Millions of tonnes of hydrocarbons are used safely every year throughout the world for cooking, heating, powering vehicles. Most chemical refrigerants produce toxic by-products and poisonous gases following accidental release in the presence of an adequate heat source. Procedures and standards have been developed and adopted to ensure the safe use of Hydrocarbon Refrigerants. Hydrocarbon Refrigerants are flammable but are safe to use if handled correctly. In refrigeration and air-conditioning systems which use chemical refrigerants, oil mixes with the refrigerants and travels around the system. All these chemical refrigerants become flammable due to the oil vapor content of the gases when being discharged from the systems. Australian Standard AS 1677-1998 includes comprehensive procedures for the safe use of all refrigerants including hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon Refrigerants do not spontaneously combust on contact with air. Some points to be taken care of are as follow: 1) There needs to be a release of hydrocarbons. 2) The hydrocarbon needs to mix with the correct proportion of air, the range of flammability being between 2 and 10%. Outside of these limits, combustion cannot occur. 3) An ignition source exceeding 440 degrees Celsius must be present. If either one of these three elements is eliminated, combustion cannot occur. At Silkline Trading safety is our first priority. We provide and maintain a healthy working environment at all times. We ensure adequate control of health and safety risks associated with any use of Hydrocarbon Refrigerants. Hydrocarbon Refrigerants can only be handled by technicians who have experience in Hydrocarbon Refrigerants.

Air-conditioning systems are the largest consumers of electricity for any building. The energy used in cooling generally accounts for 60% of a building’s total energy consumption. By converting to Hydrocarbon Refrigerants with Silkline Trading, substantial energy savings can become a reality. Hydrocarbon Refrigerants are not just good for the environment; they can also save you up to 35% on your energy costs. Hydrocarbon Refrigerants are 50% more efficient conductors of heat than Fluorocarbon Refrigerants. Their operating pressures are about 20% lower than that of Fluorocarbon Refrigerants. As a result of lower operating discharge pressures, compressor work is reduced resulting in less wear & tear. There is less pressure on pipe work, fittings joints and hoses thus reducing the chances of leaks. This increases overall life of the whole machine. All these advantages add up to total saving of energy roughly ranging from 15% to 54%.

We at Silkline believe in Cooling Homes, Not Planet.The increased use of air conditioning in buildings could add to the problems of a warming world by further degrading air quality and compounding the toll of air pollution on human health, a study warns. The rate of climate change expected over the next 100 years is unprecedented in human history. It is difficult to grasp the full meaning of Global Warming as we rush to the next event of the day, yet face it we must or else allow the inevitable to happen. There is nothing new in extinction. Mr Klaus Toepfer from the United Nations Environment Program said in March 2004, “Fighting Climate Change requires Governments, Business and Citizens across the Globe to harness technologies in the pipeline and act”. At Silkline Trading we believe that Hydrocarbon Refrigerants are one of those technologies that can make a big difference. Not only to the environment but also significantly reducing your energy costs.

No. Only the chemical refrigerant in the unit will be replaced. However, every unit is different therefore inspections and assessments are important before conversion.

Hydrocarbon refrigerants were used a long time ago, prior to 1930. Then, non-flammable chemical refrigerants (CFCs) were developed to substitute hydrocarbon refrigerants. These CFCs were used up untill 1990. However, due to the global warming and environmental issues hydrocarbon refrigerants have made a comeback with better performance and efficiency. Hydrocarbon refrigerants are part of the Global Solution to combat Climate Change.