Stabler R-1233zd(E) for energy recovery applications.

Trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (E-1233zd) is an unsaturated molecule with a very low GWP, which has a high potential as a refrigerant for low pressure chillers and energy recovery applications such as Organic Rankine Cycles or high temperature heat pumps. As a refrigerant for low pressure chillers, E-1233zd has shown positive attributes of high performance and low environmental impact, while maintaining the safety benefits of refrigerants commonly used today, by being non-flammable and having a low toxicity. However, E-1233zd was found to undergo geometric isomerization when heated, which could limit its use in energy recovery applications where the system could see sustained temperatures higher than 150°C. This paper will present the work done to understand the parameters impacting the kinetic of E-1233zd isomerization and will introduce the approaches taken to stabilize the molecule. The performance of E-1233zd in energy recovery applications will also be discussed.