Refrigerant Findings

[KerryPinkerton <pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx>]

The amount of propane in these things is not like pure
propane.  Remember gas is explosive also.  The EPA
site says that the propane component refrigerents are
not 'combustable'.  Personally, I'm not afraid of it
but I will use R134 while I can get it.  It's too easy
to convert and too cheap not not when a recharge is
needed.

Kerryp

--- jsadowski <jsadowski@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> I'm wondering if using propane as a refrigerent is
> any less safe then using propane to power a vehicle.
> Here in Arizona, you see propane powered vehicles on
> a fairly regular basis & these carry a fairly large
> amount of propane.
> John
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: ImpSvcs@xxxxxxx 
>   To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
>   Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2002 7:59 PM
>   Subject: IML: Refrigerant Findings
> 
> 
>   Hi All,
>          I thought the information I found regarding
> Duracool and other refrigerants would be of Imperial
> Interest.  :)
> 
>          After viewing the Duracool Web site, I was
> still left with an uneasy feeling about running a
> flammable gas as a refrigerant.  A review of the
> MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) revealed Duracool
> HC-12a has an LEL (lower explosive limit) in air of
> 1.95%, and an UEL (upper explosive limit) of 9.1%. 
> By comparison, gasoline has an LEL of 1.3%, and an
> UEL of 7.1% (depending on the MSDS you look at). 
> That said, gasoline has an autoignition temperature
> of about 480F, where the Duracool 12a does not
> autoignite until 1636F.  The propane in DuraCool is
> not exactly the same composition that you burn in
> your grill, but it is still flammable.  
> 
>          Is Duracool a suitable replacement for R12?
>  IMHO (in my humble opinion), perhaps.  Is Duracool
> safe?  Maybe in a newer car... in a 30-40 year old
> car with brittle hoses, potentially leaky fittings,
> and drying seals.... maybe not.  I've accepted the
> relative risk of using gasoline in my cars, tractor,
> lawn tools, etc., and store cans of it in my garage.
>  I just don't know that I'm ready to accept the risk
> of using a compressed flammable gas as a refrigerant
> in an automobile.
> 
>          Is Duracool legal to buy and sell?  Yes.
> 
>          Is Duracool legal to put in an automobile? 
> Definately Not.
>                Here is the EPA Link: 
>
http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/snap/refrigerants/hc-12a.html#qdura
> 
>          Here's a link to a list of approved
> replacements for R12:
>               
>
http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/snap/refrigerants/lists/mvacs.html
> 
>          I do see some of the replacements that have
> been mentioned on the IML on the list.
> 
>          Now, I have been known to occasionally
> break a rule or two (the basic speed law, for one)
> and that I'm not a big fan of the EPA, but ...
> 
>          I will not put Duracool in my vehicles.  I
> will stick with the R-134a until the next-best-thing
> comes along.  My first conversion to R-134a was
> initially unsuccessful only because I failed to read
> the directions fully... I charged the system until
> the sight glass showed no bubbles (well overcharged
> with R-134a).  I had constant problems with slipping
> or throwing the belt (slugging liquid refrigerant
> into the compressor).  R-134 needs only about 80% of
> the R-12 charge.  As I've said before, I'm not a
> complete idiot (some parts are missing).
> 
>          I was trolling for car parts in WalMart (or
> was it Meijer?) the other day, and it looks like I
> can do the whole conversion for around $30.
> 
>          Maybe it's not the best solution, and maybe
> it's not the most efficient, but it's:
>          A) relatively safe
>          B) cheap
>          C) reasonably efficient
>          D) readily available, and 
>          E) legal.
> 
> 
>          Okay, maybe that's a little more than 2
> cents worth...
> 
>   Be Cool,
>   Steve Charette
> 
> 


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