A review on substitution strategy of non-ecological refrigerants from vapour compression-based refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems

• Environmental pollution aspects through cooling system refrigerants are discussed.
• Use strategy of refrigerants and future options for new systems are presented.
• It is described the selection of refrigerants based on thermodynamic properties.
• Studies reported with new refrigerants in various applications are explored.
• A comparative TEWI analysis for possible substitutes of refrigerant R22 is presented.

The paper presents a review on recent development of possible substitutes for non-ecological refrigerants from HVAC&R equipment based on thermodynamic, physical and environmental properties and TEWI (Total Equivalent Warming Impact) analysis. This review contains a good amount of information regarding the environmental pollution produced by the working fluids of the air-conditioning, heat pump and commercial refrigeration applications and the ecological refrigerant trend. Overall, it is useful for those readers who are interested in current status of alternative refrigerant development related to vapour compression-based refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump units. The study describes the selection of refrigerants adapted to each utilisation based on the thermodynamic, physical and environmental properties and explores the studies reported with new refrigerants in domestic refrigerators, commercial refrigeration systems, air-conditioners, heat pumps, chillers and in automobile air-conditioners. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the TEWI for possible substitutes of refrigerant R22 used in various air-conditioning, heat pump and refrigeration systems is performed.