Thermophysical properties of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a)

The present hypothesis of depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer by some chlorofluorocarbons has prompted a lot of research and development of new stratospherically safe fluids in various uses such as refrigerants, blowing agents in foams, aerosol propellants, solvents, and many other uses. In the areas of certain refrigeration needs 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) has been considered as a possible alternate to the use of dichloro-difluoromethane (R-12), the most commonly used refrigerant. R-12 is estimated to have a higher potential for ozone depletion. This will require a large number of thermophysical property data to help in designing equipment and also in manufacturing R-134a. This paper is intended to fill that need. The paper details the measurement and correlation of some of the important thermophysical properties such as vapor pressure, liquid density, and pressure-volume-temperature. The measured P-V-T data have been used to generate a Martin-Hou-type equation of state for this fluid over a wide range of temperature and pressure. Correlating equations are also developed for vapor pressure, liquid density, and ideal-gas specific heat. Ideal-gas specific heat has been estimated from measured spectroscopic data. The correlating equations can be used to generate the thermodynamic tables and charts. The critical temperature of R-134a has also been measured. Critical density and pressure have been estimated from measured data. The data and the correlations presented here are expected to be very useful to the refrigeration industry in the development of R-134a as a working fluid for refrigeration applications.