R236ea PT Chart
Updated October 12, 2026
R-236ea
Pure HFC, 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (CF₃CHFCHF₂). ASHRAE A1 non-flammable. GWP 1,370. Normal boiling +43°F — high for an HFC, suitable for high-temperature heat pump and organic Rankine cycle applications. Limited commercial availability; specialty refrigerant only.
R-236ea saturation pressure is 2.0 in. Hg vacuum at 40°F, 11.3 PSIG at 70°F, and 31.0 PSIG at 100°F. These are the gauge readings on a static, fully-saturated system; a running system's high side sits well above them. The full table below runs from −22°F to 150°F in 1°F steps.
Not yet checked against an independent source.
R-236ea PT chart — printable saturation table
Looking for the R-236ea PT chart PDF for shop reference? The complete pressure-temperature saturation table is below: every 1° increment from −40°F to 150°F (or to the refrigerant's critical temperature). Use the Print / Save as PDF button in the table header to download a clean, table-only PDF (the rest of the page is hidden from the print output).
R-236ea PT Chart — Pressure-Temperature Saturation Table
Computed with CoolProp 7.2.0 in 1°F steps · hvacptcharts.com
| Temp (°F) | Pressure (PSIG) |
|---|---|
| −22°F | 24.7 in. Hg vac. |
| −21°F | 24.5 in. Hg vac. |
| −20°F | 24.4 in. Hg vac. |
| −19°F | 24.2 in. Hg vac. |
| −18°F | 24.0 in. Hg vac. |
| −17°F | 23.8 in. Hg vac. |
| −16°F | 23.6 in. Hg vac. |
| −15°F | 23.4 in. Hg vac. |
| −14°F | 23.2 in. Hg vac. |
| −13°F | 23.0 in. Hg vac. |
| −12°F | 22.8 in. Hg vac. |
| −11°F | 22.6 in. Hg vac. |
| −10°F | 22.4 in. Hg vac. |
| −9°F | 22.2 in. Hg vac. |
| −8°F | 21.9 in. Hg vac. |
| −7°F | 21.7 in. Hg vac. |
| −6°F | 21.4 in. Hg vac. |
| −5°F | 21.2 in. Hg vac. |
| −4°F | 20.9 in. Hg vac. |
| −3°F | 20.7 in. Hg vac. |
| −2°F | 20.4 in. Hg vac. |
| −1°F | 20.1 in. Hg vac. |
| 0°F | 19.8 in. Hg vac. |
| 1°F | 19.6 in. Hg vac. |
| 2°F | 19.3 in. Hg vac. |
| 3°F | 19.0 in. Hg vac. |
| 4°F | 18.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 5°F | 18.3 in. Hg vac. |
| 6°F | 18.0 in. Hg vac. |
| 7°F | 17.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 8°F | 17.4 in. Hg vac. |
| 9°F | 17.0 in. Hg vac. |
| 10°F | 16.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 11°F | 16.3 in. Hg vac. |
| 12°F | 15.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 13°F | 15.6 in. Hg vac. |
| 14°F | 15.2 in. Hg vac. |
| 15°F | 14.8 in. Hg vac. |
| 16°F | 14.4 in. Hg vac. |
| 17°F | 14.0 in. Hg vac. |
| 18°F | 13.6 in. Hg vac. |
| 19°F | 13.2 in. Hg vac. |
| 20°F | 12.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 21°F | 12.3 in. Hg vac. |
| 22°F | 11.8 in. Hg vac. |
| 23°F | 11.4 in. Hg vac. |
| 24°F | 10.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 25°F | 10.4 in. Hg vac. |
