Are propane and other flammable gases being used as refrigerants in modern kitchen appliances, for example, refrigerators and freezers?
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Are propane and other flammable gases being used as refrigerants in modern kitchen appliances, for example, refrigerators and freezers?
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YES and they have been since the 1990's, Why?
Rob
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Propane and other flammable gases are not commonly used as refrigerants in modern kitchen appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers.
The refrigerants used in modern refrigerators and freezers are typically hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These refrigerants are not flammable and have low toxicity, making them safe for use in household appliances.
However, there has been some interest in recent years in using natural refrigerants, such as propane (R-290) and isobutane (R-600a), due to their lower environmental impact. These natural refrigerants have a very low global warming potential and are non-ozone depleting, making them a more environmentally friendly alternative to HFCs and HCFCs.
While there are some refrigerators and freezers on the market that use propane or isobutane as a refrigerant, these appliances are not as common as those using HFCs or HCFCs. Additionally, appliances that use flammable refrigerants must be designed and manufactured to meet specific safety standards to ensure that they are safe for use in homes.
CanadA behind the times in this area if that is the case, or you have old information.
Yes they use r 600 a and r 290 as refrigerants in modern kitchen appliances,even in some new large heat pumps you have R 290
Seems chat gtp text
Indeed :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Peter_1
But when talking to chatgpt, sometimes you have to educate to get the correct answer :)
kamolnes@gmail.com
ME: Are propane and other flammable gases being used as refrigerants in modern kitchen appliances, for example, refrigerators and freezers?
Chatgpt:Propane and other flammable gases are sometimes used as refrigerants in modern kitchen appliances, particularly in smaller refrigeration units like mini-fridges or RV refrigerators. However, they are not commonly used in larger household refrigerators and freezers because of safety concerns.
The use of propane and other flammable gases as refrigerants can pose a risk of fire or explosion if there is a leak or malfunction in the system. Additionally, the use of these gases as refrigerants may not be legal in all areas, and may require specialized installation and maintenance.
Instead, most modern household refrigerators and freezers use non-flammable refrigerants such as HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) or natural refrigerants like CO2 (carbon dioxide) or hydrocarbons like isobutane or propane. These refrigerants are generally safer and more environmentally friendly than older refrigerants like CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons), which were phased out due to their harmful effects on the ozone layer and global warming.
Me: Are you sure? R-290 is commonly used in houshold appliances
Chatgpt: You are correct. I apologize for my earlier response. Propane, also known as R-290, is indeed commonly used as a refrigerant in some modern household appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers. R-290 is a natural refrigerant with a low global warming potential and is considered to be more environmentally friendly than many other refrigerants.
However, the use of R-290 also presents certain safety risks due to its flammability. Proper handling, installation, and maintenance of R-290 refrigeration systems is necessary to ensure safe operation. Manufacturers of R-290-based appliances are required to adhere to strict safety standards and regulations to minimize the risk of fire or explosion.
ME:R-600 is also commonly used in a appliances
CHatgpt:You are correct. R-600a, also known as isobutane, is another flammable refrigerant that is commonly used in household refrigeration appliances. It is used as a refrigerant in small refrigerators, freezers, and other cooling systems because it is environmentally friendly and has a low global warming potential.
Like R-290, the use of R-600a also presents certain safety risks due to its flammability. However, when properly handled and installed, R-600a refrigeration systems are generally considered safe and reliable. Manufacturers of R-600a-based appliances are also required to follow strict safety regulations to ensure the safe operation of their products.
It is worth noting that while the use of flammable refrigerants like R-290 and R-600a is becoming more common in household appliances, they are not used in all refrigeration systems. Non-flammable refrigerants like HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) and HFOs (hydrofluoroolefins) are also used in many modern household refrigeration systems.
ME:so are flammable refrigerants used in common household appliances?
Chatgpt:Yes, flammable refrigerants such as R-290 (propane) and R-600a (isobutane) are increasingly being used in common household refrigeration appliances, particularly in smaller refrigerators and freezers. These refrigerants have a low global warming potential and are considered to be more environmentally friendly than traditional refrigerants.
However, the use of flammable refrigerants also presents certain safety risks due to their flammability. Proper handling, installation, and maintenance of these refrigeration systems is necessary to ensure safe operation. Manufacturers of appliances that use flammable refrigerants are required to adhere to strict safety standards and regulations to minimize the risk of fire or explosion.
It's worth noting that while flammable refrigerants are being used more frequently in household appliances, they are not used in all refrigeration systems. Non-flammable refrigerants such as HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) and HFOs (hydrofluoroolefins) are still used in many modern household refrigeration appliances.
Me: So what year did it become common to use flammable refrigerants in household appliances?
Chatgpt:The use of flammable refrigerants in household appliances started to become more common in the early 2000s. This was due in part to the phasing out of ozone-depleting refrigerants such as CFCs and HCFCs, and the introduction of regulations aimed at reducing the use of refrigerants with high global warming potentials.
In response to these regulations and concerns over the environmental impact of refrigerants, appliance manufacturers began to explore the use of more environmentally friendly refrigerants, including natural refrigerants such as propane (R-290) and isobutane (R-600a). These refrigerants have a low global warming potential and are considered to be more environmentally friendly than traditional refrigerants.
Today, many household refrigeration appliances use flammable refrigerants such as R-290 and R-600a, particularly in smaller refrigerators and freezers. However, the use of these refrigerants is still subject to safety regulations and guidelines to minimize the risk of fire or explosion.
so you can't just take the first answer for granted with chatgpt, you have to dig and correct.
I have taught it to do equations to calculate real vs theoretical Kw cooling capacity of RSW plants, so it is useful, you just have to know how to use it, and teach it :)
Interesting lessen tycho
Yes, propane and other flammable gases are being used as refrigerants in modern kitchen appliances, including refrigerators and freezers. These gases have gained popularity due to their energy efficiency and lower environmental impact compared to However, it's important to note that their use comes with certain safety considerations, such as proper ventilation and adherence to safety standards, to prevent any potential hazards.
I'm confused by this new chatgpt. How is it different to just typing a question into Google and taking the most relevant information from the top few results?
major oversimplification - it searches the internet and reads lots of different things to give you an outputQuote:
Originally Posted by Frikkie
you can tell it how much to search/read and keep poking it / giving it input to point it where you want it to go
"The refrigerants used in modern refrigerators and freezers are typically hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These refrigerants are not flammable and have low toxicity, making them safe for use in household appliances."
FALSE AND DANGEROUSLY FALSE INFORMATION.
R410A is flammable with higher than atmospheric oxygen levels
BOOM!!!!
Source (not opinion)
https://refrigerants.com/wp-content/.../SDS-R410A.pdf
R410A Safety Data Sheet, SDS-R410A.pdf
"R-410A
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
SDS: R-410A Page 3 of 8
Current Issue Date: January 04, 2021
UNUSUAL FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS:
R-410A is not flammable at ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressure. However, this material will become
combustible when mixed with air under pressure and exposed to strong ignition sources.
Contact with certain reactive metals may result in formation of explosive or exothermic reactions under specific
conditions (e.g. very high temperatures and/or appropriate pressures)"