View source for R-410A

{{Short description|Refrigerant R-410A}}
'''R-410A''' is a [[refrigerant]] used in [[air conditioning]] and [[heat pump]] applications. It is a [[Zeotropic mixture|zeotropic]] but near-[[azeotrope|azeotropic]] mixture of [[difluoromethane]] (CH<sub>2</sub>F<sub>2</sub>, called R-32) and [[pentafluoroethane]] (CHF<sub>2</sub>CF<sub>3</sub>, called R-125). R-410A is sold under the trademarked names AZ-20, EcoFluor R410, Forane 410A, Genetron R410A, Puron, and Suva 410A.
On December 27, 2020, the United States Congress passed the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which directs US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to phase down production and consumption of [[hydrofluorocarbon]]s (HFCs).<ref>{{cite web |title=Protecting Our Climate by Reducing Use of HFCs |url=https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction |website=US Environmental Protection Agency |date=8 February 2021 |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Background on HFCs and the AIM Act |url=https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/background-hfcs-and-aim-act |website=www.usepa.gov |publisher=US EPA |access-date=27 June 2024}}</ref> The AIM act was passed because HFCs have high [[global warming potential]]. Rules developed under the AIM Act require HFC production and consumption to be reduced by 85% from 2022 to 2036.<ref>{{cite web |author1=EPA Press Office |title=U.S. Will Dramatically Cut Climate-Damaging Greenhouse Gases with New Program Aimed at Chemicals Used in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration |url=https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/us-will-dramatically-cut-climate-damaging-greenhouse-gases-new-program-aimed-chemicals |website=US Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=25 August 2022 |date=23 September 2021}}</ref> R-410A will be restricted by this Act because it contains the HFC R-125. Other refrigerants with lower global warming potential will replace R-410A in most applications, just as R-410A replaced the earlier ozone-depleting refrigerant, R-22.<ref name = "CARB">{{cite web |title=Choosing a New System? |url=https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/choosing-new-system |website=California Air Resources Board |access-date=25 August 2022 }}</ref>
==History==
R-410A was invented and patented by [[Allied Signal]] (now [[Honeywell]]) in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.honeywell.com/us/en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116102632/http://www51.honeywell.com/sm/410a/about-us/az-story.html |url-status=dead |title=Home|archive-date=November 16, 2007|website=www.honeywell.com}}</ref> Other producers around the world have been licensed to manufacture and sell R-410A.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.honeywell.com/us/en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125165203/http://www51.honeywell.com/sm/410a/certification.html |url-status=dead |title=Home|archive-date=November 25, 2007|website=www.honeywell.com}}</ref> R-410A was successfully commercialized in the air conditioning segment by a combined effort of [[Carrier Corporation]], [[Emerson Climate Technologies|Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.]], Copeland Scroll Compressors (a division of [[Emerson Electric Company]]), and [[Allied Signal]]. Carrier Corporation was the first company to introduce an R-410A-based residential air conditioning unit into the market in 1996 and holds the trademark "Puron".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trademarkia.com/puron-the-environmentally-sound-refrigerant-77215886.html |title=PURON - Reviews & Brand Information - Carrier Corporation SYRACUSE, NY - Serial Number: 77215886 |publisher=Trademarkia.com |date= |access-date=2016-05-01}}</ref>
===Transition from R-22 to R-410A===
In accordance with terms and agreement reached in the [[Montreal Protocol]] (The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer), the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] mandated that production or import of [[Chlorodifluoromethane|R-22]] along with other [[hydrochlorofluorocarbons]] (HCFCs) be phased out in the United States. In the EU and the US, R-22 could not be used in the manufacture of new air conditioning or similar units after 1 January 2010.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> In other parts of the world, the phase-out date varied from country to country.
Since 1 January 2020, the production and importation of R-22 has been banned in the US; the only available sources of R-22 include that which has been stockpiled or recovered from existing devices.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> [[File:R410a - zeotropic but near-azeotropic mixture of difluoromethane.png|thumb|R410a - zeotropic but near-azeotropic mixture of difluoromethane]]
By 2020, most newly manufactured window air conditioners and mini split air conditioners in the United States used refrigerant R-410A.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.410a.com|title=Honeywell AZ-20 (R-410A) Refrigerant|access-date=2021-09-01|archive-date=2017-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924035636/http://410a.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Further, R-410A had largely replaced [[Chlorodifluoromethane|R-22]] as the preferred refrigerant for use in residential and commercial air conditioners in Japan and Europe, as well as the United States.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout/phaseout-class-ii-ozone-depleting-substances |title=Phaseout of Class II Ozone-Depleting Substances |access-date=2024-06-26 }}</ref>
==Environmental effects==
[[Image:HCFC and HFC atmospheric trends.png|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Rapid growth of R-410A (HFC-125/HFC-32) atmospheric concentrations, when & IF leaked (bottom-right graph).]]
