Freon Cylinder

Chlorofluorocarbons (freons) are colorless gases or odorless liquids, fluorine-containing derivatives of saturated hydrocarbons (mainly methane and ethane, but also propane and butane). They are very poorly soluble in water, chemically inert, so they do not burn in the air, they are non-explosive even when in contact with an open flame, although when heated above 250°C freons form very toxic compounds, such as phosgene. Freons are resistant to acids and alkalis.

Currently, more than 40 different freons are known. The most common are Freon R-11 (the chemical formula is CFCl3) with a liquefaction temperature of +23.65°C, Freon R-12 (the chemical formula is CF2Cl2) with a liquefaction temperature of -29.74°C, Freon R-13 (the chemical formula is CF3Cl) with a liquefaction temperature of -81.5°C and Freon R-22 (the chemical formula is CF2ClH) with a liquefaction temperature of -40.85°C.

The production of freons is based on heating chlorine derivatives of methane, ethane, propane or butane with a source of fluorine - anhydrous hydrogen fluoride at temperatures up to 140°C under an overpressure up to 15 atmospheres using a catalyst in the form of antimony salt. There are other ways to produce freons, the technologies are constantly improving.

APPLICATION:

• • as a refrigerant in refrigeration systems, industrial and household units, air conditioners;
• • as a fire extinguishing agent for firefighting;
• • as a propellant in aerosol packages;
• • as a blowing agent in the production of foams;
• • as a raw material for organofluorine synthesis;
• • as a solvent, etching reagent in microelectronics, dielectric, coolant;
• • in medicine as a highly effective agent for inhalation anesthesia (halotane anesthesia).

Requirements for transportation, storage and use of cylinders for liquefied freons are established by the Federal standards and regulations in the field of industrial safety "Regulations of industrial safety for hazardous facilities using equipment operating under excessive pressure", GOST 19212-87 "STATE STANDARD OF THE USSR. DICHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE (REFRIGERANT 12). Technical specifications", GOST 8502-93 "INTERSTATE STANDARD. DIFLUOROCHLOROMETHANE (REFRIGERANT 22)", fire safety standards, as well as other laws and regulations and international agreements in force on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Cylinders are not hazardous cargo until they are taken into use, but in any case they should be transported in conditions that exclude mechanical damage. Cylinders with liquefied freons shall be transported by all modes of transport in accordance with the rules of cargo transportation, applicable to this mode of transport. Cylinders with liquefied freons shall be transported by rail in general-purpose containers, in wagon-load and small shipments - in unit-load devices or in general-purpose containers in boxcars. Cylinders with liquefied freons are transported by road in accordance with the rules of cargo transportation by road. When transporting cylinders filled with liquefied freons, the outlet connections of the valves are fitted with blind nuts or flanges with polytetrafluoroethylene or paronite gaskets. Transportation is carried out with the caps screwed on, which must be sealed.

Cylinders designed for storage and transportation of liquefied freons must not be used for storage and transportation of other gases, and it is prohibited to perform any operations that may contaminate their internal surface and degrade the physical and chemical properties of the gas. It is forbidden to make any modifications to the cylinder bodies using welding or mechanical tools, which can lead to damage to the integrity or appearance of defects that degrade the technical characteristics of the cylinders. When using cylinders for liquefied freons it is not allowed to install them in the places of people passage, movement of goods and passage of vehicles. Cylinders must be located at least 1 m away from radiators and other heating devices and at least 5 m from heat sources with open flame. When filling cylinders with Freon R-11, the mass of gas in a filled cylinder should not exceed 1,200 kg per 1 dm3 of the cylinder capacity, Freon R-12 - 1,100 kg per 1 dm3 of the cylinder capacity, Freon R-13 - 0.600 kg per 1 dm3 of the cylinder capacity, Freon R-22 - 1,000 kg per 1 dm3 of the cylinder capacity. The maximum permissible concentration of freon vapors in the air of the working area of production facilities is 3000 mg/m3. Premises in which work is carried out with freons must be equipped with a supply and exhaust and local ventilation and provided with technical means of monitoring the condition of the air environment. Personal protective equipment must be worn when working with liquefied freons: cloth suits or cotton dressing gowns, rubber gloves, goggles or masks of organic glass. In emergency cases, it is necessary to use filter gas masks of the BKF brand. The gas in the cylinders must not be completely consumed when in use. The residual gas pressure in the cylinder must be at least 0.05 MPa (0.5 kgf/cm2).

Cylinders filled with liquefied freons are stored in warehouses that provide protection from sunlight. Each cylinder filled with liquefied freons shall have a label showing: the name of the manufacturer and (or) its trademark; product name; batch number; date of manufacture; gross weight, including the weight of the cap, and net weight; designation of the standard under which the freon was manufactured. When storing cylinders filled with liquefied freons, the outlet connections of the valves are fitted with blind nuts or flanges with polytetrafluoroethylene or paronite gaskets. Storage is carried out with the caps screwed on, which must be sealed.