Refrigerantbased

Refrigerantbased is an adjective describing devices and systems that rely on a refrigerant within a closed loop to transfer heat by evaporation and condensation. In practice, refrigerantbased technologies are most often associated with vapor‑compression cycles and absorption cycles, enabling cooling, refrigeration, or heating through phase changes of the working fluid. Unlike evaporative cooling or thermoelectric cooling, refrigerantbased systems use a dedicated circulating fluid that moves between evaporator and condenser units.

Common refrigerants include synthetic halogenated compounds and natural fluids. Historically, chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons were used, but regulations phased them out due to ozone depletion potential. Modern refrigerants include hydrofluorocarbons with varying global warming potentials and natural options such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons. The choice involves trade-offs among efficiency, flammability, toxicity, pressure, and environmental impact. Leaks are a concern, and many jurisdictions regulate them under international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol and its amendments.

Applications span residential and commercial air conditioning, refrigeration, heat pumps, industrial process cooling, and some automotive and data-center systems. Efficiency is typically described by coefficients of performance or energy efficiency ratio, with ongoing design advances in heat exchangers, controls, and leak-tight hardware to improve performance and reduce emissions.

Although commonly called refrigerantbased, the term is not a formal technical designation but a descriptive label. As technology advances, natural refrigerants and low-GWP designs are increasingly common to balance performance with environmental responsibility.