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What are the most common refrigerant gases for refrigeration?

Common refrigerant gases for refrigeration

A lot of commercial equipment has historically relied on harmful fluorinated gases (F-gases) that speed up global warming.

But in the UK, the refrigeration industry made the switch to natural refrigerants around 12 years ago – a greener, cleaner choice for both people and the planet.

Here, we’ll reveal which refrigerant gases are most commonly used in commercial refrigeration today, and why.

Refrigerant gases for refrigeration explained

Refrigerant gases define the performance of refrigeration applications.

These fluids are compressed into liquids with very low boiling points. As they absorb heat, they boil and turn into gas. Then, when they release this heat, they condense back into fluids.

Known as the vapour compression cycle, this process is what allows refrigeration systems to stay cool.

Which refrigerant gases were commonly used for refrigeration in the past?

In the past, refrigeration systems relied heavily on F-gases, most notably HFCs (hydrocarbons).

These were introduced to the world of refrigeration during the 90s, as a way of replacing other gases that were harmful to the ozone layer.

R404A quickly became the refrigerant of choice in many commercial and industrial refrigeration applications.

But it wasn’t long before it was found that HFCs also have a major impact on climate change.

With F-gas regulations tightening, the refrigeration industry in the UK began turning to natural alternatives.

Refrigerant gas regulations for refrigeration

Fluorinated gas regulations were first introduced in the EU in 2006.

The aim was to combat climate change by controlling how these harmful refrigerant gases are used.

Since their introduction, the EU’s F-gas regulations have since been amended twice – most recently in January 2024.

They:

  • Set standards for leak prevention, recovery and reporting
  • Phase down the use of HFCs
  • Limit the overall GWP of gases that can be sold in the EU
  • Restrict the use and sale of equipment containing high-GWP F-gases

The EU’s regulations have also inspired other nations to implement their own programs and regulations – such as the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act in the US and Canada’s detailed strategy to manage HFCs.

Meanwhile, the UK initially adopted EU F-gas regulations into domestic law to ensure continuity in the post-Brexit period – although it’s yet to be seen how close the UK’s stance will be to the EU’s latest amendment.

Refrigeration gases

What refrigerant gases are commonly used for refrigeration today?

Nowadays, the refrigerant gases most commonly used for commercial refrigeration include:

  • R404A
  • R454A
  • R448A
  • R449A
  • R134a
  • R513A
  • R450A
  • R290
  • R152a
  • R744
  • R717

The good news is that these refrigerants all have zero ozone depletion potential.

However, their GWP (global warming potential) varies hugely. While the lowest is just 1, the highest is a whopping 3,922!

Which brings us onto…

Which refrigerant gases are best for refrigeration?

It won’t come as any surprise that the best refrigerant gases for commercial equipment are natural.

In the UK, the refrigeration industry turned to natural refrigerants around 12 years ago.

Why? Well, these naturally occurring gases are high-performing and much better for the environment than synthetic refrigerant gases like HFCs and HFOs.

At Clade, we use the natural refrigerants R744 (also known as CO2) and R290 (also known as propane).

R290 has a global warming potential (GWP) of 3 (or less depending on the time considered), while R744 has a GWP of just 1.

This is a stark contrast to HFCs and HFOs, which commonly have a GWP of several thousand!

But it’s not just about GWP.

Synthetic refrigerants also contain ‘forever chemicals’ called PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). These don’t break down naturally, but instead show up in many watercourses where they poison wildlife and, in some areas, even endanger human health.

Natural refrigerants don’t contain these environmental toxins, making them a no-brainer choice for both people and the planet.

Common refrigerant gases

Let us help with a natural refrigerant refrigeration system

At Clade, the majority of our commercial refrigeration systems contain R744, also known as CO2.

This naturally occurring refrigerant gas is environmentally friendly, non-toxic and non-flammable. And it performs excellently in refrigeration systems.

Want to find out more about our natural refrigerant commercial refrigeration systems and heat pumps? Just get in touch with our team.