@whiteangel
Nah dude i wasn't offended..you raised good concerns!
odor is added to all flammable refrigerants. Its the same one added to propane. The odorant ethanethiol is so strong that its detectable at concentration well below flammability limit.
HC refrigerants require special precautions on part of technicians. How do you plan to do it?
work in an open area..Make sure your nose is working properly. probably have a audible gas alarm handy these units are cheap.
CNG cylinders are robust they are located at the rear and can withstand severe collisions. A condenser is aluminum and located in the front and even a minor collision is enough to rupture it. How are you ensure that does not happen?
this question often raised in all internet forums.
You can use double tube coil as mentioned earlier which has high resistance again rupture or install a collision shield in front of condenser. Modern cars have them fitted anyway since EPA started knocking manufacturer doors for liability of R134a vented in atmosphere during collision. For safety freaks, install a much small condenser squeezable in much safer location. Take advantage of flexibility HC has to offer you. Your regular R134a is designed strong enough to not leak in small collisions plus it sustains pressures much higher than R12. If you can burst your R134a condenser, then collision was probably severe enough to kill you as well.
In a car, what would happen in case of excessive high side pressures. What if the compressor relief valve blows and leaks refrigerant? It has happened in my car.
Extreme high pressures will damage your system. High pressure cut off switch is installed to protect from such damage. In case of flammable refrigerant, just make sure your switches are in working condition. System blasts occurs due to people being cheap and ignoring to replace pressure safety switches. Compressor relief valves are internal which protect compressor from exploding under severe pressure. Much earlier than that, your high pressure safety switch should come into action and cut off compressor.
On the contonary,
- HC gases in air con will not be under high pressure because they liquefy at much lower.
- Quantity used is very small, about the volume of tea cup
I wouldn't advocate anything without trying myself. First time i heard about HC refrigerants was from my father. Later when i grew up, we still had some cans of R290 lying around. Knowing it cools better and can be charged in cars, i did it after some DIY repairs and later into from friends cars too. Off course with long lectures on safety issues. All cars had stock R134a units except mine which being 91 model had R12 unit.
I am not selling any of these refrigerants. Just researching from someone who is interested in importing them. And I am his technical hand
Don't forget your response covers home air cons as well. They are much leak proof than car air con and probably much safer for HC use.
HC gases despite risky may have good potential in Pakistan due to wide spread use of small underpowered cars, expensive fuel, electricity costs and small energy saving air cons. After all an average Pakistani will endure more risk than health and safety ridden westerners!