The beginning of spring is coming, and refrigerant prices will skyrocket again.

With the gradual increase in temperature, the prosperity of the air-conditioning industry is gradually increasing. This year, the price of refrigerants will increase month by month, especially in April. So why is the price of refrigerant so high this year? Refrigerant is also called refrigeration working fluid, also called refrigerant. It is a working substance that continuously circulates in the refrigeration system and changes its own state to achieve refrigeration. Let's first take a look at the types of refrigerants on the market. At present, there are many refrigerants commonly used, and most of the central air-conditioning industry uses R22, R134a, R410a, R407CR, 404A, R507, etc. We have a brief understanding of R22, R410a, R134a.

R22 refrigerant

R22 is one of the most widely used Freon refrigerants, mainly used in household air conditioners and low-temperature refrigerators. The standard vaporization temperature is -40.8°C, and the condensing pressure usually does not exceed 1.6MPa. R22 is non-flammable and non-explosive. It is safer and more reliable than ammonia in use. Its unit volume is about 60% higher than R12. Its cooling capacity and saturation pressure per unit volume at low temperatures are higher than those of R12 and ammonia. In recent years, most of the refrigerants of large air-conditioning chillers have been replaced by R134a.

R410A refrigerant

Under normal temperature and pressure, R410A is a non-chlorinated fluoroalkane non-azeotropic mixture refrigerant, colorless gas , Stored in the cylinder is compressed liquefied gas. Its ODP is 0, so R410A is an environmentally friendly refrigerant that does not destroy the ozone layer of the atmosphere. R410A is mainly used to replace R22 and R502. It has the characteristics of cleanliness, low toxicity, non-combustibility, and good cooling effect. It is widely used in household air conditioners, small commercial air conditioners, and residential central air conditioners.

R134a (tetrafluoroethane) refrigerant

R134a is currently one of the internationally recognized main refrigeration fluids to replace R12, and is often used in cars Air-conditioning, commercial and industrial refrigeration systems, and as a blowing agent for the production of hard plastic insulation materials, can also be used to configure other mixed refrigerants, such as R404A and R407C. It is widely used in automobile air-conditioning and refrigerator refrigeration.

These are the representatives of the main refrigerants for air-conditioning. The price of refrigerants has doubled in less than half a year this year. Lingqi learned about it. According to the share announcement, in January this year ~In late April, the price of R22 products has risen from 9,700 yuan/ton to 15,500 yuan/ton, an increase of 60%; the price of R134a has risen from 19,500 yuan/ton to 30,000 yuan/ton, an increase of 54%; the price of R410a has increased from 16,000 yuan/ton Rise to 40,000 yuan / ton, an increase of 150%.

In fact, the price of refrigerants continues to rise, mainly due to the stable demand in the automotive industry and air-conditioning industry, and the tight supply of fluorite, the most important raw material for refrigerants, which leads to refrigerant Prices have risen, and prices in the air-conditioning and automobile industries have been rising. Fluorite, also known as fluorine stone, is a mineral, a non-renewable resource and extremely limited reserves. In recent years, the production capacity of fluorite has shrunk significantly, and the supply of fluorite has been obviously tightening since the fourth quarter of 2016, and the price of fluorite has continued to rise. It has just entered June, and the ensuing high temperature will cover the land of China, and the demand for air conditioners will only increase, which is what the industry calls the peak sales season.

What is the actual impact on the air-conditioning industry?

The refrigerant is a rigid demand of the air-conditioning industry, and the sharp price increase also invisibly increases the pressure cost of the air-conditioning industry , But in fact, the impact on the air-conditioning industry will not be too great. Realize that the price of refrigerants has been fluctuating and will not only increase and decrease. Secondly, the refrigerant needed for air-conditioning is just in demand at the end of the year, but the amount of refrigerant used is limited. , The cost of air conditioning is not large. Many units have nameplate labels affixed to their fuselages, which indicate the type and amount of refrigerant injected.

Why is the price of refrigerant soaring?

The editor calculated an account here: From January to late April, the price of R410a rose from 16,000 yuan/ton to 40,000 yuan/ton, and the price increased by 24,000 yuan/ton, which is 24 yuan/ton. KG, a commercial central air conditioner with cold, cold and hot water. The refrigerant charge of R410a is 2*2.1kg, which means this air conditioner will increase by about 100 yuan at most due to the skyrocketing refrigerant price.

Therefore, in fact, the increase in refrigerant prices has little effect on the cost of air conditioners. However, in today's increasingly fierce competition in the air conditioner industry, it is difficult for some brands that are already burdened. In other words, it can only mean a lot of pressure! The impact on maintenance services also increases costs invisibly. All this mountain can be carried to go further!