Outcome

The analysis found that thermodynamic performance alone was not enough to determine a suitable replacement. R290 provided strong refrigeration performance but its high flammability created safety concerns for a system of that size. The alternative refrigerants also required different operating pressures and equipment considerations compared with the existing R134a system. Overall, the project demonstrated that replacing a refrigerant requires balancing efficiency with safety, operating conditions, and the cost and complexity of modifying existing equipment.