Refrigerant, also known as refrigerant, refrigerant, and refrigerant, is the medium substance used to complete energy conversion in various heat engines.
These substances usually increase power through reversible phase changes (such as gas-liquid phase changes). Such as steam in steam engines, refrigerant in refrigerators, etc. When a general steam engine is working, it releases the heat energy of steam and converts it into mechanical energy to generate motive force; while the refrigerant in the refrigerator is used to transfer heat from low temperature to high temperature.
The more common working media in traditional industry and life are partially halogenated hydrocarbons (especially chlorofluorocarbons), but they are now gradually being phased out because they can cause holes in the ozone layer. Other widely used working media are ammonia, sulfur dioxide and non-halogenated hydrocarbons (such as methane).
Development History
In 1805, O. Evans originally proposed the idea of ??using volatile fluids in a closed cycle to freeze water into ice.
He described a system in which ether was evaporated under vacuum and the vapor was pumped to a water-cooled heat exchanger where it was condensed and used again. In 1834, Perkins developed and patented the vapor compression refrigeration cycle for the first time. Diethyl ether (ethyl ether) was used as the refrigerant in the vapor compression refrigeration equipment he designed.
Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Refrigerant