Microscopic structure of liquid 1-1-1-2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) from Monte Carlo simulation

Hainam Do, Richard J. Wheatley, Jonathan D. Hirst

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

1-1-1-2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) is one of the most commonly used refrigerants. Its thermophysical properties are important for evaluating the performance of refrigeration cycles. These can be obtained via computer simulation, with an insight into the microscopic structure of the liquid, which is not accessible to experiment. In this paper, vapour-liquid equilibrium properties of R134a and its liquid microscopic structure are investigated using coupled-decoupled configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulation in the Gibbs ensemble, with a recent potential [J. Phys. Chem. B 2009, 113, 178]. We find that the simulations agree well with the experimental data, except at the vicinity of the critical region. Liquid R134a packs like liquid argon, with a coordination number in the first solvation shell of 12 at 260 K. The nearest neighbours prefer to be localized in three different spaces around the central molecule, in such a manner that the dipole moments are in a parallel alignment. Analysis of the pair interaction energy shows clear association of R134a molecules, but no evidence for C-H⋯F type hydrogen bonding is found. The above findings should be of relevance to a broad range of fluoroalkanes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13266-13272
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume12
Issue number40
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Oct 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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