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Eco-Friendly Status of Domestic Refrigerators Available In Bangladesh

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 ECO-FRIENDLY STATUS OF DOMESTIC REFRIGERATORS AVAILABLE
IN BANGLADESH

A Project Report
Submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Bangladesh Agricultural University,
Mymensingh for the partial fulfillment of the degree of

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

IN

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

By

MD. NUR-A-ALAM
ID No.: 0905049
Registration No.: 35588
Session: 2008-09

and

MD. ASHIQUR RAHMAN

ID No.: 0805024
Registration No.: 34562
Session: 2007-08

DEPARTMENT OF FARM POWER AND MACHINERY

BANGLADESH AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, MYMENSINGH

DECEMBER 2012
ECO-FRIENDLY STATUS OF DOMESTIC REFRIGERATORS AVAILABLE
IN BANGLADESH

A Project Report
Submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Bangladesh Agricultural University,
Mymensingh for the partial fulfillment of the degree of

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

IN

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

By

MD. NUR-A-ALAM
ID No.: 0905049
Registration No. 35588
Session: 2008-09

and

MD. ASHIQUR RAHMAN

ID No.: 0805024
Registration No. 34562
Session: 2007-08

DEPARTMENT OF FARM POWER AND MACHINERY

BANGLADESH AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, MYMENSINGH

DECEMBER 2012
 D EDICATED
TO OUR
BELOVED PARENTS
 Acknowledgements

All praised are due to the “Omnipotent Allah” Who is supreme power authority of this universe, Who enable us
to complete the Project Report and writing up the report for partially fulfillment of degree of Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.)
in Agricultural Engineering.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our honorable supervisor Dr. Md. Rostom Ali, Associate
Professor and Head of the Department of Farm Power & Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU),
Mymensingh for offering us the opportunity to involve in this Project Report and his scholastic guidance, fruitful
suggestions and friendly advice during the study which helped us to complete this piece of manuscript and whose
encouragement and support throughout the whole course enabled us to develop our research ability tremendously. He has
made available his support in numerous ways.

We are grateful to the all members of the Department of Farm Power & Machinery specially Professor Dr.
Abul Khair, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU),
Mymensingh for his administrative help from the beginning to the end of our study.

We would like to express our gratitude to the members of supervisory committee for their suggestions and
constructive criticism for the preparation of this manuscript.

Our acknowledgement goes to all refrigerator consumers, repairers and manufacturers of different refrigerator
for giving us technical assistance and information respectively.

We also express our grateful acknowledgement and indebtedness to beloved parents for their never ending and
ongoing support who sacrifice all their happiness during the entire period of study. We also grateful to our family
members for their continuous inspiration, sacrifices and blessing in carrying out the higher study which can never ever be
forgotten. We bow to each and everyone of my family for the kindness and love.

Authors
December 2012

i
 Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the status of refrigerator available in Bangladesh. Six
districts like Dhaka, Mymensingh, Bogra, Rangpur, Natore and Rajshahi were selected to find out
the problems due to using of improper refrigerants in domestic refrigerator. In this study, about 257
consumers’, 19 repairers’ and 3 manufacturers’ sites were visited with questionnaire. For
collecting information from manufacturer, it is necessary to contact through e-mail with some
manufacturers in abroad. At present about 46 refrigerator brands are available in Bangladesh. LG
Butterfly is highly demandable brand due to their installment packages on different occasions.
Walton (Bangladeshi refrigerator brand), Samsung, Sony Rangs are also in favourable to the
consumers. Almost all of the brands are Chinese. These are cheaper than any well-known
refrigerator brand. But these brands are using aluminum compressors and low quality refrigerants.
The common complains of the consumers were late ice formulation, noise in the refrigerator. R12,
R22, R134a, R600 and R600a are commonly using as refrigerants in Bangladesh. It requires 24,
34, 48, 72 and 96 minutes to make ice through R12, R22, R134a, R600 and R600a respectively.
Their refilling costs are 1350, 500, 1350, 1000, 2200 Tk/litre respectively and their noise level are
80, 72, 82, and 96 db respectively. R12 and R22 formed hard ice within 24 and 34 minutes
respectively but R134a, R600, R600a could not form it in their respective time. The noise level and
refilling cost of R600 and R600a are high and complain are also high from the refrigerator
repairers. Noise level also depends upon compressor. Repairers feel comfort to refill R12, R22
and R14a instead of R600 and R600a. Though R12, R22 are banned according to the declaration
of Montreal Protocol and Kyoto protocol, these are being used as there is an inadequate
government policy and monitoring in Bangladesh. Conventional refrigerator could not run by
R600a. It made huge noise. So repairers refill the conventional refrigerators with R12, R22 and
R134a at the time of refilling. R134a is better than R600/R600a. The complain level was less than
others. Alternative refrigerants also should be used and is necessary to study further for finding
the feasible requirements in conventional compressors.

ii
 Table of Contents

Chapter Title Page

Acknowledgements …………………………………….. i
Abstract ………………………………………………….. ii
Table of Contents ………………………………………. iii
List of Figures ………………………………………...…. v
List of Tables …………………...……………………….. vi
Acronyms …………………………………………..……. vii
I Introduction
1.1 Background ..……………......…………………………...………… 1
1.2 Problem Statement ..…………...……………………………..…… 4
1.3 Purpose .……………………...……………………..……………… 4
1.4 Objective ...…………………………...…………..………………… 4
1.5 Methods .………………………………...……..…………………… 5
1.6 Project Scope .………………………...……………………..…….. 5
1.7 Our Interest in the Subject Area ………………………………….. 5
1.8 Report Organization ………………………………………..………… 5
II Review of Literature
2.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………... 6
2.2 History and development of refrigerator …………………………... 6
2.3 Environmental Impacts of Refrigerators ……………………………. 10
2.4 Resource Recovery from Refrigerators ……………………………. 12
2.5 Eco-friendly refrigerant ………………………………………………. 12
2.6 ODS Destruction ……………………………………………………… 13
2.7 Hazardous Materials …………………………………………………. 13
2.8 Energy Consumption ………………………………………………… 13
III Materials and Methods
3.1 Research and Study Method ……………………………………... 14
3.2 Objectives-Methods Link ………………………………………….. 14
3.3 Specific Methods of Research Design ……………………………. 14
3.4 Data Analysis ………………………………………………………. 16
IV Results and Discussions
4.1 Refrigerators Available in Bangladesh ……………………………... 17
4.2 Refrigerants Used in Refrigerator …………………………………... 18
4.3 Complains …………………………………………………………….. 18

iii
 4.4 Noise level ………….…………………………………………………. 21
4.5 Power Consumption …………………………………………………. 21
4.6 General information of the refrigerants used in Bangladesh …….. 22
4.7 Chapter Summary ……………………………………………………. 23
V Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Conclusion …………………………………………………………….. 24
5.2 Recommendation …………………………………………………….. 24

