[spqr0a1]

Ethane (R-170) is a fine low-temperature refrigerant for lab equipment. The performance characteristics are at least as good as halocarbon refrigerants. The main drawback is flammability but propane has a similar concern and is already widely used in residential refrigerators and similar size systems.

[xxpor]

>widely used in residential refrigerators and similar size systems.

Not in the US (because of the flammability), unless something's changed very recently.

[xenadu02]

> Not in the US (because of the flammability), unless something's changed very recently.

I don't know when it changed but R-290 (propane) is allowed up to 13oz. My ice maker uses it. I believe it must also be sealed without service ports both to prevent leaks and prevent anyone from connecting normal A/C service equipment to the system. Service requires emptying the system then brazing service ports onto the fill pipes (which are left much longer than normal for this purpose).

[akira2501]

In commercial applications you'll see R-290. It's often used in low temperature applications, like ice cream display freezers. I've seen them in gas stations and pizza shops quite a bit.

[thaeli]

In the last few years, the US has finally started allowing small appliances containing limited quantities of flammable refrigerants.

[jabl]

USA is kind of the exception. In much of the rest of the world, propane or butane are the norm in domestic refrigerators.

[xxpor]

Most of the world doesn't build their residential buildings out of light wood frame :/

[slackdog]

If your house is on fire, you best GTFO no matter what kind of refrigerator you have.

American homes have plenty of propane/natgas appliances anyway, so what difference does one more make?

[xxpor]

People usually store their propane tanks outdoors.

[msandford]

And they have natural gas piped into the house.

[scythe]

A fuel-air explosion will not be contained by a reasonable amount of concrete or masonry. The real safety lesson is to control sources of ignition and prevent the buildup of released gases.

[hn8305823]

Notably, Propane has almost identical refrigeration characteristics to R-22, so it was an easy drop-in replacement for systems designed for R-22 when that was banned.

[_a_a_a_]

I don't see why, they're hardly less flammable

[RobotToaster]

From personal experience things using propane refrigerant seem to make a high pitched noise, I'm not sure if that's a property of the refrigerant or how devices using it are built.

[dsfyu404ed]

There's no "reason" propane has to be louder but most propane refrigeration systems are used in industrial or cost-conscious applications where making the equipment quiet is less of a priority. When designing pumps it takes a non-trivial amount of engineering effort to ensure that the bulk of the noises emitted are above/below human hearing range.

[vondur]

I've seen pentane used in small refrigerators in the US.