme
  3. Kruse H., 1996, The stats of the art of the hydrocarbon technology in household refrigeration, Proc. of the Int. Conferences on Ozone Protection Technologies, Washington, DC, pp. 179- 188
  4. Int. Energy Agency's Heat Pump Center, Informative fact sheet, 2002, Hydrocarbons as refrigerants in residential heat pumps and air-conditioners
  5. Jung, D., Park, B. and Lee, H., 1999, Evaluation of supplementary/retrofit refrigerants for automobile air-conditioners charged with CFC12, Int. J. Refrigeration, Vol. 22, pp. 558-568 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-7007(99)00022-5
  6. Ghodbane, M, 1999, An investigation of R152a and hydrocarbon refrigerants in mobile air conditioning, International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Michigan, 1999-01-0874
  7. Didion D. A., 1994, Private Communication, US National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
  8. ASTM, 1985, Standard test method for concentration limits of flammability of chemicals, ASTM E681-85, Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials
  9. U. L., 1994, Standard for safety-refrigerants, UL Standard 2182, Northbrook, Ill.: Underwriters Laboratories
  10. ASHRAE, 1989, Designation and safety classification of refrigerants, ASHRAE Standard, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-1989
  11. Wilson, D. P. and Richard, R G., 2002, Determination of refrigerant lower flammability limits in compliance with proposed addendum p to standard 34, ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 108, Part 2, pp. 739-756
  12. ASHRAE, 1992, Number designation and safety classification of refrigerants, ASHRAE Standard, ANSVASHRAE Standard 34-1992
  13. Richard, R. G. and Shankland, I. R., 1992, Flammabiity of alternative refrigerants. ASHRAE Journal, Vol. 34, No.4, pp.20-24
  14. Choi, T. Y. and Kim, M. S., 1995, Flammability test of R32/R134a refrigerant mixture, Proceeding of the SAREK 1995 Summer Annual Conference, pp.269-274
  15. ASTM, 2004, Standard test method for concentration limits of flammability of chemicals, ASTM E681-04, Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials
  16. Richard, R., 1998, Refrigerant flammability testing in large volume vessels, ARTI MCLR final Report, DOE/CE/23810-87, Arlington, Va. : Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute(ARTI)
  17. Smith, N. D., Ratanaphruks, K., Tufts, M. and Ng, A. S., 1993, R-245ca: A potential far-term alternative for R-11, ASHRAE Journal, Vol. 35, No.2, pp.19-23
  18. Heinonen, E. W., Tapscott, R. E. and Crawford, F. R., 1994, Methods development for measuring and classifying flammability/combustibility of refrigerants, ARTI MCLR final Report, DOE/CE/2381O-50, Albuquerque, Va. : Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institutet(ARTI)
  19. Braker, W. and Mossman, A., 1980, Matheson gas data book, sixth edition, Matheson company, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071, USA
  20. Du Pont, 2004, Material safety data sheet for HFC-152a, Du Pont Fluoroproducts, Wilmington, DE 19898, USA
  21. Matheson, 2003, Material safety data sheet for 1,1-difluoroethane, Matheson Tri-Gas, Parsippany, NJ 07054, USA
  22. BOC Gases, 2002, Material safety data sheet for, Halocarbon-32, BOC Group, Murray Hill, NJ 07974, USA
  23. Du Pont, 2001, Material safety data sheet for Dymel, Du Pont Fluoroproducts, Wilmington, DE 19898, USA