R-410A

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R-410A, sold under the trademarked names Puron, Genetron R410A, and AZ-20, is a near-azeotropic mixture of difluoromethane (CH₂F₂, called R-32) and pentafluoroethane (C₂HF₅, called R-125) which is used as a refrigerant in air conditioning applications. Unlike many haloalkane refrigerants it does not contribute to ozone depletion, and is therefore becoming more widely used as ozone-depleting refrigerants like R-22 are phased out. However, it has a high global warming potential of 1725 (1725 times the effect of carbon dioxide),^[1] similar to that of R-22.

While R-410A was invented and patented by Allied Signal (now Honeywell) ^[2] and Honeywell continues to be the leader in 410A capacity and sales, other producers around the world have been licensed to manufacture and sell the product.^[3] R-410A was successfully commercialized in the air conditioning segment by a combined effort of three companies. Carrier Corporation, Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. with Copeland Scroll Compressors (a division of Emerson Electric Company), and Allied Signal worked together in developing the refrigerant for practical use in air conditioners in the US. R-410A is also the preferred refrigerant for use in residential and commercial air conditioners in Japan and Europe, replacing R-22.

Carrier Corporation was the first company to introduce a R-410A-based residential AC unit in the marketplace in 1996.^{[citation needed]} Carrier holds the trademark Puron and is still the leading supplier of energy efficient R410A AC systems for residential, commercial and chiller applications in the US today.^{[citation needed]}

R-410A is incompatible with R-22 refrigerant.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Availability

This article or section deals primarily with the United States and does not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.

In the US, although the EPA has mandated that R-22 (Freon) along with other Hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFC's) be phased-out, no window-mounted air conditioners are yet available that use R-410A. All of the largest central air conditioning systems manufacturers in the U.S. offer systems that use R-410A.^[4]

[edit] References

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