References ………………………………………………. 26

Appendices
Appendix A: Questionnaire for Collecting Information from
Refrigerator Consumers …………………………………………... 31
Appendix B: Questionnaire for Collecting Information from
Refrigerator Repairers …………………………………………….. 32
Appendix C: Questionnaire for Collecting Information from
Refrigerator Manufacturers ……………………………………….. 33

iv
 List of Figures

Figure Title Page

1.1 HCFC phase out as per Montreal protocol ………………………………... 2
1.2 Legislative actions involving refrigerant ……………………………………. 3
1.3 Ozone depletion capacity based on global adherence to the Montreal
Protocol ……………………………………………………………………….. 3
4.1 Customer demand of refrigerator available in Bangladesh ……………… 17
4.2 Time required for ice formatting …………………………………………….. 19
4.3 Refrigerant refill ………………………………………………………………. 19
4.4 An eco-efficiency evaluation ………………………………………………… 20
4.5 Noise Level of Different refrigerants ……………………………………….. 21
4.6 Pressure vs. temperature graph of R600a and R134a …………………... 22

v
 List of Tables

Table Title Page

2.1 Climate Impact of One CFC or HFC/HCFC Refrigerator ………………… 12
3.1 Objective-Methods Link ……………………………………………………. 14
4.1 Cost of different refrigerants ………………………………………………... 20
4.2 General information between R600a and R600 ………………………… 22
4.3 Boiling and freezing point of different refrigerants ………………………. 23

vi
 Acronyms

Acronym Abbreviation
AC Air-Condition
ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineering
BRMA Bangladesh Refrigerator Manufacturers Association
COP Co-efficient of performance
CREEDAC Canadian Residential Energy End-use Data and Analysis Centre
GHG Green House Gas
GWP Global Warming Potential
HC Hydrocarbon
KWh Kilowatt Hour
NBP Normal Boiling Point
NGO Non-Government Organization
ODP Ozone Depletion Potential
PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyl
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride
TEAP Technological and Economic Assessment Panel
TFDT Task Force on Destruction Technologies
Tk Taka
UN United Nations
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UK United Kingdom
USA United States of America
US EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
yr Year

vii
 Chapter I
Introduction

1.1 Background
Eco-friendly refrigerator may be defined as the device which fulfill the purposes of
refrigerator, consume less power more efficiently and not harmful to environment and eco-system.
One of the most important applications of refrigeration is the preservation of perishable food and
agricultural products through storing them at low temperatures.

The demand and supply of refrigeration systems are growing rapidly. The refrigerants used
in refrigeration systems nearly a century ago such as air, carbon dioxide, ammonia were more or
less eco-friendly. But the quest of scientists and engineers for refrigerants with better thermo-
physical and chemical properties led to the development of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Both of them are harmful and directly adding to global
warming. When both CFCs and HCFCs release in the environment, it affect the ozone layer. It
releases two oxygen molecules out of three molecules from ozone atom.

At present more than fifty refrigerator brands are available in Bangladesh. Most of them
are Chinese brands and very much cheaper than others. In these refrigerators very poor and low
quality refrigerants are used. These are neither reusable nor retrofitable and harmful, not
environment friendly and cause many diseases.

1.1.1 Importance of Studying Eco-friendly Refrigerator

There is no available information about the refrigerators of Bangladesh. There are many
new brands refrigerator in market. It is necessary to know their status whether they are eco-
friendly or not. To safe the environment from global warming and ensure a better atmosphere for
our next generation this study is conducted.

1.1.1.1 Resource Recovery Perspective

The refrigerators available in Bangladesh are neither eco-friendly nor suitable for
environment. The refrigerators contained harmful CFC gases which are very much dangerous for
environment and ecology. This CFC gases are leave in the environment at the time of repairing
which is the liable for ozone layer depletion. Ozone layer is known as a giant umbrella because it
protects us from harmful rays of sunlight as well as Ultra Violet (UV) rays. In most of the cases the
refrigerants used in refrigerator are not retrofitable or reusable.

1
1.1.1.2 Environmental Perspective
From an environmental perspective, it is important to recognize the refrigerant for using in
domestic appliances. Because it has a significant risk to both human and environmental health in
the form of skin cancer, decreased crop yields, and climate change.

CFCs have been created as a highly stable and safe (non-flammable and non-toxic)
refrigerant. Chlorine atom-catalyzed destruct the ozone layer. It is one of the most important
aspects to protect life on planet earth. This chlorine then attract a single oxygen atom (split from
an ozone atom during the natural ozone creation/destruction process), thus destroying the natural
ozone cycle.

Cl + O3 → ClO + O2 – The chlorine atom changed an ozone molecule to ordinary oxygen

ClO + O3 → Cl + 2O2 – The ClO from the previous reaction destroyed a second ozone
molecule and recreated the original chlorine atom, which can repeat the first reaction and continue
to destroy ozone. The overall effect is remarkable for decreasing in the amount of ozone. More
complicated mechanism has been discovered that lead to ozone destruction in the lower
stratosphere as well.

120
% of production of HCFC set by

100
Montrel Protocol

80

60

40

20

0
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
1
Year

Fig 1.1 HCFC phase out as per Montreal protocol

2
 No new R-22 for service in US,
Kyoto Protocol went
Canada
into effect
No new equipment with R -123 in
developed countries
All CFC production
stopped (R-11 & R-
12) in developed No new R-123 for service in developed
countries No CFCs for countries, no HCFCs in new equipment in
developing developing countries
Montreal Protocol signed countries

No HCFC production in
developing countries

1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

No R-134a use in Continued use of

new model recycled R-22,
automobiles in R-123 for developing
Europe countries
Today
No new equipment with R- Continued use of recycled R-123
22 in US, Canada

Continued use of recycled R-22

Continued use of recycled CFCs

Fig 1.2 Legislative actions involving refrigerant

Fig 1.3 Ozone depletion capacity based on global adherence to the Montreal Protocol
3
1.1.1.3 Governmental Perspective
At present the market of any electrical product belongs to Chinese brands. To address the
issue, the Department of Environment (DoE), under its project ‘National ODS (Ozone Depleting
Substances) phase-out plan’ funded by UNDP, was tried to promote the use of eco-friendly
refrigerant. The ‘National ODS phase-out plan’ refers alternative refrigerants such as hydrocarbon
blend instead of harmful chloroflurocarbon. A (2005) survey of the DoE found that Bangladesh had
more than 25 lac CFC fridges. When a problem occurs in AC or refrigerator, people normally call it
is gas leakage in the machine. In repairing of AC or refrigerator, normally inorganic and organic
materials are using. For a poor country like Bangladesh, replacing old fridges is very costly, so it is
necessary to create a group of trained and skilled technicians to retrofit with eco-friendly
refrigerant. With the recovery system, a trained technician can recover and recycle refrigerant in
the system (The daily independent).

