It is the substance that, upon evaporation, absorbs heat from an environment or medium.
The cooling process is called sensitive when it changes only the temperature of the refrigerant.
When refrigerant fluid changes from liquid to vapor, cooling is called latent.
In practice, refrigerants that cool by the absorption of sensible heat are: water, air, brine, calcium and so on.
And those who cool by latent absorption are very much used in refrigeration systems.
Types of refrigerants used in refrigeration systems
CFC- These are molecules formed by the elements chlorine, fluorine and carbon. CFCs destroy the ozone layer. Being damaged allows ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach the surface of the earth causing an increase in skin cancer, eye damage, weakening of the immune system and can also damage agricultural production and marine life. National and international chemical industries no longer produce CFCs. Today it is a substance controlled by IBAMA.
HCFC- used in: window and split air conditioning, self, cold rooms and various refrigeration equipment. Examples: R-22, R-141b, etc.
HFC- Used in: automotive air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, domestic refrigeration and industrial refrigeration. Examples: R-134a, R-404a, R-407C and the like.
