Abstract:
The need has presented itself to turn away from the currently used chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. that have proven extremely detrimental to the Earth's environment, and move toward a new form of refrigerant technology. From disastrous ozone depletion creating holes in the protective layer that surrounds the globe, to the effects of greenhouse gases that contribute to the major issue of global warming, time is of the essence in preventing further atrophy in our ecosystem.In response to the current void in refrigerant replacement technology, a new provider in hydrofluorocarbon synthetic blends has risen to the challenge of producing the first and only direct replacement for the widely used refrigerant R-22, also known as HC FC 22. ICOR International lays claim to this "drop in" refrigerant blend that does not need retrofitting or lubricant change within the refrigeration unit itself ICOR boasts that this replacement, called NU-22, is a practical, safe, efficient, versatile, and effective substitute for R-22.Muncie has been home to the local business City Ice & Cold Storage Company for over 100 years who currently use R-22 in their ice producing machines and refrigeration cabinets. Management is concerned with the impact a replacement refrigerant would have on their production, energy consumption, and machine stability. These and other factors would ultimately affect cost in switching over to a more environmentally safe option. Because of government mandating a reduction in I ICFC consumption, it is a realistic probability that City Ice must find an alternative to R-22 within the next 20 years.Research has been conducted to determine if NI. 22 could be a viable option for the refrigerant needs of the business in the present and for the future. In a real world application, NU 22 was charged into machinery and monitored over a period of time to determine how it performed in comparison to the standard, R-22. A battery of tests was conducted to determine temperatures, pressures, voltage, and amperage measurements that all can be used to either justify or disprove the claims made by ICOR International. Results and conclusions based on the information gathered from these experiments are outlined in detail through discussion of different variables, graphs, charts, and data tables.
