A study on the use of propane (R-290) in vending machines as a substitute for R-134a to minimise the global warming potential Online publication date: Thu, 14-Dec-2017
by Khaled A. Alkhaledi; Kenneth Means
International Journal of Global Warming (IJGW), Vol. 14, No. 1, 2018
Abstract: The refrigerant R-134a is widely used in vending machines, and it is a greenhouse gas with high global warming potential. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that R-134a be replaced with an environmentally friendly refrigerant. In this study, we compared the performance and safety of R-290 as a substitute for R-134a in vending machines. We compared the two refrigerants in a vending machine equipped with a single-stage compressor, four thermocouples, and a data log recorder. Our results demonstrate that R-290 performs as well as R-134a; in addition, it uses 31.4% less energy and 60% less refrigerant. The evaporator and condenser temperatures for R-290 were comparable to those for R-134a. Therefore, we conclude that R-290 is an excellent replacement for R-134a. In addition, R-134a's global warming potential is 1300, while R-290's global warming potential is 3, and its ozone depletion potential is zero. Finally, R-290 can be used safely and complies with Underwriter Laboratory® safety standards.
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