RS-20 (R480A)
RS-20 (R480A) New R134a replacement with a GWP of 290
- Designed specifically to replace R134a in vehicle air conditioning
- Also suitable for other R134a applications
- No hardware changes needed
- Non flammable
- Easy to recycle
- Similar discharge pressure & temperature
- Equivalent cooling capacity
- Uses same lubricant as R134a
- Zero Ozone Depletion
Mobile Air Conditioning
Many millions of vehicles still use R134a as the air conditioning fluid, although it has been banned in several jurisdictions (e.g. European Union) in new vehicles. Refrigerant leaks are common, leading to a continuing global demand for service gas to maintain the operation of existing vehicles. However, the authorities in several territories have introduced quotas for HFCs based on their GWP thus progressively restricting the lawful use of R134a and creating a refrigerant shortage with an obvious potential for smuggling.
RS-20 (R480A) has a GWP of 290 which is 80% lower than R134a, and less than half that of alternatives such as R513A & R513B. RS-20 (R480A) can be charged into an existing system operating on R134a without modifications or change in lubricant. RS-20 (R480A) will enable owners to maintain their air conditioning systems until they sell their vehicles or junk them.
Other Applications
In addition to mobile air conditioning, RS-20 (R480A) is suitable to replace R134a across the board of applications including, but not restricted to, refrigerated transport, cold stores, supermarkets, cellar cooling, dairy chillers, vending machines etc...
Safety
RS-20 (R480A) has been independently tested and meets the ASTM 681 test of being non-flammable as formulated. The components of RS-20 have an ASHRAE 'A' toxicity safety classification.
The Environment
None of the components of RS-20 (R480A) contains chlorine so that the refrigerant has no ability to deplete the ozone layer. While RS-20 (R480A) does have a direct GWP (less than 300), this is substantially lower than R134a and all known alternatives.
Servicing
Because RS-20 (R480A) is a blend, the recommendation is to charge the refrigerant into the system in liquid form. A full service and conversion guide is available on request.
Pressure Enthalpy Chart
Physical Properties
| Property | RS-20 (1) | R134a | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molecular Mass | 108.2 | 102.0 | |
| Boiling point (1 atm) (2) | °C | -34.09 | -26.07 |
| °F | -29.37 | -14.93 | |
| Temperature Glide (3) | K | 4.5 | 0 |
| Critical Temperature | °C | 107.40 | 101.1 |
| °F | 225.3 | 213.9 | |
| Critical Pressure | bara | 43.51 | 40.059 |
| psia | 631.1 | 581.0 | |
| Liquid Density (25°C) (4) | kg/m3 | 1175 | 1207 |
| Density of vapour (25°C) (4) | kg/m3 | 28.27 | 32.35 |
| Latent Heat of Vaporisation at boiling point (5) | kJ/kg | 229.4 | 217.0 |
| Heat capacity constant volume Cv (25°C & 1bara) | kJ/kg.K | 0.7947 | 0.7602 |
| Heat capacity constant pressure Cp (25°C & 1bara) | kJ/kg.K | 0.8791 | 0.8510 |
| Cp/Cv (25°C & 1 bara) | 1.106 | 1.119 | |
| Vapour Pressure (25°C) (4) | bara | 7.517 | 6.654 |
| psia | 109 | 96.50 | |
| Vapour Viscosity (25°C & 1 bara) | cP | 0.0129 | 0.0121 |
| Liquid Viscosity (25°C) (1) | cP | 1.860 | 1.949 |
| Liquid Thermal Conductivity (25°C) | W/m.K | 0.07484 | 0.08113 |
| Surface Tension (25°C) (4) | N/m | 0.008518 | 0.008031 |
| Specific heat of liquid (25°C) (4) | kJ/kg.K | 1.391 | 1.425 |
| Ozone Depletion Potential | ODP | 0 | 0 |
| Flammability limit in air (1 atm) | vol% | n/a | n/a |
| Inhalation exposure (8 hour day & 40 hour week) | ppm | 1000 | 1000 |
| Global Warming Potential AR5 | GWP | 293 | 1300 |
(1)RS-20 refrigerant properties obtained from NIST's REFPROP v10 program.
(2)Boiling point at 1atm (mean of bubble and dew points).
(3)Typical evaporator temperature glide from Rankine cycle calculation. Midpoints: 45°C condensing, 7°C evaporating with 0.5 bar pressure drop; compressor isentropic efficiency: 0.7.
(4)Mean of bubble and dew points at 25°C. Property calculations on the midpoint liquid and vapour compositions as appropriate.
(5)Difference between bubble point liquid enthalpy and dew point vapour enthalpy at 1 atm.