| 26°F | 9.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 27°F | 9.4 in. Hg vac. |
| 28°F | 8.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 29°F | 8.4 in. Hg vac. |
| 30°F | 7.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 31°F | 7.4 in. Hg vac. |
| 32°F H₂O freeze | 6.8 in. Hg vac. |
| 33°F | 6.3 in. Hg vac. |
| 34°F | 5.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 35°F | 5.1 in. Hg vac. |
| 36°F | 4.5 in. Hg vac. |
| 37°F | 3.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 38°F | 3.3 in. Hg vac. |
| 39°F | 2.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 40°F | 2.0 in. Hg vac. |
| 41°F | 1.4 in. Hg vac. |
| 42°F | 0.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 43°F NBP (atmospheric) | 0.1 in. Hg vac. |
| 44°F | 0.3 |
| 45°F | 0.6 |
| 46°F | 1.0 |
| 47°F | 1.3 |
| 48°F | 1.7 |
| 49°F | 2.1 |
| 50°F | 2.4 |
| 51°F | 2.8 |
| 52°F | 3.2 |
| 53°F | 3.6 |
| 54°F | 4.0 |
| 55°F | 4.4 |
| 56°F | 4.8 |
| 57°F | 5.2 |
| 58°F | 5.6 |
| 59°F | 6.1 |
| 60°F | 6.5 |
| 61°F | 7.0 |
| 62°F | 7.4 |
| 63°F | 7.9 |
| 64°F | 8.4 |
| 65°F | 8.8 |
| 66°F | 9.3 |
| 67°F | 9.8 |
| 68°F | 10.3 |
| 69°F | 10.8 |
| 70°F | 11.3 |
| 71°F | 11.9 |
| 72°F | 12.4 |
| 73°F | 12.9 |
| 74°F | 13.5 |
| 75°F | 14.0 |
| 76°F | 14.6 |
| 77°F | 15.2 |
| 78°F | 15.8 |
| 79°F | 16.3 |
| 80°F | 16.9 |
| 81°F | 17.6 |
| 82°F | 18.2 |
| 83°F | 18.8 |
| 84°F | 19.4 |
| 85°F | 20.1 |
| 86°F | 20.7 |
| 87°F | 21.4 |
| 88°F | 22.1 |
| 89°F | 22.8 |
| 90°F | 23.5 |
| 91°F | 24.2 |
| 92°F | 24.9 |
| 93°F | 25.6 |
| 94°F | 26.3 |
| 95°F | 27.1 |
| 96°F | 27.8 |
| 97°F | 28.6 |
| 98°F | 29.4 |
| 99°F | 30.2 |
| 100°F | 31.0 |
| 101°F | 31.8 |
| 102°F | 32.6 |
| 103°F | 33.4 |
| 104°F | 34.2 |
| 105°F | 35.1 |
| 106°F | 36.0 |
| 107°F | 36.8 |
| 108°F | 37.7 |
| 109°F | 38.6 |
| 110°F | 39.5 |
| 111°F | 40.4 |
| 112°F | 41.4 |
| 113°F | 42.3 |
| 114°F | 43.3 |
| 115°F | 44.2 |
| 116°F | 45.2 |
| 117°F | 46.2 |
| 118°F | 47.2 |
| 119°F | 48.2 |
| 120°F | 49.3 |
| 121°F | 50.3 |
| 122°F | 51.4 |
| 123°F | 52.4 |
| 124°F | 53.5 |
| 125°F | 54.6 |
| 126°F | 55.7 |
| 127°F | 56.9 |
| 128°F | 58.0 |
| 129°F | 59.1 |
| 130°F | 60.3 |
| 131°F | 61.5 |
| 132°F | 62.7 |
| 133°F | 63.9 |
| 134°F | 65.1 |
| 135°F | 66.3 |
| 136°F | 67.6 |
| 137°F | 68.8 |
| 138°F | 70.1 |
| 139°F | 71.4 |
| 140°F | 72.7 |
| 141°F | 74.0 |
| 142°F | 75.4 |
| 143°F | 76.7 |
| 144°F | 78.1 |
| 145°F | 79.5 |
| 146°F | 80.9 |
| 147°F | 82.3 |
| 148°F | 83.7 |
| 149°F | 85.2 |
| 150°F | 86.6 |
| Temp (°C) | Pressure (kPa) |
|---|---|
| −30°C | −84 |
| −29°C | −83 |
| −28°C | −82 |
| −27°C | −80 |
| −26°C | −79 |
| −25°C | −78 |
| −24°C | −77 |
| −23°C | −75 |
| −22°C | −74 |
| −21°C | −72 |
| −20°C | −71 |
| −19°C | −69 |
| −18°C | −68 |
| −17°C | −66 |
| −16°C | −64 |
| −15°C | −62 |
| −14°C | −60 |
| −13°C | −58 |
