Hydrocarbons (HCs) are not man made but exist in nature and do not contribute to global warming.

HCs give a superior coefficient of performance (COP) - the measure of refrigeration system efficiency - because of specific characteristics. Noting the thermodynamic and transport properties of various refrigerants, properties like viscosity rate lower for HCs than fluorocarbons and specific heat and thermal conductivity are significantly higher for HCs.

These properties are fundamental to the performance of refrigerating systems in terms of heat transfer, pressure loss and compression processes, and as such leas to improved overall performance, particularly when the equipment is optimised to the properties of the refrigerant.

Improvements greater than fie per cent can be achieved with the use of HCs over fluorocarbon refrigerants.