1.2 Problem Statement

Many people of Bangladesh are using comparatively less costly refrigerators for their poor
economic condition. This project report is to find out the most usable refrigerators in Bangladesh,
their refrigerants, power consumption, noise level, etc. Moreover, the conditions of the
refrigerators either are environmental friendly or not.

1.3 Purpose
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations
under the Clean Air Act to phase out the production and import of CFCs and HCFCs. Figures 1.2
to 1.3 have provided a summary of the major actions involving refrigerants in developed and
developing countries. The Montreal and Kyoto protocols have been set dates to ensure long-term
availability.

There is no available data, information or study on the refrigerator of Bangladesh. Though

Government has been taken a program in 2005, it could not able to make awareness among the
people. The use of CFC as a refrigerant in developing countries was globally banned in December
2010 as per the Montreal Protocol to save the ozone layer. But Bangladesh still has a huge
number of those refrigerators.

1.4 Objectives
The main objectives of this project is to recommend suitable alternatives eco-friendly
refrigerant, to find out the noise level of the refrigerator and also find out the most available
refrigerator in Bangladesh.

4
 The followings are two specific objectives:
i. To identify problems of domestic refrigerator for food preservation that encountered by
consumer, manufacturer and repairer.
ii. To study on different refrigerators and compare based on eco-friendly status.

1.5 Methods
The following methods, which will be discussed in detail in Chapter III.
a. Electronic questionnaires
b. Interview methods
c. Literature review

1.6 Project Scope

The scope of this project encompassed six districts of Bangladesh like Dhaka,
Mymensingh, Bogra, Rajshahi, Natore and Rangpur, however, it focused on status of eco-friendly
refrigerator of Bangladesh. We also visited various dealers, consumers and repairing shops.

1.7 Our Interest in the Subject Area

We presented with a unique opportunity to work with the different manufacturer, consumer
and repairer for developing the use of alternative refrigerants and their management practices
comparing based on eco-friendly status. However, to fully understand the immense scope and
nature of this subject area the noise level, power consumption, type of refrigerants and cycle of the
refrigerators will be studied.

1.8 Report Organization

This report will be organized into five chapters. After the introduction in chapter I, Chapter
II is the review of literature where we will try to focus the key elements of refrigerator, eco-friendly
refrigerator, refrigerant and their management policy. After that the report will provide materials
and methods in chapter III. The findings are arranged in result and discussion in chapter IV.
Finally, a discussion and recommendations will conclude this report in conclusions and
recommendations under chapter V for improving eco-friendly refrigerant, their management
policies, practices and procedures.

5
 Chapter II
Review of Literature

2.1 Introduction
This literature review is divided into four sections namely: 1) history and development of
refrigerator; 2) environmental impacts; 3) resource recovery; 4) refrigerant that used in
refrigerator

2.2 History and development of refrigerator

The refrigerator for preserving food in the home began with devices for the manufacture
of ice - for producing, so to say, a mechanical winter in the warmth of summer. It was the old
practice to collect ice in the winter months and store it in ice-houses. Thus underground ice-
houses of the eighteenth century may often be seen in the grounds of English country houses.
Methods of storage improved, and naturally ice was commonly used until the last century.

2.2.1 Early Progress

The first man to produce ice by mechanical means was the eminent Scottish physician
and chemist William Cullen (1710-1790), who wrote in 1755 An Essay on the Cold produced by
Evaporating Fluids. Cullen made use of a powerful vacuum pump to bring about the rapid
evaporation of water in an enclosed space at ordinary temperatures. The heat required for
evaporation was absorbed from the rest of the water, so lowering its temperature and causing it
to freeze.

Since considerable quantities of water vapor had to be removed at low suction-

pressures, Cullen's machine was not very efficient. It was improved by another Scottish
scientist, Sir John Leslie, who introduced a flat dish containing sulphuric acid under the receiver
of the air-pump, the acid absorbing the water vapor. The system was next improved about 1850
by Edmund Carre, with a machine which had to be replenished frequently with fresh acid, owing
to continual dilution of the acid by water. In 1878 F. Windhausen devised a machine in which the
dilute acid could be concentrated and used again. In 1883 a dairy company in Bays-water in
London was using an improved version of Windhausen's machine to make about twelve tons of
ice a day.

6
2.2.2 Development of Refrigerator
The refrigerator as we know it begins with Jacob Perkins, who patented a vapour-
compression machine in London in 1834. Ether was compressed by a single-acting vertical
compressor, and the heat of the compression was removed by passing the fluid through a coil
immersed in water. The ether was then allowed to expand through a valve into a chamber near
the bottom of a cistern of water; the low temperature produced by the evaporation of the
expanding ether was thus transmitted to the surrounding water. Perkins's apparatus was
sounder in principle than in operation, and twenty-one years went by before it was made
effective by James Harrison of Australia.

Ether was one possible refrigerant. About 1876 Professor Carl von Linde of Munich
introduced refrigeration by the compression of ammonia, designing a machine substantially
unaltered to the present day, although new refrigerants have been introduced. Ammonia is still
common for industrial plants, but since it is poisonous, safer materials have been developed,
particularly for domestic use. Thus one family of new refrigerants, introduced in 1932, consists
of a group of fluorinated hydrocarbons.

Low temperature could be produced not only by vapor compression but by the
absorption of vapor, a system which goes back to 1860, when Ferdinand Carre introduced his
Artificial Ice Machine. This consisted of two vessels. One contained a strong solution of
ammonia, the other at first was empty and surrounded by cold water. A stove, and the ammonia
gas driven off into the second vessel, where it condensed and gave up its latent heat to the
water outside, heated the ammonia solution. After a while the ammonia solution became very
dilute, where upon the stove was removed, and the ammonia vessel was also surrounded by
cold water. As a result, the condensed ammonia in the second vessel began to evaporate, and
in so doing exerted a refrigerating effect, the ammonia gas being reabsorbed by the now weak
solution in the first vessel.

Though refrigeration was devised and developed to produce ice, obviously it was
possible to stop short with producing cold - a cold storage chamber, which did the work of ice
with more efficiency and without the mess. Refrigeration, like vacuum-cleaning, had also
developed as industrial plant: the problem was also to reduce refrigeration to the domestic
refrigerator - to the now familiar 'fridge' - as it was to reduce vacuum-cleaning to the vacuum-
cleaner. This was done between 1910 and 1920, in the United States, the first kitchen
refrigerators having the familiar look of the old kitchen icebox.

