AC refrigerant in cars,greenhouse effect reasoning

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the greenhouse effect ratings of two refrigerants commonly used in automotive air conditioning: R134a (C2H2F4) and R1234yf (C3H2F4). R134a has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1430, while R1234yf has a significantly lower GWP of 4. The GWP measures the energy absorption of a compound relative to CO2, not its carbon content or CO2 production. This distinction clarifies why R1234yf, despite having more carbon atoms, has a much lower impact on global warming compared to R134a.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Global Warming Potential (GWP)
  • Basic knowledge of refrigerants and their chemical formulas
  • Familiarity with greenhouse gas emissions
  • Mechanical engineering principles related to HVAC systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the chemical properties and applications of R134a and R1234yf
  • Learn about the environmental impact of refrigerants in automotive systems
  • Explore regulations and standards governing refrigerant use in vehicles
  • Investigate alternative refrigerants and their GWP ratings
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for mechanical engineers, automotive HVAC technicians, environmental scientists, and anyone involved in the development or regulation of refrigerants in automotive applications.

marellasunny
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I'm a mechanical engineer and am learning about the different refrigerants used.
2 of them seem to be the most popular- R134a(C2H2F4) and R1234yf(C3H2F4).

Why is it that R134a is rated at a Greenhouse effect(GWP) of 1430 where R1234yf is rated at a GWP of 4?

Both refrigerants produce CO2,I assume.Won't R1234yf produce more of it considering it has more carbon atoms?
 
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It seems you are misunderstanding the concept of a GWP. I wasn't aware of how this rating is measured/calculated but a quick Google/Wikipedia excursion revealed that GWP is not related to the production of CO2 by a given compound, but is a measure of how much EM energy a given compound will absorb in a certain amount of time relative to the same mass of CO2. The CO2 appears to be arbitrarily set to 1 as a reference.

See the Wikipedia for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global-warming_potential
 
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