When you’re choosing a refrigerant for high-temperature systems or upgrading older equipment, you may see R124 listed as an option. But is it still worth using today?
This guide explains what R124 refrigerant is, where it’s used, and whether it’s still a practical choice.
What is R124 Refrigerant？
R124 is an HCFC refrigerant designed as a replacement for R114. It is mainly used in medium- to high-temperature applications, especially in large industrial systems. Unlike refrigerants used in residential air conditioning, R124 is built for specialized, high-temperature environments.
Before using R124 refrigerant, you should make sure your system is designed for high-temperature operation. Using the wrong refrigerant can reduce efficiency and damage your equipment.
Properties of R124 Refrigerant
Physical Properties
R124 maintains stable performance in medium- to high-temperature conditions. In terms of safety, it meets the ASHRAE A1 safety standard. It is a non-toxic, non-flammable refrigerant. Even in the event of a slight leakage during routine charging or maintenance, it presents a low risk under normal operating conditions.
Here are the physical properties of R124 refrigerant in the table below:
| Properties | R124 refrigerant |
| Chemical formula | C2HClF4 |
| Molecular Weight | 136.5 |
| Density | 1.355 g/cm³ (25 °C) (as liquid) |
| Freezing Point | -199 ℃ |
| Boiling point | -11.0 ℃(12.2 F) |
| Critical Temperature(℃) | 122.3 |
| Critical Pressure (bar) | 36.24 |
| Vapor pressure (bp, lb./ft ^3) | 0.419 |
| ODP | 0.022 |
| GWP | 609 |
| Safety classification | A1 |
| Oil | AB |
Chemical Properties
In terms of chemical stability, R124 refrigerant does not react with metals commonly used in refrigeration equipment, such as copper, steel, and aluminum, at normal temperatures, nor does it react chemically with water. This effectively prevents corrosion of equipment piping and extends the service life of the equipment.
However, it is important to note that when the working temperature exceeds 250°C, it decomposes and produces corrosive, toxic gases. Therefore, when using this refrigerant, you must ensure that the equipment does not operate at temperatures exceeding the specified limits.
R124 Refrigerant Pressure-Temperature Chart
| R-124 (PSIG) | ℉ | ℃ |
| -16.1 | -20 | -28.9 |
| -14.1 | -15 | -26.1 |
| -12 | -10 | -23.3 |
| -9.6 | -5 | -20.6 |
| -6.9 | 0 | -17.8 |
| -3.9 | 5 | -15 |
| -0.6 | 10 | -12.2 |
| 1.6 | 15 | -9.4 |
| 3.5 | 20 | -6.7 |
| 5.7 | 25 | -3.9 |
| 8.1 | 30 | -1.1 |
| 10.5 | 35 | 1.7 |
| 13.2 | 40 | 4.4 |
| 16.1 | 45 | 7.2 |
| 19.2 | 50 | 10 |
| 22.6 | 55 | 12.8 |
| 26.3 | 60 | 15.6 |
| 30.2 | 65 | 18.3 |
| 34.4 | 70 | 21.1 |
| 38.9 | 75 | 23.9 |
| 43.7 | 80 | 26.7 |
| 48.8 | 85 | 29.4 |
| 54.2 | 90 | 32.2 |
| 60 | 95 | 35 |
| 66.1 | 100 | 37.8 |
| 72.6 | 105 | 40.6 |
| 79.5 | 110 | 43.3 |
| 86.8 | 115 | 46.1 |
| 94.5 | 120 | 48.9 |
| 103 | 125 | 51.7 |
| 111 | 130 | 54.4 |
| 120 | 135 | 57.2 |
| 130 | 140 | 60 |
| 140 | 145 | 62.8 |
| 150 | 150 | 65.6 |
Advantages of R124 Refrigerant
Safety
R124 refrigerant is classified as A1 by ASHRAE, meaning it is non-flammable and has low toxicity under normal operating conditions.
