What is freon

We cannot imagine our life without a refrigerator. Thanks to its cooling ability, you can keep prepared meals, as well as meat, fish and other raw ingredients frozen for several days. Cooling occurs using freon, which circulates through the evaporator pipeline thanks to the compressor. How is the cold generated in the refrigerator and freezer compartments?

Definition

Freon is a substance consisting of methane and ethane in a certain proportion. It is inert to the environment. The refrigerant can be in liquid or gas form. As it evaporates, it absorbs heat while releasing cold. There are about 40 types of refrigerant. The refrigerator uses some types of freon that are safe for humans and the environment.

Attention! It should be remembered that freon is not only found in refrigerators. It is used for refilling air conditioners and other cooling equipment, fire extinguishing agents, and for medical and cosmetic aerosols and sprays. Freon is part of polyurethane foam and some types of paints and varnishes.

The substance is odorless and transparent, so it is not possible to detect a leak by color and aroma in the air. You can find out about a malfunction of the cooling system only by subjective factors: the presence of condensation on the walls of the chamber, poor freezing or its absence.The following types of freon are used for household appliances:

• R600a (isobutane) – a substance of natural origin that does not destroy ozone in the atmosphere, but it can explode in concentrations above 31 g/m³, the refrigerator uses a small amount of gas that is not capable of causing an explosion;
• R134a (tetrafluoroethane) – a safe gas that does not contain chlorine, the refrigerant is colorless and odorless, inert to the environment, does not ignite at plus or minus temperatures, and has a zero degree of destruction of the ozone layer;
• R12 (difluorodichloromethane) – prohibited for use in modern household appliances since 2010, has a sweetish odor like ether, does not burn in domestic conditions, explodes at temperatures above 330 ° C, and at a concentration above 30% leads to suffocation;
• R22 (difluorochloromethane) – found in old-style refrigerators, has a clearly noticeable smell of chloroform, destroys the ozone layer, but the destructive ability is lower than that of the R12 analogue; when exposed to an open flame and heated to 250 ° C, it decomposes into highly toxic substances.

You can determine the type of freon in the refrigerator using the information indicated on the label for the compressor. The type of substance is also specified in the technical documentation for the unit. Modern models of freezers and refrigerators charge only R600a and R134a, which are not dangerous if leaked.

Where is freon located in the refrigerator?

Freon is located in the evaporator of the chamber. The evaporator is a system of piping through which refrigerant circulates in a liquid state.

It absorbs heat and releases cold in return, so the air near the refrigerant line quickly cools. The circulation of freon through the pipeline is ensured by a compressor.When heat is absorbed, the liquid evaporates into gas. The gaseous substance is pushed into a compressor where it is condensed back into a liquid. When operating the refrigerator, the following must not be allowed:

• cleaning the camera with sharp and cutting objects;
• food and ice falling to the bottom of the evaporator;
• installation near any heating devices;
• Cleaning the refrigerator with warm and hot water.

Improper defrosting of the chamber leads to depressurization of the evaporator. In this case, a leak occurs and the liquid instantly evaporates into gas. A mound of snow appears at the site of the effect, but no hissing occurs.

The breakdown of the evaporator is caused by pieces of ice and thick snow breaking off from the walls of the freezer. Large pieces of ice falling to the bottom of the pipeline during defrosting can lead to damage to the pipeline. If you suspect a leak, you must contact a service center to have the evaporator repaired.

Important! Modern refrigerator models use no more than 200 grams of refrigerant, so a leak is not dangerous to others. The amount of freon is indicated on the compressor tag. The refrigerator is unplugged.

You can refill freon yourself only if you have the appropriate equipment and experience in eliminating leaks. For refueling, a special compressor station with pressure gauges is used. It has two measuring instruments - high and low pressure. To fill the refrigerator, use only a low pressure gauge.

Important! Before connecting the filling equipment to the refrigerator and the cylinder, you must carefully turn off the taps both at the station and on the freon cylinder. The amount of refrigerant is controlled by the marks on the filling cylinder.

First, using a leak detector, the location of refrigerant leaks is determined, after which the problem areas of the pipeline are soldered. Before sealing, all the refrigerant is removed from the pipeline using a vacuum pump. If significant damage occurs, soldering becomes unprofitable and the evaporator must be replaced. After eliminating the breakdown, connect the gas station pipes in the following order:

• left - on the compressor to the Schrader valve;
• middle - from the filling cylinder to the gas cylinder;
• right - to the filling pump.

Refilling with freon requires care and strict adherence to safety precautions, including fire safety. Work is carried out in a well-ventilated area or with ventilation turned on. It is better to entrust refilling of refrigerators with a valid warranty to a service center.

At the end of the freon injection, the evaporator circuit is checked for closure, otherwise gas circulation will be disrupted or impossible due to repeated leaks. Loss of refrigerant is not accompanied by noise, so it is technically difficult to independently detect a leak after refilling without special equipment.