| −12°C | −56 |
| −11°C | −54 |
| −10°C | −51 |
| −9°C | −49 |
| −8°C | −47 |
| −7°C | −44 |
| −6°C | −41 |
| −5°C | −39 |
| −4°C | −36 |
| −3°C | −33 |
| −2°C | −30 |
| −1°C | −26 |
| 0°C H₂O freeze | −23 |
| 1°C | −20 |
| 2°C | −16 |
| 3°C | −12 |
| 4°C | −9 |
| 5°C | −5 |
| 6°C NBP (atmospheric) | −1 |
| 7°C | 3 |
| 8°C | 8 |
| 9°C | 12 |
| 10°C | 17 |
| 11°C | 22 |
| 12°C | 26 |
| 13°C | 31 |
| 14°C | 37 |
| 15°C | 42 |
| 16°C | 47 |
| 17°C | 53 |
| 18°C | 59 |
| 19°C | 65 |
| 20°C | 71 |
| 21°C | 77 |
| 22°C | 84 |
| 23°C | 91 |
| 24°C | 98 |
| 25°C | 105 |
| 26°C | 112 |
| 27°C | 119 |
| 28°C | 127 |
| 29°C | 135 |
| 30°C | 143 |
| 31°C | 151 |
| 32°C | 160 |
| 33°C | 169 |
| 34°C | 177 |
| 35°C | 187 |
| 36°C | 196 |
| 37°C | 206 |
| 38°C | 216 |
| 39°C | 226 |
| 40°C | 236 |
| 41°C | 247 |
| 42°C | 258 |
| 43°C | 269 |
| 44°C | 280 |
| 45°C | 292 |
| 46°C | 304 |
| 47°C | 316 |
| 48°C | 328 |
| 49°C | 341 |
| 50°C | 354 |
| 51°C | 368 |
| 52°C | 381 |
| 53°C | 395 |
| 54°C | 409 |
| 55°C | 424 |
| 56°C | 439 |
| 57°C | 454 |
| 58°C | 469 |
| 59°C | 485 |
| 60°C | 501 |
| 61°C | 518 |
| 62°C | 535 |
| 63°C | 552 |
| 64°C | 569 |
| 65°C | 587 |
| 66°C | 605 |
Full saturation values at 1° increments. Toggle between °F / PSIG and °C / kPa. Use Print / Save as PDF for laminated shop reference, or download the CSV / JSON below for use in other tools. R-236ea PT chart data: CoolProp 7.2.0 (published Helmholtz equations of state / mixture models — see the source citations above).
Lower toxicity (Occupational Exposure Limit ≥ 400 ppm). No flame propagation in air at standard atmospheric pressure and 60°C. R-134a, R-22, R-410A, R-404A, R-744 (CO2) are A1.
- Flammability
- None (no flame propagation)
- Toxicity
- Lower (OEL ≥ 400 ppm)
Classification per ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2022. See full reference.
Saturation pressure-temperature curve
Saturation values from CoolProp 7.2.0[3]. Operating pressure on a running system differs — see the operating-pressure references for in-use values.
At a glance
Chemistry
Lubricant compatibility
Specialty HFC used in organic Rankine cycle and high-temperature heat pump applications. Limited commercial availability.
Common applications
- Organic Rankine cycle (waste heat recovery)
- High-temperature heat pump research
Properties
- Boiling point (1 atm)43.1°F (6.2°C)
- Critical point282.7°F (139.3°C) at 481 PSIG
- Molar mass152.04 g/mol
- ODP0
- GWP (100-yr)1,370 AIM Act exchange value (IPCC AR4) IPCC: AR4 1,370 · AR5 1,330 · AR6 1,500 Not in the original AR4 Table 2.14; value from the 2012 AR4 errata table, identical to the AIM Act exchange value.
- Atmospheric lifetime11 years
- New-equipment status (US)Restricted in 39 new-equipment categories — US new-equipment rules (40 CFR 84.54).
What is R-236ea?