7
 In general, a refrigerant may be defined as “any body or substance that acts as a cooling
medium by extracting heat from another body or substance”. Under this general definition, many
bodies or substances may be called as refrigerants, e.g. ice, cold water, cold air etc. In closed
cycle vapor compression, absorption systems, air cycle refrigeration systems the refrigerant is a
working fluid that undergoes cyclic changes. In a thermoelectric system the current carrying
electrons may be treated as a refrigerant. However, normally by refrigerants we mean the
working fluids that undergo condensation and evaporation as in compression and absorption
systems. The history that we are talking about essentially refers to these substances. Since
these substances have to evaporate and condense at required temperatures (which may
broadly lie in the range of –100oC to +100oC) at reasonable pressures, they have to be
essentially volatile. Hence, the development of refrigerants started with the search for suitable,
volatile substances. Historically the development of these refrigerants can be divided into three
distinct phases, namely:
i. Refrigerants prior to the development of CFCs
ii. The synthetic fluorocarbon (FC) based refrigerants
iii. Refrigerants in the aftermath of stratospheric ozone layer depletion

2.2.3 Refrigerants prior to the development of CFCs

Water is one of the earliest substances to be used as a refrigerant, albeit not in a closed
system. Production of cold by evaporation of water dates back to 3000 B.C. Archaeological
findings show pictures of Egyptian slaves waving fans in front of earthenware jars to accelerate
the evaporation of water from the porous surfaces of the pots, thereby producing cold water. Of
course, the use of “punches” for body cooling in hot summer is very well known in countries like
India. Production of ice by nocturnal cooling is also well known. People also had some
knowledge of producing sub-zero temperatures by the use of “refrigerant mixtures”. It is believed
that as early as 4th Century AD people in India were using mixtures of salts (sodium nitrate,
sodium chloride etc) and water to produce temperatures as low as –20oC. However, these
natural refrigeration systems working with water have many limitations and hence were confined
to a small number of applications.

Water was the first refrigerant to be used in a continuous refrigeration system by William
Cullen (1710-1790) in 1755. William Cullen is also the first man to have scientifically observed
the production of low temperatures by evaporation of ethyl ether in 1748. Oliver Evans (1755-
1819) proposed the use of a volatile fluid in a closed cycle to produce ice from water. He
described a practical system that uses ethyl ether as the refrigerant. As already mentioned the
credit for building the first vapor compression refrigeration system goes to Jakob Perkins (1766-
1849). Perkins used sculptures (ethyl) ether obtained from India rubber as refrigerant. Early
commercial refrigerating machines developed by James Harrison (1816-1893) also used ethyl
8
ether as refrigerant. Alexander Twining (1801-1884) also developed refrigerating machines
using ethyl ether. After these developments, ethyl ether was used as refrigerant for several
years for ice making, in breweries etc. Ether machines were gradually replaced by ammonia and
carbon dioxide based machines, even though they were used for a longer time in tropical
countries such as India.

Ethyl ether appeared to be a good refrigerant in the beginning, as it was easier to handle
it since it exists as a liquid at ordinary temperatures and atmospheric pressure. Ethyl ether has a
normal boiling point (NBP) of 34.5oC; this indicates that in order to obtain low temperatures, the
evaporator pressure must be lower than one atmosphere, i.e., operation in vacuum. Operation
of a system in vacuum may lead to the danger of outside air leaking into the system resulting in
the formation of a potentially explosive mixture. On the other hand a relatively high normal
boiling point indicates lower pressures in the condenser, or for a given pressure the condenser
can be operated at higher condensing temperatures. This is the reason behind the longer use of
ether in tropical countries with high ambient temperatures. Eventually due to the high NBP,
toxicity and flammability problems ethyl ether was replaced by other refrigerants. Charles Tellier
(1828-1913) introduced dimethyl ether (NBP = 23.6oC) in 1864. However, this refrigerant did not
become popular, as it is also toxic and inflammable.

In 1866, the American T.S.C. Lowe (1832-1913) introduced carbon dioxide compressor.
However, it enjoyed commercial success only in 1880s due largely to the efforts of German
scientists Franz Windhausen (1829-1904) and Carl von Linde (1842-1934). Carbon dioxide has
excellent thermodynamic and thermo-physical properties; however, it has a low critical
temperature (31.7oC) and very high operating pressures. Since it is non-flammable and non-
toxic it found wide applications principally for marine refrigeration. It was also used for
refrigeration applications on land. Carbon dioxide was used successfully for about sixty years
however, it was completely replaced by CFCs. It is ironic to note that ever since the problem of
ozone layer depletion was found, carbon dioxide is steadily making a comeback by replacing the
synthetic CFCs/ HCFCs/ HFCs etc (E. Dooley).

One of the landmark events in the history of refrigerants is the introduction of ammonia.
The American David Boyle (1837-1891) was granted the first patent for ammonia compressor in
1872. He made the first single acting vertical compressor in 1873. However, the credit for
successfully commercializing ammonia systems goes to Carl von Linde (1842-1934) of
Germany, who introduced these compressors in Munich in 1876. Linde is credited with
perfecting the ammonia refrigeration technology and owing to his pioneering efforts; ammonia
has become one of the most important refrigerants to be developed. Ammonia has a NBP of
33.3oC, hence, the operating pressures are much higher than atmospheric. Ammonia has
9
excellent thermodynamic and thermo-physical properties. It is easily available and inexpensive.
However, ammonia is toxic and has a strong smell and slight flammability. At present ammonia
is used in large refrigeration systems and also in small absorption refrigerators.

In 1874, Raoul Pictet (1846-1929) introduced sulphur dioxide (NBP=10.0oC). Sulphur

dioxide was an important refrigerant and was widely used in small refrigeration systems such as
domestic refrigerators due to its small refrigerating effect. Sulphur dioxide has the advantage of
being an auto-lubricant. In addition it is not only non-flammable, but actually acts as a flame
extinguisher. However, in the presence of water vapor it produces sulphuric acid, which is highly
corrosive. The problem of corrosion was overcome by an airtight sealed compressor (both motor
and compressor are mounted in the same outer casing). However, after about sixty years of use
in appliances such as domestic refrigerators, sulphur dioxide was replaced by CFCs.

In addition to the above, other fluids such as methyl chloride, ethyl chloride, iso-butane,
propane, ethyl alcohol, methyl and ethyl amines, carbon tetra chloride, methylene chloride,
gasoline etc. were tried but discarded due to one reason or other.

