Environmental and Efficiency Assessment of LPG Refrigerants for Eco-Conscious Cooling

Abstract

Hydrocarbon refrigerants, especially liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), are of increasing interest as the issues of ozone layer depletion become paramount. Hydrocarbon refrigerants combine low cost and safety with the ability to be dropped into existing refrigeration systems. Among the several advantages, the most important is that they have an ODP of zero and very low GWP, implying these products are benign and less harmful to the environment than traditional refrigerants. Both liquid and vaporized LPG have a high expansion ratio. This feature associates lowering temperatures with rising pressure and volume, which is a key principle for designing and optimizing cooling systems. In addition, LPG is not only non-toxic, it is also thermodynamically favorable, and can be used with most existing refrigeration systems, which positions it as a potential agent for green refrigeration technologies going forward.

Finally, the move towards LPG refrigeration is in line with international sustainability objectives and green energy campaigns. LPG systems thus contribute towards the decarbonization of the cooling and refrigerant sectors by decreasing reliance on fluorinated gases and encouraging adoption of natural refrigerants. This is especially pertinent, as the world’s use of cooling and refrigeration is expected to increase, and even more so in the Global South, where cities are rapidly urbanizing and facing the effects of climate change. Overall, refrigeration technologies that use LPG are an emerging candidate within green technologies.