AN ASPECT OF MAINTAINING R-22 SYSTEMS IN REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION. THE SELECTION OF R404A

Refrigerated transport is essential for our society due to the need to preserve and protect food, drugs or medical supplies during transportation, to the benefit of the people worldwide. Since many HCFCs are powerful greenhouse gases, the replacement of these refrigerants in refrigerated transportation asks efforts done to select the correct refrigerant for this application. In this respect, this paper deals with challenges and solution for this issue. The classical criteria to be considered when choosing a refrigerant are: thermophysical properties, technological, economic, safety and environmental aspects. It is seen as a solution for the replacement of HCFC22 (R22), the refrigerant belonging to the HFC family, R404A. R404A is a chlorine free chemical. It permits the maintenance of the existing R22 equipment, this being an economic advantage, especially in time of crisis. It is made a thermo – energetical comparison between R22 and R404A, resulting that R404 is suitable for refrigerated transport.