You don’t need special handling procedures beyond standard HVAC safety practices. Even if a small leak occurs, it can be dealt with quickly and will not cause a safety accident.
Moreover, its chemical properties are stable. It does not corrode equipment or produce harmful byproducts. These characteristics allow your equipment to operate stably for a long time, reducing failures caused by refrigerant issues and lowering maintenance risks.
Stable Thermodynamic Properties
R124 refrigerant performs reliably in high-temperature conditions. Under high-temperature operating conditions of 40–60°C, many conventional refrigerants suffer from excessively high discharge temperatures, a sudden drop in cooling capacity, and a significant reduction in efficiency.
However, R124 refrigerant, with its stable thermodynamic properties, maintains stable efficiency and cooling performance. Whether it’s central air conditioning in high-temperature regions or cooling systems in high-temperature industrial workshops and heavy equipment, it maintains stable thermodynamic properties.
Furthermore, its low compressor discharge temperature effectively reduces issues such as compressor overheating protection and component aging, enhancing equipment operational stability. When working in high temperatures, it continues to work reliably during long operating cycles.
High compatibility and low retrofit costs
If you need to upgrade outdated R114 refrigeration equipment, R124 can save you costs. Its thermodynamic properties are highly compatible with R114, eliminating the need to modify components, such as compressors and heat exchangers. Simply cleaning the piping and replacing the dryer filter is sufficient for refrigerant replacement. This keeps retrofit time and downtime low.
Furthermore, it is fully compatible with existing lubricants and seals, eliminating the need to purchase specialized replacement parts and further reducing costs to retrofit. It can also be used as an important component in mixed refrigerants, combining with various refrigerants to suit different types of refrigeration equipment. Whether used in single-unit applications or for mixing refrigerants.
Disadvantages of R124 Refrigerant
Poor Environmental Performance
The biggest drawback of R124 is that it has a big impact on the environment, which is why it is being phased out worldwide. Although its ODP value is much lower than that of other traditional CFC refrigerants, it still damages the ozone layer. Its GWP value is also higher than that of current mainstream low-GWP refrigerants, which do not comply with policies and low-carbon development requirements.
Currently, many countries restrict its use. And developed nations have completely banned its initial installation in new equipment. If your system depends on R124, you may face supply issues and many challenges in the future.
Limited Applicability
R124’s applicability is extremely limited. It is not suitable for a wide range of applications. Because its boiling point is high, it is only effective under medium to high temperature conditions. Once exposed to environments below 0°C, its cooling efficiency drops quickly, leading to insufficient cooling capacity and low compressor suction pressure.
This also prevents its use in common low-temperature refrigeration applications such as household refrigerators, cold storage facilities, and cold chain, limiting its use to high-temperature refrigeration fields with a very narrow scope of application. If you require a refrigerant suitable for multiple conditions, R124 clearly cannot meet your needs and can only be used specifically for certain high-temperature equipment.
High Temperature Decomposition
When using R124, you must strictly control the operating temperature of the equipment. This is because it decomposes at temperatures exceeding 250°C, producing toxic and corrosive gases such as hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid.
These gases not only severely corrode components, such as equipment piping and compressors, shortening the equipment’s service life, but also pose a significant health risk to operators.
This requires you to monitor temperatures in real time during equipment operation and implement effective temperature measures to prevent the overheating of equipment. It places extremely high demands on both the equipment control system and daily operating procedures. If the temperature control system is not precise enough, or if there is even a slight error in operation, it can easily cause risks to safety and equipment failures.
High Costs
Because of environmental phase-out policies, R124 manufacturers worldwide have reduced, resulting in a continuous contraction of overall production capacity. It increases the difficulty of procuring R124, with some regions even experiencing shortages, and prices continuing to rise. Long-term use will significantly increase your equipment operation and costs.
Some regions have also implemented transportation control policies, further exacerbating supply shortages. This will affect future refrigerant replenishment and maintenance of equipment. Compared to other environmentally friendly refrigerants, R124 offers no advantages in terms of procurement costs or provides stability, and its cost-effectiveness will continue to decline with long-term use.