2.2.4 The synthetic CFCs/HCFCs

As a result large-scale commercialization of refrigeration systems was hampered.
Midgley along with his associates Albert L. Henne and Robert R. McNary at the Frigidaire
Laboratories began a systematic study of the periodic table. From the periodic table they quickly
eliminated all those substances yielding insufficient volatility. They then eliminated those
elements resulting in unstable and toxic gases as well as the inert gases, based on their very
low boiling points.

The first commercial refrigerant to come out of Midgley’s study is Freon-12 in 1931.
Freon-12 has a normal boiling point of 29.8oC, and is one of the most famous and popular
synthetic refrigerants. Due to the emergence of a large number of refrigerants in addition to the
existence of the older refrigerants, it has become essential to work out a numbering system for
refrigerants. For all synthetic refrigerants the number (e.g. 11, 12 and 22) denotes the chemical
composition. Refrigerant mixtures begin with the number 4 (zeotropic) or 5 (azeotropic), e.g. R-
500, R-502 etc.

2.3 Environmental Impacts of Refrigerators

Refrigerators have many impacts on the environment as they can contain ODS and toxic
materials (mercury, PCBs and mineral oils), as well as, consuming large amounts of energy.
These impacts are discussed in the following sub-sections.

10
2.3.1 Domestic Refrigeration: Ozone Depletion and Global Warming
The refrigerant in refrigerators used today contributes to ozone depletion and climate
change. There are so many refrigerator manufacturer companies but the refrigerants are not
suitable to the environment. When a refrigerant is released to the atmosphere at the time of
refilling it causes ODP and GWP.

2.3.2 Refrigerant Leaks

One of the biggest concerns regarding domestic appliances is refrigerants and their ability
to negatively effect the environment in terms of ozone depletion and climate change. Leaks are
generally the result of holes that have developed in the hermetic system, which seals in the
refrigerant and lubricating oils. In most cases, the unit can continue to function even while leaking
refrigerant.

2.3.3 Ozone Depleting and Global Warming Potentials (ODP/GWP)

ODP is the ratio of impact a particular ODS has on ozone relative to the impact of the
reference gas CFC-11 [ODP = 1] (US EPA 2007). This allows different ODS to be compared using
a single universal unit, which is displayed as CFC-11 equivalents – such that not all ODS are
uniform in terms of their ODP (i.e. CFC-12 = 1 and HCFC 141b = 0.1). The chosen gas of
reference is carbon dioxide (CO2), with a GWP of one. HFCs, which do not deplete ozone, are
powerful greenhouse gases and have been identified within the six main basket gases of the
Kyoto Protocol (California EPA 2004).

2.3.4 Global Warming and Domestic Refrigeration

Carbon dioxide is emitted as a result of generating electricity necessary to power
appliances – especially if the power is generated through burning coal. In total, twenty percent of
global warming can be attributed to refrigeration, with 20% of that from the release of halocarbons
and 80% from electricity consumption. It is predicted that by the year 2050, without responsible
use, HFCs could possibly account for approximately 2% of all GHG releases (M. Vainio 2004).
The combination of all major domestic appliances in a home can be directly linked to the release
of nearly 2,500- kg of GHGs each year. To put the climate impact of a single EOL CFC or
HFC/HCFC refrigerator in perspective, assuming the loss of 150g of refrigerant and more than 125
g of blowing agent (average 25% immediate loss of 500 g), one refrigerator of either type has a
carbon dioxide equivalent as calculated in Table 2.1. This is the equivalent of releasing 2.165
metric tons of carbon dioxide.

11
 Table 2.1 Climate Impact of One CFC or HFC/HCFC Refrigerator
Halocarbon Charge (Metric Tons) GWP 100 Years GWP 100 Years
CFC-11 0.000125 4,600 0.575
CFC-12 0.00015 10,600 1.59
Total 2.165
HCFC-141b 0.000125 580 0.0725
HFC-134a 0.00015 1,300 0.195
Total 0.2675

2.4 Resource Recovery from Refrigerators

According to Environment Canada, refrigerators make up at least 70% of all appliances
recycled in municipal recycling programs on a yearly basis. They have identified that at least 73%
of the total weight of an appliance consists of recoverable resources such as steel, aluminium, and
copper. If a refrigerator weighs 100 kg, 73 kg of that is recyclable scrap metals (Environment
Canada 2004).

2.5 Eco-friendly refrigerant

Results from many researches show that this ozone layer is being depleted. The general
consensus for the cause of this event is that free chlorine radicals remove ozone from the
atmosphere, and later, chlorine atoms continue to convert more ozone to oxygen. The presence of
chlorine in the stratosphere is the result of the migration of chlorine containing chemicals. The
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochloro-fluorocarbons (HCFCs) are a large class of
chemicals that behave in this manner. (Radermacher and Kim, 1996, Akash and Said, 2003).

Since the discovery of the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer caused mainly by CFC and
HCFC and as a result of the 1992 United Nations Environment Program meeting, the phase out of
CFC-11 and CFC-12, used mainly in conventional refrigeration and air conditioning equipment,
was expected by 1996 (Lee and Su, 2002).

The thermo physical properties of HFC-134a are very similar to those of CFC-12 and are
also non-toxic environmentally safe refrigerant; the American Household Appliances
Manufacturers have recommended HFC-134a as a potential replacement for CFC-12 in domestic
refrigerators. However, while the ozone depletion potentials (ODPs) of HFC-134a relative to CFC-
11 are very low (<5.10-4), the global warming potentials (GWPs) are extremely high (GWP 1300)
and also expensive. For this reason, the production and use of HFC- 134a will be terminated in
the near future (Sekhar et al., 2005).

Akash and Said (2003) studied the performance of LPG from local market (30%propane,
55% n-butane and 15% isobutene by mass) as an alternative refrigerant for CFC-12 in domestic
12
refrigerator with masses of 50g, 80g and 100g. The result showed that a mass charge of 80g gave
the best performance.

Devotta et al., (2001) selected HFC-134a, HC-290, R-407C, R-410A, and three blends of
HFC-32, HFC-134a and HFC- 125 and found that HFC-134a offers the highest COP, but its
capacity is the lowest and requires much larger compressors. The characteristics of HC-290 are
very close to those of HCFC-22, and compressors require very little modification. Therefore, HC-
290 is a potential candidate provided the risk concerns are mitigated as had been accomplished
for refrigerators.

