Computational Design of New Refrigerant Fluids Based on Environmental, Safety, and Thermodynamic Characteristics

Published

September 17, 2012

Author(s)

Andrei F. Kazakov, Mark O. McLinden, Michael D. Frenkel

Abstract

We present a systematic search for new classes of refrigerants that would possess low values of Global Warming Potential (GWP), along with low- to moderate flammability and suitable thermodynamic characteristics. We have developed new methods for estimating, solely from the molecular structure, the radiative efficiency (RE, a measure of radiative climate forcing) and atmospheric lifetime; the combination of RE and lifetime yield an estimate of the GWP. We also developed an estimate of the lower flammability limit (LFL) based on the enthalpy of formation. These estimation techniques, along with a previously developed technique for estimating critical temperature ($T_{\mathrm{c}}$), are applied to a library of over 56000 candidate molecules. We select fluids with GWP$0.1$ $\mathrm{kg}\cdot\mathrm{m}^{-3}$. Filters for toxicity and chemical stability based on functional groups are also applied to arrive at 1234 candidates for further study. The candidates that would be suitable for use in present types of refrigeration equipment (those having critical temperatures less than 400 K) are dominated by halogenated alkenes; additional chemical classes, including halogenated ethers and cyclic compounds, are identified among fluids with higher critical temperatures.

Citation

Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

global warming potential, refrigerants, virtual screening

Citation

Kazakov, A. , McLinden, M. and Frenkel, M. (2012), Computational Design of New Refrigerant Fluids Based on Environmental, Safety, and Thermodynamic Characteristics, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/ie3016126 (Accessed April 21, 2025)