Applications of R124 Refrigerant
Centrifugal Chillers
R124 is widely used in centrifugal chillers in large commercial and industrial facilities. As the designated replacement for R114, it is primarily used in centrifugal chillers, fire suppression systems, and as a component in several retrofit blends.
If you’re retrofitting older chillers, R124 may still be used as a temporary scheme. It ensures effective cooling while reducing the cost of equipment upgrades and guaranteeing the stable operation of the air conditioning system.
Industrial Refrigeration Equipment
High-Temperature Industries: Workshops in industries such as metallurgy, chemical processing, and machining often maintain ambient temperatures above 40°C year-round. Additionally, high-temperature operating equipment such as cranes and overhead cranes cannot be accommodated by conventional refrigerants.
R124, with its excellent high-temperature stability, can provide stable cooling in these extreme high-temperature conditions. It ensures that workshop temperatures meet standards and equipment operates normally.
High-Temperature Heat Pump Systems: High-temperature heat pump systems using R124 can recover heat from industrial production. It enables the recycling of thermal energy.
Retrofit Refrigerant Blends
R124 can be mixed with refrigerants such as R134a and R22 to create blended refrigerants like R409A and R401A. These blended refrigerants show the advantages of these refrigerants. It makes them suitable for various refrigeration equipment and has a greater cooling ability than others.
If you want a custom refrigerant blend, R124 can be used as a base component. It strengthens the stability and compatibility of the blended refrigerant, enabling the equipment to achieve an optimal operating state.
Fire Suppression Systems
R124 can be used in fire suppression systems for specialized applications, serving as a replacement for halon fire suppressants. It can be used in power distribution rooms, precision instrument rooms, and other similar locations. It offers high fire-extinguishing efficiency, leaves no residue, and does not contaminate precision equipment. After extinguishing the fire, it evaporates quickly, ensuring no impact on subsequent equipment operation.
It can also serve as an original material for industrial foaming agents and cleaning agents in some industrial processes. Due to policies, the scale of such applications is gradually shrinking. If you have such requirements, you should pay attention to the changing of policy in advance and prepare other choices.
R124 Refrigerant Alternatives
Because of the trend of R124 refrigerant being gradually phased out, you can find many refrigerants to replace R124 refrigerant.
| Refrigerant | ODP | GWP | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| R124 | 0.022 | 609 | Phase-out |
| R134a | 0 | 1430 | Common |
| R1233zd(E) | 0 | 1 | Preferred |
| R514A | 0 | 2 | Modern replacement |
To Wrap Up
R124 is no longer a long-term solution. If you’re planning a system upgrade, switching to low-GWP refrigerants is the safer and better choice.
If you would like to learn more about other eco-friendly refrigerants or have a project related to refrigeration, please contact our team for professional answers and suitable solutions.
FAQ
1. Is R124 still available?
Yes, but production is limited because of environmental regulations.
2. Is R124 still legal?
R124 is being phased out worldwide because it contains chlorine and has ozone-depleting potential. New systems rarely use R124 today, and most applications have transitioned to environmentally friendly alternatives.
3. Why is R124 being phased out?
Because it has ozone depletion potential (ODP) and high global warming potential (GWP).
4. What can replace R124 refrigerant?
You can replace R124 refrigerant by using common alternatives, including R134a, R1233zd, R513A, and other low-GWP refrigerants, like R744 and R717.
5. Is R124 safe to use?
It is classified as A1 (non-flammable, low toxicity) under normal conditions.
6. Can R124 be used in low-temperature systems?
No, it is not suitable for low-temperature refrigeration applications.
7. Is R124 banned?
R124 is not universally banned, but its use is heavily restricted in many countries under HFFC phase-out regulations.
You may also find this related blog post very useful:
R744 vs R134a: Differences, Performance, Cost, and Which to Choose
