Designation System for

Refrigerant
 A large number of refrigerants have been developed over the years for a
wide variety of applications, a numbering system has been adopted to
designate various refrigerants
 From the number one can get some useful information about the type of
refrigerant, its chemical composition, molecular weight etc.
 The refrigerants are internationally designated as 'R' followed by certain
numbers such as
 R-11, R-12, R-114 etc. A refrigerant followed by a two-digit number indicates
that a refrigerant is derived from methane base while three-digit number
represents ethane base.
 The numbers assigned to hydro-carbon and halo-carbon refrigerants have
a special meaning.
 The second digit from the right is
 one more than the number of hydrogen (H) atoms present. The third digit
from the right is one less than the number of carbon (C) atoms,
 The general chemical formula for the refrigerant, either for
methane or ethane base, is given as CmHnClpFq, in
 which n + p + q = 2m + 2
 m = Number of carbon atoms,
 n = Number of hydrogen atoms,
 p = Number of chlorine atoms, and
 q = Number of fluorine atoms.
 the number of the refrigerant is given by R (m- 1)(n + 1) (q)
 Let us consider the following refrigerants to find its
chemical formula and the number.
 1. Dichloro-difluoro-methane (CCl2F2)
 Number of chlorine atoms, p = 2
 Number of fluorine atoms, q = 2
 and number of hydrogen atoms, n = 0
 We know that n + p + q = 2m + 2
 0 + 2 + 2 =2m+ 2 or m= 1
 Number of carbon atoms = 1
 Thus the chemical formula for dichloro-difluoro-methane becomes CCizF2
and the number of refrigerant becomes
 R (m- 1)(n + 1) (q)

 R (1-1) (0+1)(2) or R-012 i.e. R-12.

 2. Dichloro-tetrafluoro-ethane (C2Cl2F4)
 Number of chlorine atoms, p=2
Number of fluorine atoms, q=4
and number of hydrogen atoms, n = 0
We know that n + p + q = 2m + 2
0 + 2 + 4 =2m+ 2 or m =2
i.e. Number of carbon atoms = 2
 Thus the chemical formula for dichloro-tetrafluoro-
ethane becomes C2Cl2F4 and the number of refrigerant
becomes
 R (m- 1)(n + 1) (q)
 R (2-1) (0+1) (4) or R-114.
 Dichloro-trifluoro-ethane (CHCI2CF1)
 Number of chlorine atoms, p=2
 Number of fluorine atoms, q = 3
 and number of hydrogen atoms, n = l
 We know that n + p + q =2m+ 2
 l + 2 + 3 =2m+ 2
 i.e. Number of carbon atoms = 2 or m=2
 Thus the chemical formula for dichloro-trifluoro-etha:ne
becomes CHCI2CF1 and the number
 of refrigerant becomes R(2 - 1) (1 + l) (3) or R-123.
 inorganic refrigerants:
 The inorganic refrigerants are designated by adding 700 to the
molecular mass of the compound. For example, the molecular
mass of ammonia is l7, therefore it is designated by
 R- (700 + 17) or R-717.
 Carbon dioxide: Molecular weight is 44, ∴ the designation is R 744
 Water: Molecular weight is 18, ∴ the designation is R 718
 Mixtures: Azeotropic mixtures are designated by 500 SERIES
 R 500: Mixture of R 12 (73.8 %) and R 152a (26.2%)
 R 502: Mixture of R 22 (48.8 %) and R 115 (51.2%)
 R503: Mixture of R 23 (40.1 %) and R 13 (59.9%)
 R507A: Mixture of R 125 (50%) and R 143a (50%)
 Hydrocarbons: (Natural)
 Propane (C3H8) : R 290
 n-butane (C4H10) : R 600
 iso-butane (C4H10) : R 600a
 Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: R1150 (C2H4)
 R1270 (C3H6)