R-236ea is the "ea" isomer of 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane — a six-fluorine HFC with the specific fluorination pattern CF₃-CHF-CHF₂. The closely-related isomer R-236fa (1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane, CF₃-CH₂-CF₃) has the same chemical formula but different fluorine arrangement, leading to very different properties — most notably R-236fa has GWP 9,810 while R-236ea has GWP 1,370. The geometric arrangement matters enormously for atmospheric behavior.
Commercial use of R-236ea is concentrated in specialty applications: organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems for waste-heat recovery, high-temperature heat pump research, and some specialty refrigeration where the relatively high boiling point (+43°F) and chemical stability are useful. Production volumes are modest.
Where R-236ea is used
- Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) working fluid for waste-heat recovery applications
- High-temperature heat pump research and pre-commercial systems
- Specialty refrigeration in industrial process applications
- Not used in conventional HVAC or commercial refrigeration
Regulatory & phase-down status
R-236ea's GWP of 1,370 places it within AIM Act phase-down scope for HFCs. Production volumes are small, so the practical impact of AIM Act schedules is limited — R-236ea is too specialty-niche for major commercial restriction at current production levels.
For applications where R-236ea is currently used, R-1336mzz(Z) (HFO, GWP 2) is the modern low-GWP substitute for ORC and high-temperature heat pumps. The transition is gradual as new equipment specifies R-1336mzz(Z) and existing R-236ea equipment ages out.
Service notes
POE oil is the standard lubricant. Mineral oil is not used. A1 safety classification simplifies service. R-236ea has the relatively high boiling point (+43°F) — the refrigerant may be liquid at indoor ambient temperatures, which affects handling (e.g., transferring from cylinders may require modest heating to develop vapor pressure for charging).
EPA Section 608 covers R-236ea. Service work on R-236ea systems is rare.
Operating cycle
Phase-down timeline
R-236ea is a regulated substance under the AIM Act. Its GWP under 40 CFR 84.64 is 1,370, at or above the limit in 39 of the categories 40 CFR 84.54 restricts (listed under “All 84.54 categories restricting R-236ea”).
- From January 1, 2025 — new self-contained residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump products: manufacture / import restricted (GWP ≥ 700).
- From January 1, 2025 — new residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump systems (except VRF): installation restricted (GWP ≥ 700), unless every specified component was manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025.
- From January 1, 2026 — new variable refrigerant flow (VRF) residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump systems: installation restricted (GWP ≥ 700); systems whose specified components were all manufactured or imported before January 1, 2026 may be installed until January 1, 2027, or until January 1, 2028 when a building permit issued before October 5, 2023 specifies the refrigerant.
- From January 1, 2028 — new self-contained residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump products: sale and distribution restricted (GWP ≥ 700).
HFC production & consumption allowances step down to 30% of baseline in 2029–2033, 20% of baseline in 2034–2035, and 15% of baseline in 2036 and later (42 U.S.C. 7675(e)(2)(C)).
US new-equipment rules (40 CFR 84.54)
R-236ea is a regulated substance under the AIM Act. Under 40 CFR 84.64(a) its GWP is 1,370, the AIM Act exchange value. That value is compared against each 40 CFR 84.54 subsector limit below.
