Zeotropic hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) refrigerants comprising R32, R125, and R134a are becoming established as replacements for R502 and R22 in the refrigeration and air conditioning industries. As demand for these products increases, their behaviour when handled in bulk quantities is becoming of even greater importance. In particular, it is important to ensure that the liquid refrigerant compositions are maintained within specification during both the blending and bulk supply processes. To achieve this, it is necessary to understand behaviour of the zeotropic refrigerant blends in these processes under the wide range of conditions in which these processes are operated. A computer model has been developed to simulate the bulk handling of R407 series refrigerants in a refrigeration or air conditioning system production facility from delivery in bulk to individual system charging. The process of repeatedly recharging the bulk tank with refrigerant has been modelled to determine its effect on the final liquid compositions under a range of operating conditions and to determine the asymptotic liquid compositions that are reached. The results and implications of these simulations on the management of the bulk processes will be presented.

KEYWORDS: year 1997, Fluorocarbons, refrigerants, R32, R125, R134a, mixtures, replacing, R505, R22, refrigeration, air conditioning, calculating, R407, thermodynamics, comparing, non azeotropic