Sekhar et al., (2005) also investigated refrigerant mixture of HCFC134a/HC in two low
temperature system (domestic refrigerator and deep freezer) and two medium temperature system
(vending machine and walk in cooler) and found that the HCFC134a/HC mixture that contains 9%
HC blend (by weight) has better performance resulting in 10-30% and 5-15% less energy
consumption (than CFC) in medium and low temperature system respectively

2.6 ODS Destruction

The Task Force on Destruction Technologies (TFDT) (also part of TEAP) recommend the
thermal oxidation (high heat) or plasma destruction process for ODS elimination. The TFDT
approved the following six techniques for thermal oxidation: liquid injection incineration, reactor
cracking, gaseous/fume oxidation, rotary kiln incineration, cement kilns, and municipal solid waste
incinerators (for ODS foams) (Environment Canada 2004).

2.7 Hazardous Materials

An equally important aspect of managing refrigerators and chest freezers is the
identification, removal, handling, and proper destruction of hazardous materials such as mercury,
PCB’s, and refrigerant oils. The following is a list of hazardous materials contained in refrigerators
including a profile of their human/environmental health risk and the policies and regulation in place
to reduce their emissions.

2.8 Energy Consumption

A 17-ft3 refrigerator manufactured in 1984 will consume nearly 177% more electricity
(1,457 KWh/year) than a similar sized 2002 energy efficient model (526 kWh/year). The results
showed that the UECs were 1,320-kWh/year (refrigerators) and 790 kWh/yr. Refrigerators of
concern are those models manufactured between the years of 1972 and 1993, as in 1994 the
United States introduced minimum energy efficiency standards for refrigerators.

13
 Chapter III
Materials and Methods

3.1 Method of the Study

A qualitative research design was needed to employ, incorporating interviews, participant
interaction, field observations, and document review. This approach was applied in this study to
examine status of refrigerator, power consumption, refrigerant and their management practices in
Bangladesh.

3.2 Objectives-Methods Link

How the objectives of this project were fulfilled by the methods is given below also
described in Section 3.3.

Table 3.1 Objective-Methods Link

Objective Method
1) To identify problems of domestic Literature and document review
refrigerator for food preservation that Questionnaires
encountered by consumer, manufacturer Interview schedule
and repairer Used appliance dealer, consumer and repairer
site tours
Refrigerator management survey

2) To study on different refrigerators and Analyzing the data collected through

compare based on eco-friendly questionnaires, interview schedule and
refrigerator management survey
Group discussions

3.3 Specific Methods of the Study

This research design was selected to examine the eco-friendly level of the refrigerators,
the management practices of the refrigerants in repairer available in Bangladesh and
determination of gaps in policy. The ultimate goal was to recommend an eco-friendly refrigerant
and management strategies to improve the sustainability of environment. The methods that were
used to accomplish this goal included visiting many consumers, manufacturer and repairer shop.
Interviews were undertaken in the following site visits.

14
3.3.1 Consumers’ site visit
Two hundreds of consumer sites were visited to gather the information of the most used
refrigerator across Bangladesh. Six districts (Dhaka, Mymensingh, Bogra, Rangpur, Natore and
Rajshahi) were selected to provide good representation for site visits in order to gather
information, discuss the reason of using it and identify their problems to use it.

3.3.2 Manufacturers’ site visit

Thirty different refrigerator dealer sites and two manufacturers (by e-mail) were visited to
identify their problems, noise level and refrigerants that they use. The recycling and refilling
process were then noted down. Discussions with operators focused on their acceptance policies
(with or without refrigerant), hazardous components, treatment (or lack of) of PUR (Polyurethane)
foams, and end markets for recovered fractions.

3.3.3 Repairers’ site visit

Eighteen different repairer shops were visited to gather the information how and what type
of refrigerants are used in case of repairing. We also focused on their institutional and academic
knowledge about refrigerator in order to gather information and identify their problems to use it.

3.3.4 Stakeholder Interviews

Twelve local stakeholders involved with refrigerator were interviewed either in person or
by telephone email. Interviews lasted on average 10-30 minutes and data was recorded
primarily into the researchers’ notebook. The purpose of these interviews was to answer
questions or clarify concerns not covered during site visits. Stakeholders included appliance
resellers, utility representatives, scrap metal recyclers, municipal officials, landfill operators, and
provincial officials.

3.3.5 Questionnaires
Questionnaires, see Appendices A-C, specifically pertaining to site tours in five districts of
Bangladesh were developed to fill gaps within the field notes, which were not addressed during
the site tours. Questions focused primarily on different specifications of refrigerators and role of
the resident and local authorities, refrigerant management (destruction and collection) and
transportation of refrigerants etc.

15
3.3.6 Literature and Document Review
The literature review provided critical background information to orient the research and
identified previous research findings of different refrigerants used in refrigerators available in
Bangladesh.

3.4 Data Analysis

Data was analyzed by reviewing documents and images and feedback from study
activities. This information was then interpreted to help make recommendations for sustainable
refrigerant for the refrigerators.

16
 Chapter IV
Results & Discussions

4.1 Refrigerators Available in Bangladesh

In this study we visited 257 consumers and found forty-five refrigerator brands that are
used by consumers in Bangladesh. These are Anova, Ariston, ATN, Daewoo, eco+, Fujian,
General, G&E, Hicon, Haiko, Hitachi, Hoober, Hotpoint, HP, Hyes & Haier, Hysense, icool, Ignis,
Kalon, Kelon, Kanca, Kelvinator, Konca, Lifan, LG Butterfly, Marcel, Marvel, Mitsubishi, Mitsui , My
One, Nokia, Panasonic, Royal, Samsung, Sharp, Singer, Sony Rangs, Super Ariston, TCL,
Transcom, Toshiba, Vespotch, Walton, Western, Whirlpool. Amongst them only Walton is a
Bangladeshi brand refrigerator. The spare parts of ATN refrigerator are being assembled in
Bangladesh. Ignis is an Italian and rests are Chinese brand refrigerator.

Super Ariston Panasonic Mitsubishi

2% 3% Western 1%
icool Whirlpool
Toshiba 1% LG Butterfly
2% 2% Others
2% 20%
5%
Fujian
2%

Sharp
3%

Walton
Kelvinator 15%
2% Samsung
Hitachi My One Singer 11%
4% Konca Sony Rangs 7% 9%
4% 5%

LG Butterfly Walton Samsung Singer My One

Sony Rangs Konca Hitachi Kelvinator Sharp
Fujian icool Super Ariston Toshiba Panasonic
Western Mitsubishi Whirlpool Others

Fig 4.1 Customer demand of refrigerator available in Bangladesh

LG Butterfly, Walton, Samsung, Singer, Sony Rangs are the leading refrigerator brands in
Bangladesh. The companies of these brands are giving 5 years warrantee. Others refrigerators
generally give 5-7 years warrantee. New brands refrigerator offer up to 10 years warrantee. Fig

17
4.1 shows LG Butterfly refrigerators is highly demandable brand in Bangladesh because it offers
installments on various occasions and there attracting advertising strategy by scratch cards with
gifts. Walton refrigerator is in second position. Though it is newly brand refrigerator in Bangladesh,
it catches the market due to its low cost and service. Samsung, Singer, Sony Rangs are the aged
and reliable refrigerator brands in Bangladesh. Now they are lagged because of their high cost
than above two. Now-a-days My One is also demandable the refrigerator market because of its
low cost and long warrantee. People generally buy refrigerator based on the brand name,
something influencing by advertising, suggestion of friends, neighbors and relatives.