| Effective | Equipment subsector | Limit | Restriction | ¶ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Self-contained residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump products | GWP ≥ 700 | Manufacture / import | (a)(1) |
| January 1, 2025 | Residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump systems (except VRF) | GWP ≥ 700 | Installation | (c)(1) |
| January 1, 2026 | Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump systems | GWP ≥ 700 | Installation | (c)(2) |
| January 1, 2028 | Self-contained residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump products | GWP ≥ 700 | Sale / distribution | (b) |
All 84.54 categories restricting R-236ea (39)
| Refrigeration, air conditioning & heat pumps (32) | |||
| January 1, 2025 | Self-contained residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump products | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(1) |
| January 1, 2025 | Chillers for comfort cooling | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(10)(i) |
| January 1, 2025 | Chillers for ice rinks | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(10)(ii) |
| January 1, 2025 | Residential dehumidifiers | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(2) |
| January 1, 2025 | Household refrigerators and freezers | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(3) |
| January 1, 2025 | Retail food refrigeration — stand-alone units | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(4) |
| January 1, 2025 | Vending machines | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(5) |
| January 1, 2025 | Residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump systems (except VRF) | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(1) |
| January 1, 2025 | Chillers for comfort cooling | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(3) |
| January 1, 2025 | Ice rinks | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(4) |
| January 1, 2026 | Chillers for industrial process refrigeration, fluid exiting the chiller warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(10)(iii) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration products (non-chiller), charge 200 lb or greater, refrigerant entering the evaporator warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(12)(i) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration products (non-chiller), charge less than 200 lb, refrigerant entering the evaporator warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 300 | (a)(12)(ii) |
| January 1, 2026 | Ice makers — batch type up to 1,000 lb of ice per 24 h and continuous type up to 1,200 lb per 24 h | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(8)(i) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration systems (non-chiller), charge 200 lb or greater, evaporator inlet warmer than −22°F (−30°C), not the high-temperature side of a cascade | GWP ≥ 150 | (c)(10)(i) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration systems (non-chiller), charge less than 200 lb, evaporator inlet warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 300 | (c)(10)(ii) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration — high-temperature side of cascade systems, evaporator inlet warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 300 | (c)(10)(iii) |
| January 1, 2026 | Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump systems | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(2) |
| January 1, 2026 | Chillers for industrial process refrigeration, fluid exiting the chiller warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(5)(i) |
| July 27, 2026 | Refrigerated transport — intermodal containers with a box temperature of −31°F (−35°C) or higher | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(6) |
| July 27, 2026 | Refrigerated transport — intermodal containers with a box temperature of −31°F (−35°C) or higher | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(7) |
| July 27, 2026 | Cold storage warehouse systems | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(9)(i) |
| January 1, 2027 | Self-contained products in data center, information technology equipment facility, and computer room cooling | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(11) |
| January 1, 2027 | Refrigerated food processing and dispensing products outside the scope of UL 621, charge 500 g or less | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(9)(i) |
| January 1, 2027 | Data center, information technology equipment facility, and computer room cooling systems | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(13) |
| January 1, 2028 | Chillers for industrial process refrigeration, fluid exiting the chiller from −58°F to −22°F (−50°C to −30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(10)(iv) |
| January 1, 2028 | Industrial process refrigeration products (non-chiller), refrigerant entering the evaporator from −58°F to −22°F (−50°C to −30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(12)(iii) |
| January 1, 2028 | Industrial process refrigeration systems (non-chiller), evaporator inlet from −58°F to −22°F (−50°C to −30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(10)(iv) |
| January 1, 2028 | Chillers for industrial process refrigeration, fluid exiting the chiller from −58°F to −22°F (−50°C to −30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(6)(i) |
| January 1, 2032 | Retail food refrigeration — remote condensing units | GWP ≥ 150 (200 lb or greater, not the cascade high side); GWP ≥ 300 (less than 200 lb); GWP ≥ 300 (cascade high side) | (c)(11)(ii) |
| January 1, 2032 | Supermarket systems | GWP ≥ 150 (200 lb or greater, not the cascade high side); GWP ≥ 300 (less than 200 lb); GWP ≥ 300 (cascade high side) | (c)(12)(ii) |
| January 1, 2032 | Cold storage warehouse systems | GWP ≥ 150 (200 lb or greater, not the cascade high side); GWP ≥ 300 (less than 200 lb); GWP ≥ 300 (cascade high side) | (c)(9)(ii) |
| Motor vehicle air conditioning (3) | |||
| October 24, 2024 | Motor vehicle air-conditioning in Model Year 2025 and later light-duty passenger cars and trucks (gross vehicle weight rating under 8,500 lb) | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(13)(i) |
| Model Year 2028 | Motor vehicle air-conditioning in medium-duty passenger vehicles, heavy-duty pickup trucks and complete heavy-duty vans whose air-conditioning will not be modified by upfitters | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(13)(ii) |
| January 1, 2028 | Motor vehicle air-conditioning in certain nonroad vehicles (agricultural tractors over 40 horsepower; self-propelled agricultural machinery; compact equipment; construction, forestry and mining equipment; and commercial utility vehicles) | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(13)(iii) |
| Foam blowing agents (2) | |||
| January 1, 2025 | Foam products: rigid polyurethane appliance foam, commercial refrigeration foam, laminated boardstock, marine flotation foam, sandwich panels, slabstock; flexible polyurethane; integral skin polyurethane; polystyrene (extruded boardstock, billet, extruded sheet); phenolic insulation board and bunstock; polyisocyanurate laminated boardstock; polyolefin; rigid polyurethane spray foam | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(14) |
| January 1, 2026 | Foam products in the (a)(14) formulations for use in space and military applications | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(15) |
| Aerosol propellants / solvents (2) | |||
| January 1, 2025 | Aerosol products | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(16)(i) |
| January 1, 2028 | Aerosol products (all, except defense sprays as defined in 84.3) | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(16)(ii) |
Servicing. 40 CFR 84.54 restricts new manufacture/import, later sale/distribution, and installation. "Installation" is defined in 84.54(e); repairing or servicing existing R-236ea equipment is not an installation unless it meets 84.54(e), so existing systems can keep being serviced. From January 1, 2029, servicing or repairing R-236ea equipment in supermarket systems, refrigerated transport or automatic commercial ice makers must be done with reclaimed refrigerant[2].
