What type of refrigerant is characterized by being used and then released to the atmosphere?

The type of refrigerant that is characterized by being used and then released into the atmosphere is known as expendable refrigerant. This term refers to refrigerants that do not get recycled within the system; instead, they are introduced into the system for a defined cycle and released or vented when no longer needed. This practice is common in older refrigeration systems and certain applications where the cost of recovery and recycling the refrigerant may not be practical.

Expendable refrigerants include substances that, due to their chemical properties, are not intended to be recaptured for reuse. This stands in contrast to recirculating refrigerants, which are designed to be reused within the system fluctuations and not vented into the atmosphere. Hybrid and static options do not accurately describe methods of refrigerant usage concerning atmospheric release, making expendable the clear choice for this definition.