4.2 Refrigerants Used in Refrigerator

There is no government policy or act of using refrigerants. So there is no regulating and
monitoring institute, GO or NGO about using refrigerants in refrigerator. Eco-friendly refrigerator
refers basically the use of environmental friendly refrigerant. In Bangladesh, Chinese brand
refrigerators are available with very poor quality refrigerants. There is no government campaign to
aware the people about the harmful effect of refrigerants toward the environment.

Before 1990, most of the refrigerators available in Bangladesh were frost and contained
harmful R11 refrigerant. Then Freon i.e. R12 refrigerant containing refrigerator was available in
2000. Now-a-days maximum refrigerators are non-frost and many Chinese refrigerators are
containing R22 refrigerants. The well-known brand refrigerators also contain R134a or R600
refrigerants. Some refrigerator company like Sony Rangs, Sharp, and Panasonic also supplied
refrigerators having R600, R600a or HC blend refrigerants. These are the most eco-friendly
refrigerants. But it is very costly compared with others and conventional compressors can not run
by these refrigerants. If it is refilled in conventional refrigerants it makes huge noise and after a
while (maximum 10 days) the refrigerator become turned off its operation. Again it is needed to
refill.

4.3 Complains

4.3.1 Consumers’ Complains

Consumers generally do not know details functions, chemical reactions, advantages and
disadvantages of the refrigerant. Generally they buy refrigerators by brand name or influenced by
relatives, neighbors or friends. They want quick ice forming refrigerator. Refrigerant R11 is the
quickest ice forming refrigerants. It takes about 12-15 minutes for ice formation. As it is quite
harmful and liable for Ozone Layer Depletion, it was banned internationally. Refrigerant R600 and
R 600a take more time to make hard ice. So people do not take it gently, they are moving to
Chinese brands. Fig 4.2 shows the time required for ice forming in different refrigerants.

18
 2

1.5

Time (hr)
1

0.5

0
R12 R22 R134a R600 R600a
Refrigerant
Fig 4.2 Time required for ice formatting

4.3.2 Repairers’ Complain

The Department of Environment (DoE), Bangladesh, arranged a training program of using
eco-friendly refrigerants such as HC blends for the refrigerator repairer under the project of
‘National ODS phase-out plan’ funded by both UNDP and arranged by BRMA in 2005. Almost all
the refrigerator repairers of Bangladesh took this training. But they did not get HC blend refilling
implements or equipments due to unavoidable circumstances. So they do not fill R600a
refrigerant. They feel comfort to refill R12, R22, R134a and hardly R600. The cost of refrigerant
during refill operation is given below in tabular form.

Fig 4.3 Refrigerant refill at the repairer shop

19
 Table 4.1 Cost of different refrigerants
Refrigerant Cost (Tk/litre)
R12 1350
R22 500
R134a 1350
R600 1000
R600a 2200

The cost of eco-friendly refrigerator is always high compared with others. Because the cost
of environment friendly refrigerants having zero ODP and GWP are more costly than others.
Cost of refrigerants

Environmental friendliness

Fig 4.4 An eco-efficiency evaluation

If we want to get an eco-friendly refrigerant, the cost of this refrigerant will be high due to
the low demand and production. On the other hand, the demand and production of harmful
refrigerants are more.

4.3.3 Manufacturers’ Problem

The manufacturers manufacture refrigerator according to the demand of the consumers.
The consumers want quick ice forming, long lasting and cheap. As there is no government rule,
regulation, monitoring or policy of using refrigerator they use cheaper refrigerants in there brands.
It mainly occurs in case of new brand Chinese refrigerator. The well-known refrigerator companies
do not use these refrigerants because of international monitoring and protocols. They want to
survive in international competitions. So, they use moderately eco-friendly refrigerants. But
sometimes the well-known companies impose there old or banned model refrigerator as there is
no monitoring in Bangladesh.

20
4.4 Noise Level
Noise level is another parameter to select an eco-friendly refrigerator. The noise level
depends upon many things such as compressor, operational condition, refrigerants, voltage,
current, etc. The refrigerators having aluminum compressor make more noise compared with
copper compressor. In our study we got many refrigerators containing HC blends i.e. R600a
refrigerant, noise level after refilling of refrigerant. On the other hand, the Chinese brand
refrigerators use aluminum as an alternative of copper in motor and make more noise. The
conventional motor can not run by R600a or R600. The noise level of R134a is less than others.
The comparative noise levels of different refrigerants are given in Fig 4.5.

100
Maximum Noise Level (db)

80

60

40

20

0
R12 R134a R600 R600a
Refrigerant

Fig 4.5 Noise level of different refrigerants

4.5 Power Consumption

The refrigerators available in Bangladesh generally consume more or less same power. All
refrigerators are generally designed base on 220V and 50Hz alternating current. So, power
consumption depends upon the current consumption of the motor which circulate the refrigerants.
We observed the current varied between 0.50-.060A. The old model refrigerators are designed as
0.60A current and new refrigerators are designed as 0.50A. Hence the power consumption
generally varies 114W to 130W.

21
4.6 General Information of the Refrigerants Used in Bangladesh
R12, R22, R134a, R600 and R600a are the most common refrigerants in the available
refrigerator in Bangladesh. It is treated that R12, R22 are first generation refrigerants and R134a,
R600 and R600a are the second generation refrigerants. R600a is the most eco-friendly among
them. From review of literature (S. Corr et al.) the comparable characteristics between R600a and
R134a are given in table 4.2 and fig 4.6.

Table 4.2 general information between R600a and R600

Parameters R600a R134a

Evaporating pressure kPa Abs. 88.5 164.0
Condensing pressure kPa Abs. 404.5 771.0
(-15°C) kg/m³ 2.489 8.278
Sat. Liq. Density @ 30°C kg/m³ 543.7 1186
Latent Heat @-15°C kJ/kg 355.7 201.5

300
R600a
250 R134a
Pressure (psi)

200

150

100

50

0
-50 0 50 100 150 200
Temperature (°F)

Fig 4.6 Pressure vs. temperature graph of R600a and R134a

Table 4.2 shows that R600a is better than R134a in all aspects. Fig 4.6 indicates the
pressure level of 134a at different temperature is higher than R600a. So R600a is more eco-
friendly than R134a.