Unlike [[alkyl halide]] refrigerants that contain bromine or chlorine, R-410A (which contains only fluorine) does not contribute to [[ozone depletion]] and therefore became more widely used as ozone-depleting refrigerants like [[Chlorodifluoromethane|R-22]] were phased out. However, like [[methane]], R-410A has a [[global warming potential]] (GWP) that is appreciably worse than CO<sub>2</sub> (GWP = 1) for the time it persists. R-410A is a mixture of 50% HFC-32 and 50% HFC-125. HFC-32 has a 4.9 year lifetime and a 100-year GWP of 675 and HFC-125 has a 29-year lifetime and a 100-year GWP of 3500.<ref name="Velders">{{Cite journal|title=The large contribution of projected (if leakage is not controlled) HFC emissions to future climate forcing|first1=Guus J. M.|last1=Velders|first2=David W.|last2=Fahey|first3=John S.|last3=Daniel|first4=Mack|last4=McFarland|first5=Stephen O.|last5=Andersen|date=July 7, 2009|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=106|issue=27|pages=10949–10954|doi=10.1073/pnas.0902817106|pmid=19549868|pmc=2700150|bibcode=2009PNAS..10610949V|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="RayP">{{Cite journal|title=Short-Lived Climate Pollution|first=R.T.|last=Pierrehumbert|date=May 30, 2014|journal=Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences|volume=42|issue=1|pages=341–379|doi=10.1146/annurev-earth-060313-054843|bibcode=2014AREPS..42..341P|doi-access=free}}</ref> The combination has an effective GWP of 2088, higher than that of R-22 (100-year GWP = 1810), and an atmospheric lifetime of nearly 30 years compared with the 12-year lifetime of R-22.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter2.pdf|title=IPCC Assessment Report 4 (AR4) 2007|page=212|access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="arb">{{cite web |title=High-GWP Refrigerants |url=https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/high-gwp-refrigerants |website=California Air Resources Board |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref>
Since R-410A allows for higher [[SEER]] ratings than an R-22 system by reducing power consumption, the overall impact on global warming of R-410A systems can, in some cases, be lower than that of R-22 systems due to reduced greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.<ref name="RayP"/> This assumes that the atmospheric leakage will be sufficiently managed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://web.fscj.edu/Mark.Bowman/handouts/The%20Essentials%20Of%20Working%20With%20410A.pdf | title=The Essentials Of Working With R-410A | publisher=Florida State College at Jacksonville | access-date=November 21, 2013 | page=7 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904180208/http://web.fscj.edu/Mark.Bowman/handouts/The%20Essentials%20Of%20Working%20With%20410A.pdf | archive-date=September 4, 2014 }}</ref> Under the assumption that preventing ozone depletion is more important in the short term than GWP reduction, R-410A is preferable to R-22.<ref name="RayP"/>
==R-410A Phaseout==
The phase-down mandated by the AIM Act will lead to R-410A's replacement by other refrigerants beginning in 2022. Alternative refrigerants are available, including [[hydrofluoroolefins]], [[R-454B]] (a zeotropic blend of R-32 and [[2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene|R-1234yf]]), hydrocarbons (such as propane [[R-290 (refrigerant)|R-290]] and isobutane [[R-600A]]), and even carbon dioxide ([[R-744]], GWP = 1).<ref name="CARB" /><ref>{{cite web |title=TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP ALTERNATIVES in Residential and Commercial Air Conditioning and Chillers |url=https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/documents/transitioning_to_low-gwp_alternatives_in_res_and_com_ac_chillers.pdf |website=US Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=25 August 2022 |date=December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.esmagazine.com/articles/100839-whats-next-specifying-the-right-r-410a-replacement | title = What's Next: Specifying the Right R-410A Replacement | first = Philip | last = Johnston | date = 2020-10-13 | work = Engineered Systems Magazine }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Carrier Introduces Puron Advance™: The Next Generation Refrigerant for Ducted Residential, Light Commercial Products in North America |url=https://www.carrier.com/commercial/en/us/news/news-article/carrier_introduces_puron_advance_the_next_generation_refrigerant.html |website=Carrier Commercial Systems North America |access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref> The alternative refrigerants have much lower [[global warming potential]] than R-410A. Some alternatives have mild or moderate flammability, operate in higher pressure ranges, or require specialized compressor lubricants and seals.
