R-514A PT Chart and Refrigerant Profile

Where you will find R-514A

R-514A, sold by Chemours as Opteon XP30, is a low-pressure chiller refrigerant built to replace R-123. Chemours describes it as developed for low-pressure centrifugal chillers in commercial and industrial applications, for new systems and retrofits. EPA lists it as acceptable for new and retrofit centrifugal chillers and positive displacement chillers since May 23, 2016. It is a two-component azeotrope of the HFO R-1336mzz(Z) and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (R-1130(E)), an HCO.

Its pressures sit close to R-123, which is the point of the blend. R-514A boils at 85.0°F at sea level. At 40°F saturation it reads 19.1 in Hg vacuum (R-123: 18.2 in Hg); at 100°F it reads 5.1 psig (R-123: 6.1 psig). Close is not equal, so read an R-514A machine against this chart, not an R-123 chart. Chemours claims a close capacity and efficiency match to R-123. Use a gauge or transducer that resolves inches of mercury; the pressure converter converts to psia or kPa.

Charging R-514A

Chemours lists R-514A as an azeotrope with zero glide, and this site’s computed chart shows a glide of a few hundredths of a degree. In practice one PT column serves the evaporator and condenser. Blends are normally charged as liquid, and a low-pressure refrigerant that is liquid at room temperature is handled as one anyway.

No written charging or retrofit procedure from Chemours could be retrieved. Charge weight, oil and procedure for a conversion or a new machine come from the chiller manufacturer.

The evaporator runs in a vacuum, so low-side leaks draw in air and moisture. If condenser pressure sits above the saturation pressure for the measured condensing temperature, suspect non-condensables; check with the PT calculator.

Oil and compatibility

BITZER’s refrigerant table lists POE for R-514A. R-123 machines typically run mineral oil or alkylbenzene, so a retrofit raises a lubricant question that only the chiller manufacturer can answer for a given machine. Do not change oil or refrigerant without the OEM’s retrofit instructions.

Safety, handling and recovery

R-514A is B1 under ASHRAE 34, the same class as R-123: higher toxicity (occupational exposure limit below 400 ppm), no flame propagation. Chemours and EPA’s SNAP tables both list B1. A move from R-123 does not change the toxicity class, while a move to R-1233zd(E) or R-1336mzz(Z) (both A1) does.

Section 608: at 104°F R-514A saturates at 6.7 psig (21.4 psia), under the 45 psia limit, so it is a low-pressure refrigerant (40 CFR 82.152). Work on these chillers needs Type III or Universal 608 certification. Recovery from a low-pressure appliance must reach 25 mm Hg absolute (40 CFR 82.156 Table 1), close to 29 in Hg vacuum at sea level. R-514A is a non-exempt substitute: no venting, and since January 1, 2018 sales are restricted to certified technicians (40 CFR 82.154(c)).

Cylinders: AHRI Guideline N-2017 Table 1 assigns R-514A pinkish purple (PMS 523) as its identifying color. Since January 1, 2020 new containers are painted light green-gray RAL 7044, with the assigned color on the label. See cylinder colors.

Status and replacements

Neither component is a controlled ozone-depleting substance under 40 CFR 82 or an AIM Act regulated HFC, so R-514A needs no allowances and the Technology Transitions GWP limits do not apply. EPA’s 2016 listing cites a weighted ODP of about 0.00006, from the dichloroethylene; the ODP field shows 0 because neither component has a Montreal Protocol value.

GWP depends on the basis. IPCC AR4 has no value for either component; AR5 gives about 1 by mass-weighted calculation, Chemours prints 2 (AR5), and EPA’s SNAP chiller page lists 7. All are very low.

For an R-123 chiller owner, R-514A is the listed option that covers both retrofit and new equipment. R-1233zd(E) and R-1336mzz(Z) are listed for new chillers only.

Common questions

What is the difference between R-514A and R-1233zd(E)?

R-514A is B1 and runs close to R-123 pressures (19.1 in Hg vacuum at 40°F); EPA lists it for retrofit and new chillers. R-1233zd(E) is A1 and runs higher (12.6 in Hg vacuum at 40°F, 14.5 psig at 100°F); EPA lists it for new centrifugal chillers only.

Is R-514A compatible with R-513A equipment?

No. R-513A is a medium-pressure R-134a alternative that runs above atmospheric pressure (39.8 psig at 40°F, dew); R-514A is a low-pressure refrigerant whose evaporator runs in a vacuum. They serve different chiller designs.