22
 Table 4.3 Boiling and freezing point of different refrigerants
Refrigerant Boiling Point @ 1 atm (K) Freezing point (K)
R12 243.37 115.38
R22 232.4 13.16
R134a 247 176.55
R600 272.66 134.66

Table 4.3 indicates that low boiling and freezing point refrigerant is R22. It is able to form
hard ice quickly but harmful to the environment. Generally it used in frost type refrigerators.

4.7 Chapter Summary

From above discussions finally we got R600 and R600a are the eco friendly refrigerants.
But they take time for ice formation. On the other hand, the refrigerators with R600 refrigerant do
not work for long time as it has little lifetime. The refrigerators create much noise after refilling with
R600a. After sometimes it could not run. So the repairers refill R12, R22 or R134a instead of R600
or R600a. R-134a is classified as an A1 (Lower toxicity – no flame propagation) refrigerant by
ASHRAE, it has no ODP but the GWP is 1300. It has very good performance based on heat
transfer properties and is a good candidate for screw and centrifugal compressor applications.
R134a is one of the best solutions. It has zero ODP and therefore has no phaseout date from the
Montreal Protocol. All second generation centrifugal and screw chillers in the market place has
been designed based on R134a. It does not create problem at the time of refilling and refilling cost
is also near to hand of an owner.

23
 Chapter V
Conclusion & Recommendation

5.1 Conclusion
LG Butterfly, Walton, Samsung, Singer, Sony Rangs are the leading refrigerator brands in
Bangladesh. Others refrigerators generally give 5-7 years warrantee. New brands refrigerator offer
up to 10 years warrantee. Samsung, Singer, Sony Rangs are the aged and reliable refrigerator
brands in Bangladesh.

According to the study, R12, R22, R134a, R600 and R600a are the most available
refrigerant for domestic refrigerator. R600 and R600a are the eco-friendly refrigerant having zero
ODP and GWP. On the other hand R134a has zero ODP but GWP (1300). The complain level of
R134a is less than R600 and R600a. So we can call it eco-friendly refrigerant. Research should
be conducted more about other eco-friendly refrigerant having zero ODP and GWP.

Refrigerant R11 is the quickest ice forming refrigerants. The Department of Environment
(DoE), Bangladesh, arranged a training program of using eco-friendly refrigerants such as HC
blends for the refrigerator repairer under the project of ‘National ODS (Ozone Depleting
Substances) phase-out plan’ funded by UNDP in 2005.

Noise level is another parameter to select an eco-friendly refrigerator. The refrigerators

having aluminum compressor make more noise compared with copper compressor.

All refrigerators are generally designed base on 220V and 50Hz alternating current .The
old model refrigerators are designed as 0.60A current and new refrigerators are designed as
0.50A. Hence the power consumption generally varies 114W to 130W.

5.2 Recommendation
It is high time to find out the refrigerant which is consumer, manufacturer, cost, noise friendly
and not harmful to the environment at all. It is necessary to find out the refrigerant which has
advantages in environmental compatibility, performance of the equipment, health and safety
issues, materials compatibility (corrosion, swelling etc.), maintenance/servicing, extent cost, future
costs, availability of suitably, trained technicians, throughput of process, including cycle time,
availability (number of suppliers of equipment and refrigerant), ease of installation (availability of
power, water, compressed air, nitrogen, steam etc.) So it is essential to find out alternative
refrigerants. The refrigerants that are currently available need to consider their efficiency, direct
24
and indirect environmental impact, and safety. There is no perfect refrigerant comparing the ODP,
GWP and energy efficiency of today’s commercial refrigerants and potential future refrigerants.
The literature shows that HCFC-123 (R-123), HFC-152a (R-152a) and HFC-32 (R-32) strike a
good balance between ODP, GWP and efficiency. However, the use of R-152a and R-32 is limited
because of flammability. Therefore, it is essential to conduct further details study on the issue.

25
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30
 Appendix A: Questionnaire for Collecting Information from
Refrigerator Consumers
An interview schedule for collecting information

Serial No.:
1. Name of the Personnel :
2. Address:
3. Name of the Brand:
5. Year of Purchase:
6. No. of Repair / Servicing per year:
7. Specification:

Dimension Type

of Refrigerant (gm)
Capacity (cft or lit.)

Refrigeration system

Service time (yr)

Refrigerant use

Current (Amp)
Life time (yr)
Voltage (V)
Weight (kg)

Power (W)

Noise (db)
Model No.

Price (tk)
W (mm)
D (mm)
H (mm)

No frost
Amount

Frost

8. Problems encountered by Consumer:

9. Comment (if any):

Thanks for your kind co-operation.

Signature of Data Collector

31
 Appendix B: Questionnaire for Collecting Information from
Refrigerator Repairers
An interview schedule for collecting information

Serial No. :
1. Name of the Personnel :
2. Address :
3. Educational/ Institutional background of the repairer:
○ Primary School pass
○ SSC pass
○ HSC pass
○ Diploma degree in refrigerator repairing from any institution
● Name of the institution: ………………………………………………...
● Duration: ………………………………
● Year: ………………
○ Trained in refrigerator repairing from any institution
● Name of the institution: ……………………………………………….
● Duration: ………………………………
● Year: ………………
4. Year when started functioning:
6. Amount of Repair per Year:
Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
No. of repair

7. In case of repairing:

Brand & Name of Amount of Name of Amount of Management Cost of Cost of

Model used used refilled refilled of waste refilled previous
refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant

8. Problems encountered by Consumer:

9. Comment (if any):

Thanks for your kind co-operation.

Signature of Data Collector

32
 Appendix C: Questionnaire for Collecting Information from
Refrigerator Manufacturers
An interview schedule for collecting information

Serial No. :

1. Manufacturer Name :
2. Address (Country if imported) :
3. Name of the Personnel :
4. Designation :
5. Year when started functioning :
6. Amount of sell per Year :
Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
No. of sell

7. Specification:

Dimension Type

Automatic ice maker (Yes / No)

of Refrigerant (gm)
Capacity (cft or lit.)

Expected Life (yr)

Refrigeration system

Service time (yr)

Refrigerant use

Current (Amp)
Voltage (V)
Weight (kg)

Power (W)

Noise (db)
Model No.

Price (tk)
Non frost
W (mm)
D (mm)
H (mm)

Amount

Frost

33
 8. In case of servicing:

Model Name of Amount of Name of Amount of Management Cost of Cost of

used used refilled refilled of waste refilled previous
refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant refrigerant

9. Problems encountered by Consumer:

10. Comment (if any):

Thanks for your kind co-operation.

Signature of Data Collector

34
 35

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