Global Warming Potential of Conventional Air Conditioners

Objective:

1. To derive names of refrigerants from their refrigerant numbers.
2. To learn about the concept of Global Warming Potentials for conventional and natural refrigerants.

Outcome:

1. Students will be sensitized about the hazardous impacts of conventional refrigerants due to high GWP value.
2. Students will come to know that natural refrigerants are a sustainable, viable option to replace them.

Requirements:

Currency notes, coins

Prerequisites:

1. Refrigerant nomenclature
2. Concept of Global Warming Potential (GWP). 

Procedure:

Step 1: Create eight groups from amongst students.

Step 2: Ask each group to choose from the following conventional refrigerants:  

1. R410A
2. R22
3. R134A
4. R32
5. R290
6. R1270
7. R744
8. R717

Step 3: Each group to classify their refrigerant based on refrigerant type (HCFC, HFC etc.) and determine their GWP values for a 100 year period.

Step 4: Assign one rupee to a GWP value of 10.

Step 5: Before coming to the next class, each group will bring the money equating to the GWP values for their chosen refrigerants.

Step 6: In the next class, ask each group to tell the name of the refrigerant, and the money that they have brought. 

Step 7: Write these values on the board along with the corresponding group-name.

Step 8: The group having the least amount of money, is the richest (environmentally) amongst them.

Step 9: Succeed the game by discussing the issues of conventional refrigerants having high GWP and the alternative of natural refrigerants as a sustainable viable option. 

Step 10: Each group researches and shares atleast one natural refrigerant’s name and its environmental impact, uses, possible cooling system systems and case studies.

Table:

	Refrigerant	Type	Name	GWP (100 yr)	Money (Rs.)
Group 1	R410a
Group 2	R22
Group 3	R134a
Group 4	R32
Group 5	R290
Group 6	R1270
Group 7	R744
Group 8	R717

References:

1. Refrigerant nomenclature: https://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105129/pdf/R&AC%20Lecture%2026.pdf
2. Refrigerant types and issues: http://www.fairconditioning.org/resources/#126-module-ppts-1478947081