What makes a good refrigerant?
![](https://www.fluorocarbons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ATMOSPHERIC-LIFETIMES-1.jpg)
Performance
suitability for target use and equipment type; capacity and efficiency → boiling point; critical temperature; heat of vaporisation; & stability at operating temperatures; materials compatibility.
Safety
requirements for the specific application → flammability; toxicity; risk mitigation measures.
![](https://www.fluorocarbons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ATMOSPHERIC-LIFETIMES-2.jpg)
![](https://www.fluorocarbons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ATMOSPHERIC-LIFETIMES-1.jpg)
Environmental effects
Climate change impact (refrigerant and energy related emissions); other environmental effects -VOC (POCP- photochemical ozone creation potential), atmospheric breakdown products; Zero or near-zero ODP; recyclability
Refrigerant selection is made taking all the criteria of a refrigerant into account for a given application, as well as lifetime emissions from energy use and any refrigerant emissions.
![What_makes_a_good_refrigerant](https://www.fluorocarbons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/What_makes_a_good_refrigerant.jpg)