The choice between ammonia and halogenated refrigerants can be immediate if we take into account the characteristics of toxicity, flammability and incompatibility of ammonia with some materials, however thermodynamically ecologically and economically ammonia has advantages that no refrigerant
can answer.
By virtue of having a latent heat of higher vaporization, the flow rate for a given cooling capacity of an ammonia plant is in the order of 1/7 to 1/10 of that corresponding to the halogenated refrigerants. This feature is important in liquid recirculation systems, implying lower pumping power.
Ecologically, ammonia is the only refrigerant in abundance in nature and consequently does not harm the greenhouse effect (GWP = O), nor does it damage the ozone layer (ODP = O).
Economically the advantages of the use of ammonia are great, since the initial cost of the installation at a first moment is high, but taking into account the quantity and the price per kg an ammonia installation tends to pay, since the cost of ammonia is of the order of 7 to 10 times lower than the halogenated ones.
