Experimental results for heat transfer characteristics of natural refrigerants R-290, R-600a and HCFC refrigerant R-22 during evaporating inside horizontal double pipe heat exchangers are presented. The experimental apparatus is basically a vapour heat pump system, composed of a compressor, a condenser, expansion devices, a evaporator, and some other peripheral devices. The test sections were horizontal double pipe heat exchangers, which were a pair of smoothed tube, having 10.07 mm ID, 12.07 mm OD, and grooved inner fin tube, having 12.70 mm OD, 0.25 mm fin height, and 75 fins. The local evaporating heat transfer coefficients of natural refrigerants were not much affected with the mass velocity than R-22 and it could be interpreted that the local evaporating heat transfer coefficients of R-22 were increased more than those of R-290, R-600a according to the increment of mass velocity. Moreover, the maximum increment of the heat transfer coefficient was found in R-290. The average heat transfer coefficient was obtained the maximum value in R-290 and the minimum value in R-22. It reveals that the natural refrigerant can be used as a substitute for R-22. In the grooved inner fin tube, 70% of the increment of the heat transfer coefficient was obtained compared to the smoothed tube.