The Difference Between Coolant and Refrigerant (Explained)

The Difference Between Coolant and Refrigerant (Explained)

Coolant and refrigerant are quite different subject. Their difference are huge. Coolant usually are used in the cooling system. Refrigerant usually are used in the refrigeration system. Take a simple example, when you own a modern car which has air conditioner, you add refrigerant to the compressor of the air conditioner; add coolant to the fan cooling tank.

Definition of coolant

A coolant is a substance, typically liquid, that is used to reduce or regulate the temperature of a system. An ideal coolant has high thermal capacity, low viscosity, is low-cost, non-toxic, chemically inert and neither causes nor promotes corrosion of the cooling system. Some applications also require the coolant to be an electrical insulator.

Definition of refrigerant

A refrigerant is a working fluid used in the refrigeration cycle of air conditioning systems and heat pumps where in most cases they undergo a repeated phase transition from a liquid to a gas and back again. Refrigerants are heavily regulated due to their toxicity, flammability and the contribution of CFC and HCFC refrigerants to ozone depletion and that of HFC refrigerants to climate change.