Refrigerant R1234ze

  • REFRIGERANT R1234ZE

    Non-ozone depleting and low global warming potential, HFO-based refrigerant for the new water chillers, heat pumps, and air conditioning equipment

    Refrigerants

ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY LOW-GWP REFRIGERANT TO REPLACE R134A

Atmospheric greenhouse effect and ozone depletion caused by refrigerant emissions have led to significant changes in air conditioning and refrigeration industry, as well as to the development of the new, low global warming potential refrigerants including R1234ze.

Similarly to R134a, R1234ze is a medium pressure refrigerant which belongs to the range of low-GWP HFO (hydrofluoroolefin) fluids. R1234ze has almost the same critical and boiling temperatures and lower critical pressure and compatible with most common materials. It is an energy-efficient alternative to R134a refrigerant in air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, as well as in other medium temperature applications such as heat pumps, and CO2 cascade systems in commercial refrigeration.

HFO-1234ze refrigerant

F-GAS PHASE-OUT

To mitigate climate change and protect the environment by reducing emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), the European Parliament imposed the EU Regulation on F-gases No. 517/2014 to gradually reduce the use of HFCs to 21% by 2030.​ In accordance with these regulations, future air conditioning and refrigeration systems shall use refrigerants with lower GWP values, and many existing systems will have to replace the refrigerants with alternatives ones.

ALTERNATIVE REFRIGERANTS

HFO refrigerants, including R1234ze which can be applied to stationary refrigeration systems, are categorized as having zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), low-GWP thus offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to HFC refrigerants. Operating conditions and performance of R1234ze are in line with those of R134a, and it can replace R134a in the new refrigeration equipment, water chillers, and heat pumps.

R1234ZE PERFORMANCE

The capacities of the cooling systems based on R1234ze refrigerant are lower than those achieved with R134a, but R1234ze systems consume less power, and the final result is a slightly higher energy efficiency ratio of R1234ze based systems. At the same time, the capacity issue restricts R1234ze usage as a drop-in replacement for the current R134a refrigeration systems.

FLAMMABILITY AND TOXICITY

HFO refrigerants have been identified as being mildly flammable under some non-operational conditions. In terms of operational safety, ASHRAE classified R1234ze in the safety group A2L. Toxicity investigations and compatibility tests of the materials used in the refrigeration circuits have shown positive results for R1234ze. Some lubricants show increased chemical reactivity which can be suppressed by the addition of stabilizers.

R1234ZE PROPERTIES

ASHRAE number

R1234ze

Composition

C₃H₂F₄

Boiling point @ 1atm [°C]

-19.0

Critical temperature [°C]

109.4

Ozone depletion potential

0

GWP AR5

6

ASHRAE safety class

A2L

Temperature glide [K]

0.0

Molecular weight [g/mol]

114.0

Liquid density @ 21.1°C [kg/m³]

1293.0

 

Free cooling chiller

Lightstream Freecool

Highly efficient free cooling chillers equipped with frequency-controlled screw compressors and adopted microchannel technology for free cooling and condensing coils.
Discover more

Lightstream Screw II air-cooled chiller

Lightstream Screw II

Air-cooled chillers powered by screw compressors exceeding the efficiency demands of today and offering a wide operating map and sustainable refrigerant options.
Discover more

Turbocor water-cooled chiller

Powerstream Turbo

Superior energy efficiency, highest stability, and environment safety are the hallmarks of these water-cooled chillers which are best suited for mission-critical cooling applications.
Discover more