In recent years, increasing attention has been devoted to using mixtures as working fluids in vapor compression refrigeration systems, especially in heat pumps. This paper begins with theoretical background on the different types of binary solutions, to explain why certain mixtures are useful for various applications; it will, then introduce the behavior of multicomponent mixtures. The special impact of possible solutions, such as immiscible liquids, azeotropic mixtures, and especially nonazeotropic mixtures of halogenated hydrocarbons, is then described based on published test results. A review is presented of possible reasons for the disagreement between predicted and experimentally observed performance, followed by suggested system modifications to obtain maximum benefit.Units: Dual