The Quest For Climate-Friendly Refrigerants Pose Complicated Choices

NIST quest for climate-friendly refrigerants finds complicated choices

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST)

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Researchers at NIST has just completed a multi-year study to identify the “best” candidates for future use of air conditioning refrigerants. The objective is to find the refrigerants that have the lowest impact on climate.

Unfortunately, all 27 fluids NIST identified as the best from a performance viewpoint are at least slightly flammable, which is not allowed under U.S. safety codes for most end uses. Several fluids among the list of refrigerants are highly flammable, including propane, the fuel for outdoor grills.

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