== Physical properties ==
R-410A is an A1 class non-flammable substance according to ISO 817 & ASHRAE 34. One of its components, R-32, is mildly flammable (AL2), and the other, R-125, is an A1 class substance that suppresses the flammability of R32.
<div style="text-align:center;">
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Physical properties of R-410A refrigerant<ref>{{cite web
|title       = R-410a Material Safety Data Sheet
|publisher   = Honeywell International Inc.
|url         = http://www.honeywell.com/sites/docs/doc19194b8-fb3ebe9312-3e3e4447ab3472a0c2a5e5fdc1e6517d.pdf
|access-date  = 2009-07-03
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20101011204734/http://www.honeywell.com/sites/docs/doc19194b8-fb3ebe9312-3e3e4447ab3472a0c2a5e5fdc1e6517d.pdf
|archive-date = 2010-10-11
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|title       = Puron Refrigerant R-410A
|url         = http://www.xpedio.carrier.com/idc/groups/public/documents/marketing/811-20066.pdf?SMSESSION=NO
|access-date  = 2 July 2014
|url-status     = bot: unknown
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061221020438/http://www.xpedio.carrier.com/idc/groups/public/documents/marketing/811-20066.pdf?SMSESSION=NO
|archive-date = 21 December 2006
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|title       = R-410A
|url         = http://www.honeywell.com/sites/docs/DF382521E-C109-2ABD-7323-C1505584FD62.pdf
|publisher   = Honeywell Refrigerants Europe
|access-date  = 26 April 2013
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140327112424/http://www.honeywell.com/sites/docs/DF382521E-C109-2ABD-7323-C1505584FD62.pdf
|archive-date = 27 March 2014
}}</ref>
|-
! Property
! Value
|-
| Formula
|
{| <!-- Is there an easier way to get the "50%" parts to line up? -->
|-
| CH<sub>2</sub>F<sub>2</sub> ([[difluoromethane]]) || (50%)
|-
| CHF<sub>2</sub>CF<sub>3</sub> ([[pentafluoroethane]])|| (50%)
|}
|-
| Molecular weight (Da)
| 72.6
|-
| Melting point (°C)
| &minus;155
|-
| Boiling point (°C)
| &minus;48.5
|-
| Liquid density (30&nbsp;°C), kg/m<sup>3</sup>
| 1040
|-
| Vapour density (30&nbsp;°C), air=1.0
| 3.0
|-
| Vapour pressure at 21.1&nbsp;°C (MPa)
| 1.383
|-
| Critical temperature (°C)
| 72.8
|-
| Critical pressure, MPa
| 4.90
|-
| Gas heat capacity (kJ/(kg·°C))
| 0.84
|-
| Liquid heat capacity @ 1 atm, 30&nbsp;°C, (kJ/(kg·°C))
| 1.8
|-
| [[Flash point]]
| R-410A should ''not'' be mixed with air (oxygen) under pressure
|-
| [[Autoignition temperature]]
| Difluoromethane: 648&nbsp;°C; pentafluoroethane is fire-retardant
|-
|}
</div>
Thermophysical properties - [http://twt.mpei.ac.ru/TTHB/2/R410a-eng.html Properties of refrigerant R410a]
== Precautions ==
R-410A cannot be used in R-22 service equipment because of higher operating pressures (approximately 40 to 70% higher). Parts designed specifically for R-410A must be used. R-410A systems thus require service personnel to use different tools, equipment, safety standards, and techniques to manage the higher pressure. Equipment manufacturers were aware of these differences and required the certification of professionals installing R-410A systems. In addition, the AC&R Safety Coalition was created to help educate professionals about R-410A systems.
R-410A cylinders were once colored [[Rose (color)|rose]], but they now bear a standard light gray color.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/refrigerant-color-codes-d_1681.html|title=Refrigerants - Color Codes|website=www.engineeringtoolbox.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airconditioning-systems.com/refrigerant.html|title = Refrigerant Color Codes| date=24 May 2023 }}</ref>
While R-410A has negligible [[fractionation]] potential, it cannot be ignored when charging.
== Trade names ==
* Suva 410A (DuPont)
* Puron (Carrier)
* Genetron AZ-20 (Honeywell)
== See also ==
* [[Hydrofluoroolefin]]
* [[Difluoromethane|R-32]]
* [[R-454B]]
* [[List of refrigerants]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:R-410a}}
[[Category:Refrigerants]]
[[Category:Greenhouse gases]]
[[Category:Daikin]]