Freon™ 123 Refrigerant (R-123) Properties, Uses, Storage, and Handling Freon™ 123 Refrigerant Table of Contents Shipping, Storage, and Handling ......................................16 Shipping Containers in the United States ..............................16 Introduction ...........................................................................3 Bulk Storage Systems ..........................................................................16 Background .......................................................................................................... 3 Storage, Handling, and Use Recommendations .................16 Freon™ 123—An Environmentally Acceptable Prohibited Uses ...................................................................................16 Alternative ....................................................................................................... 3 Personal Protective Equipment ................................................17 Uses .......................................................................................3 Storage ......................................................................................................17 Refrigerant ...................................................................................................... 4 Handling ....................................................................................................17 Heat-Transfer Fluid ....................................................................................4 Charging, Maintenance, and Sampling .................................18 Physical Properties ...............................................................4 Leaks and Spills ...................................................................................18 Chemical/Thermal Stability ............................................... 11 Recovery, Reclamation, Recycle, and Disposal ................18 Thermal Decomposition......................................................................11 Recovery ........................................................................................................18 Stability with Metals and Refrigeration Lubricants ..........11 Reclamation ................................................................................................18 Materials Compatibility ..................................................... 11 Recycle ...........................................................................................................19 Plastics ...........................................................................................................11 Disposal .........................................................................................................19 Elastomers ...................................................................................................13 Desiccants ...................................................................................................14 Refrigeration Lubricants .....................................................................14 Safety ................................................................................. 14 Inhalation Toxicity ....................................................................................14 Cardiac Sensitization ............................................................................15 Skin and Eye Contact ...........................................................................15 Monitors and Leak Detection ............................................ 15 Types of Detectors .................................................................................15 Non-selective Detectors ...............................................................15 Halogen-Selective Detectors ....................................................15 Compound-Specific Detectors .................................................16 Freon™ 123 Refrigerant Introduction depletion potentials (ODPs) than CFCs. The ODP of Freon™ 123 is 0.02 compared to 1.00 for CFC-11. The generic and Background Chemours trade names for Freon™ 123 are: Freon™ 123 was introduced by Chemours as an • Freon™ 123 environmentally acceptable, nonflammable replacement for chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) 11 in refrigeration and heat- • Hydrochlorofluorocarbon 123 transfer applications. CFCs, which were developed over • HCFC-123 60 years ago, have many unique properties. CFCs are low in The chemical properties of Freon™ 123 are: toxicity, nonflammable, non-corrosive, and compatible with other materials. In addition, they offer the thermodynamic Chemical Name 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane Molecular Formula CF CHCl and physical properties that make them ideal for a variety 3 2 CAS Registry Number 306-83-2 of uses. CFCs are used as refrigerants; as blowing agents in Molecular Weight 152.93 the manufacture of insulation, packaging, and cushioning Chemical Structure F Cl foams; as cleaning agents for metal and electronic FC CH components; and in many other applications. FCl However, the stability of CFCs, coupled with their chlorine content, has linked them to depletion of the earth’s protective The infrared spectrum of Freon™ 123 is shown in Figure 1. ozone layer. As a result, Chemours has phased out production of CFCs and introduced environmentally acceptable Uses alternatives, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) 123. Freon™ 123 is a viable replacement for CFC-11 as a refrigerant and heat-transfer fluid. Because Freon™ 123 Freon™ 123—An Environmentally Acceptable Alternative has a Workplace Environmental Exposure Level (WEEL) of Although Freon™ 123 contains chlorine, its hydrogen- 50 ppm, its use is limited to applications where it can be containing molecules decompose primarily in the lower effectively contained within the operating equipment. atmosphere before they can reach the ozone layer. Because Chemours does not sell Freon™ 123 for use as blowing the chlorine is dissipated at lower altitudes, HCFCs have agents for polymer foams or aerosol propellants. See later relatively short atmospheric lifetimes and much lower ozone sections of this bulletin for discussions of toxicity and recommendations for safe handling. Figure 1. Infrared Spectrum of Freon™ 123 Liquid 3 Freon™ 123 Refrigerant Refrigerant Heat-Transfer Fluid The thermodynamic and physical properties of Freon™ 123, In many applications, refrigeration equipment is located in a coupled with its nonflammability, make it an efficient and service facility separate from an industrial process. The safe replacement refrigerant for CFC-11 in centrifugal process heat is transferred to the refrigeration equipment chillers. In fact, Freon™ 123 offers the best theoretical by means of a circulating heat-transfer fluid, known as a efficiency of the several alternatives for use in chillers. “brine” or secondary refrigerant. A typical brine system is Chemours Freon™ 123 is available to chiller manufacturers shown in Figure 2. The most common brines are water- for use in new and existing equipment. Chemours is also based solutions of salts, glycols, or alcohols. However, for converting most of its own CFC-11 chillers to Freon™ 123. low temperatures or in situations where chemical inertness is important, chlorinated organic solvents (methylene Freon™ 123 was selected as a replacement for CFC-11 chloride, trichloroethylene) or CFCs (e.g., CFC-11, CFC- because the two compounds will produce roughly the same 113) have been widely used. These compounds are no operating pressures and temperatures in a chiller. However, longer acceptable from an environmental or, in the case of an unmodified chiller will produce less cooling capacity and the chlorinated solvents, an occupational health standpoint. an equivalent or lower efficiency with Freon™ 123 than it did with CFC-11. The differences in capacity and efficiency Table 2 compares pertinent physical properties of Freon™ will depend on the original system component selection 123 with those of typical brines. When planning to retrofit a and operating conditions. Table 1 gives performance brine system to Freon™ 123, it is important to check ranges to be expected based on actual retrofit experience. heat-transfer design calculations for the system. Rates will be similar if the retrofit is being made from CFC-11 or Table 1. Retrofit Experience with Unmodified Chillers CFC-113. However, Freon™ 123 has a specific heat Freon™ 123 vs. CFC-11 approximately 15% lower than methylene chloride, requiring higher circulating flow rates and increased Capacity, % –5 to –20 pumping power. A bulletin is available from Chemours giving Coefficient of Performance, % 0 to –5 details on the use of Freon™ 123 as a heat-transfer brine. Evaporator Pressure, kPa (psi) –14 to –21 (–2 to –3) Condenser Pressure, kPa (psi) –14 to –21 (–2 to –3) Physical Properties Discharge Temperature, °C (°F) –1 to –3 (–2 to –6) Physical properties of Freon™ 123 are given in Table 3 and Figures 3-7. Additional physical property data may be found The industry has developed mechanical components in other Chemours publications. “Transport Properties of optimized for Freon™ 123 that can be installed in existing Freon™ Refrigerants” contains viscosity, thermal conductivity, equipment to maintain full capacity in a retrofit application. and heat capacity data for saturated liquid and vapor, in In addition, new equipment designed specifically for Freon™ addition to heat capacity data and ratios for both saturated 123 will have equivalent or better capacity and efficiency and superheated vapors. Thermodynamic tables in English than the