Evaluation of Energy Efficient and Environmentally Acceptable Pure and Zeotropic Refrigerants in Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration

The Montreal Protocol [1–3] was the beginning of a new period for the air-conditioning and refrigeration industry owing to the continuing debate on environmental issues such as global wanning, the depletion of the ozone layer and energy efficiency. The aim of the Protocol is to replace traditional refrigerants which are CFCs and HCFs. The import of CFCs was already banned in 1996 while imports of HCFCs will be progressively restricted, with complete phaseout early in the next century. Although numerous studies have revealed various possibilities, the search for more efficient, cheaper, environmentally friendly, and safe refrigerants is most probably a never-ending one.