Source: 40 CFR 84.54, current through 91 FR 31329 (May 26, 2026). Installation defined at 40 CFR 84.54(e).
Global warming potential, in context
Frequently asked
›What's the difference between R-236ea and R-236fa?
Same chemical formula (C₃H₂F₆) but different isomer arrangements of the six fluorines around the three-carbon backbone. R-236ea is 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (CF₃CHFCHF₂); R-236fa is 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (CF₃CH₂CF₃). The "ea" isomer has fluorines distributed across all three carbons; the "fa" isomer has fluorines concentrated on the terminal carbons with a -CH₂- group in the middle. This structural difference produces very different atmospheric lifetimes (R-236ea ~11 years vs R-236fa ~242 years) and correspondingly different GWPs (R-236ea 1,370 vs R-236fa 9,810). The -CH₂- group in R-236fa is unreactive in atmospheric chemistry — fluorines on adjacent carbons make the C-H bonds inert to OH-radical attack.
›What's an organic Rankine cycle?
A power-generation thermodynamic cycle using an organic working fluid (refrigerant-class molecule) instead of water. Waste heat at moderate temperature (100-300°C) vaporizes the working fluid, the vapor expands through a turbine to generate electrical power, condenses to liquid, and pumps back to the boiler to repeat. ORC enables electricity generation from heat sources too cool for steam (industrial waste heat, geothermal, biomass, solar thermal). Working-fluid selection depends on heat-source temperature; R-236ea fits the medium-temperature range where some other ORC fluids (R-245fa, R-1234ze(Z)) compete.
›What is the GWP of R-236ea?
1,370. Moderate by HFC standards — comparable to R-134a's 1,430 and below R-125's 3,500. The 11-year atmospheric lifetime is short for an HFC, contributing to the moderate GWP.
›Is R-236ea readily available?
Commercial availability is limited. Procurement is generally through specialty chemical suppliers rather than HVAC refrigerant distributors.
›Can R-236ea be substituted with R-1336mzz(Z)?
In some ORC and heat-pump applications, yes. R-1336mzz(Z) has higher boiling point (+92°F vs R-236ea's +43°F) and lower vapor pressure, so the substitution requires equipment evaluation — at the same condensing temperature R-1336mzz(Z) will produce different pressures. New ORC and high-temperature heat pump installations specify R-1336mzz(Z) for its very-low GWP (2 vs R-236ea's 1,370).
Sources & citations
- [1]2017 Guideline for Assignment of Refrigerant Container Colors (AHRI Guideline N-2017). AHRI. 2017. https://www.ahrinet.org/system/files/2023-06/AHRI_Guideline_N_2017.pdf (accessed October 2, 2026)
- [2]40 CFR 84.112 — Reclamation. eCFR (Office of the Federal Register). up to date as of 9/25/2026. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-84/subpart-C/section-84.112 (accessed October 2, 2026). 89 FR 82859, Oct. 11, 2024
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