Natural vs Safe Refrigerant

We focus on technologies that work where traditional refrigeration systems struggle—at ultra-low temperatures below -40 °C. Every day, we push the limits of refrigeration, guided by a simple principle: cooling should be powerful, clean, and safe for people, equipment, and the planet.

The industry's shift away from synthetic refrigerants (HFCs, HFOs) is speeding up. People are looking for sustainable solutions that lower environmental impact while maintaining high performance. This change raises an important question: what really qualifies as a "safe" refrigerant? How does it differ from a "natural" refrigerant?

Natural Refrigerants: Efficient, but Require Responsible Handling

Natural refrigerants like ammonia (NH₃), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and hydrocarbons (such as propane) are becoming essential substitutes for traditional fluorinated gases. They have low global warming potential (GWP) and do not deplete ozone, which makes them crucial to sustainable cooling strategies.

At Mirai Intex, we use these refrigerants in some of our technologies. For example, propane is vital to our new turbo compressor line. When handled properly and designed with safety in mind, hydrocarbons offer great thermodynamic efficiency and compact system designs, especially for industrial and commercial uses.

However, each natural refrigerant has its own technical issues to consider:

• Ammonia is toxic and requires strict leak control and ventilation.
• CO₂ works at extremely high pressures, needing robust system design.
• Hydrocarbons are flammable and need controlled environments and proper engineering safeguards.

These factors mean that while natural refrigerants are workable for many temperature ranges, using them in ultra-low cooling (below -40 °C) is complex and often less efficient.

Air as a Safe Refrigerant: Our Clean Technology Approach

To move past these limitations, Mirai Intex has created refrigeration systems that use air as the refrigerant—a truly safe, natural, and universal medium.

Air has properties that make it perfect for next-generation cooling:

• It is non-toxic and non-flammable, posing no risks for people or the environment.
• It has zero GWP and zero potential for ozone depletion.
• Air is readily available and does not cost anything.
• It is environmentally neutral and cannot leak or cause contamination.

Our closed-loop Air Cycle refrigeration systems work without losing refrigerant. They provide efficient and stable cooling down to -160 °C without needing cascade systems, secondary loops, or special safety zones.

This makes air not just the safest refrigerant but also the most sustainable option for deep-freezing, cryogenic applications, and ultra-low-temperature storage.

Why We Choose Air for Ultra-Low-Temperature Cooling

• Uncompromising Safety  
  There are no hazardous substances, no flammability risks, and no toxic exposure. Air guarantees a completely safe working environment.
• Reliable Performance at -40 °C and Below  
  The turbo-compression Air Cycle remains efficient where traditional systems fall short, providing consistent cooling capacity even at cryogenic levels.
• Operational Simplicity  
  Air-based systems are self-contained and easy to maintain—no refrigerant refills, no leak testing, and no compliance issues with F-gas or EPA regulations.
• Sustainability Without Compromise  
  Air has no environmental footprint, which aligns perfectly with the industry's push for carbon-neutral operations and lifecycle sustainability.

Engineering the Future of Safe Refrigeration

At Mirai Intex, we design refrigeration systems that are technically sound, ecologically responsible, and operationally safe. Natural refrigerants like propane and CO₂ are part of this drive, and with thoughtful design, they can perform very well.

However, when the goal is deep cooling below -40 °C, air is the only refrigerant that combines:

• Complete safety,
• Environmental neutrality,
• And reliable performance across the entire low-temperature range.

Our air cycle machines deliver clean cold—without compromise, chemicals, or risk.

As the refrigeration industry moves toward sustainability and safety, it’s important to know the difference between what is natural and what is truly safe.

At Mirai Intex, we view air as the ultimate safe refrigerant—the foundation for a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable cooling future. With our technologies, we make ultra-low-temperature cooling not just possible but responsible.