Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K5/00—Heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants; Materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion
  • C09K5/02—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used
  • C09K5/04—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K5/00—Heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants; Materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion
  • C09K5/02—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used
  • C09K5/04—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa
  • C09K5/041—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa for compression-type refrigeration systems
  • C09K5/044—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa for compression-type refrigeration systems comprising halogenated compounds
  • C09K5/045—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa for compression-type refrigeration systems comprising halogenated compounds containing only fluorine as halogen
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K2205/00—Aspects relating to compounds used in compression type refrigeration systems
  • C09K2205/10—Components
  • C09K2205/11—Ethers
  • C09K2205/112—Halogenated ethers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K2205/00—Aspects relating to compounds used in compression type refrigeration systems
  • C09K2205/22—All components of a mixture being fluoro compounds

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to refrigerant compositions for cooling and heating applications and to the use of such compositions in heat transfer devices. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with refrigerant compositions which are designed to replace chlorodifluoromethane (Refrigerant R-22) and the azeotropic mixture of chlorodifluoromethane with chloropentafluoroethane (Refrigerant R-115), the azeotrope being Refrigerant R-502.
• refrigerant compositions which are designed to replace chlorodifluoromethane (Refrigerant R-22) and the azeotropic mixture of chlorodifluoromethane with chloropentafluoroethane (Refrigerant R-115), the azeotrope being Refrigerant R-502.
• the properties preferred of a refrigerant include low toxicity, non- flammability, non-corrosivity, high stability and freedom from objectionable odour.
• heat transfer devices have tended to use fully and partially halogenated chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants such as chlorodifluoromethane (Refrigerant R-22) or the azeotropic mixture of chlorodifluoromethane and chloropentafluoroethane (Refrigerant R-502).
• chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants such as chlorodifluoromethane (Refrigerant R-22) or the azeotropic mixture of chlorodifluoromethane and chloropentafluoroethane (Refrigerant R-502).
• the present invention provides a refrigerant composition which may be used in place of Refrigerants R-22 and R-502.
• the composition contains refrigerant compounds which have essentially zero ozone depletion potentials and comparatively low direct global warming potentials .
• the present invention provides a refrigerant composition comprising a mixture of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether (CF3OCHF2) and at least one hydrofluoroalkane selected from difluoromethane CH2 2). pentafluoroethane (CF3CHF2) and 1,1 ,1-trifluoroethane (CF3CH 3 ).
• Refrigerant compositions in accordance with the present invention typically contain from 5 to 952 by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 95 to 5Z by weight of the hydrofluoroalkane component.
• Suitable refrigerant compositions may contain a single hydrofluoroalkane selected from the three specified compounds or a mixture of any two or all three of the said hydrofluoroalkanes .
• the refrigerant compositions of the invention may contain other refrigerant compounds which have low and preferably zero ozone depletion potentials, for example other hydrofluoroalkanes and/or other fluorinated ethers containing residual hydrogen atoms.
• Examples of other hydrofluoroalkanes which may be incorporated in the refrigerant compositions of the invention include 1,1,1, 2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a ) , 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134) and 1, 1-difluoroethane (R-152a).
• Examples of other fluorinated ethers which may be included in the refrigerant compositions of the invention are the fluorinated dimethyl ethers containing residual hydrogen atoms.
• the refrigerant compositions of the invention may comprise other refrigerant compounds
• the preferred refrigerant compositions consist essentially of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and at least one hydrofluoroalkane selected from difluoromethane (R-32), pentafluoroethane (R-125) and 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a).
• refrigerant compositions of the invention may be zeotropic they are preferably azeotropic or azeotrope-like.
• compositions of the invention comprise a mixture of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and difluoromethane, since such compositions may provide a particularly suitable alternative to Refrigerants R-22 and R-502.
• Such compositions may additionally comprise one or more further refrigerant compounds, such as pentafluoroethane and/or 1, 1,1-trifluoroethane and/or at least one other fluorinated ether containing residual hydrogen atoms and/or at least one other hydrofluoroalkane.
• refrigerant compositions are mixtures consisting essentially of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and di luoromethane, since such compositions, in particular, can exhibit a performance in a heat transfer device which is comparable to Refrigerants R-22 and R-502.
• Refrigerant compositions according to the invention containing from 20 to 80 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 80 to 20 Z by weight of difluoromethane are preferred as a replacement for Refrigerant R-502.
• refrigerant compositions of the invention containing from 40 to 80 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 60 to 20 Z by weight of difluoromethane are preferred, with compositions containing from 50 to 75 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 50 to 25 Z by weight of difluoromethane being particularly preferred.
• An especially preferred refrigerant composition for replacing R-502 contains from 50 to 70 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 50 to 30 Z by weight of difluoromethane.
• Tables 1 to 3 show the results of analysing the performance of a number of refrigerant compositions of the invention in a low temperature refrigeration cycle to assess the suitability thereof as a replacement for R-502. All the compositions analysed comprised difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether (E-125 in the Tables) and difluoromethane (R-32 in the Tables) in varying amounts. The percentage by weight of each component in the refrigerant compositions analysed is given in the second row of the Tables. Thus, the results of analysing the performance of the following refrigerant compositions are given in Tables 1 to 3:
• a composition comprising 75 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 25 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether.
• composition comprising 50 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 50 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether.
• composition comprising 25 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 75 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether.
• a composition comprising 30 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 70 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether.
• a composition comprising 35 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 65 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether.
• Three different sets of operating conditions were used for the analysis. These conditions were as follows :
• refrigerant compositions according to the invention comprising difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and difluoromethane can exhibit a performance in a low temperature refrigeration system which is comparable to that of Refrigerant R-502. If difluoromethane is used as the sole refrigerant in a refrigeration system, high energy efficiencies and high refrigeration capacities relative to Refrigerant R-502 are obtained, as shown by the values for the coefficient of performance and the cooling duty per unit swept volume of the compressor. However, the discharge temperatures, condenser pressures and evaporator pressures which are obtained with difluoromethane are also high and are not ideal when one is looking for a replacement for Refrigerant * R-502.
• difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether to the difluoromethane provides a means of reducing the discharge temperature, condenser pressure and evaporator pressure while retaining energy efficiencies and refrigeration capacities which are still comparable with and in certain cases superior to R-502. Furthermore, the glide in the evaporator for all the mixed refrigerant compositions tested was 1.4°C or less showing that such compositions are azeotrope like.
• Refrigerant compositions according to the invention containing from 25 to 99 Z , e.g. 50 to 99 Z, by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 75 to 1 Z, e.g. 50 to 1 Z, by weight of difluoromethane are preferred as a replacement for Refrigerant R-22, particularly in air conditioning applications.
• a more preferred refrigerant composition for replacing R-22 in air conditioning applications contains from 70 to 90 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 30 to 10 Z by weight of difluoromethane.
• a particularly preferred refrigerant composition for replacing R-22 in air conditioning applications contains from 75 to 90 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 25 to 10 Z by weight of difluoromethane.
• Tables 4 and 5 show the results of analysing the performance of a number of refrigerant compositions of the invention in a refrigeration cycle to assess the suitability thereof as a replacement for R-22 in air « conditioning applications. All the compositions
• a composition comprising 75 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 25 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether.
• composition comprising 50 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 50 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether.
• composition comprising 25 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 75 Z by weight of
• a composition comprising 20 Z by weight of difluoromethane and 80 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether.
• refrigerant compositions according to the invention comprising difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and difluoromethane can exhibit a performance in an air conditioning system which is similar to that of Refrigerant R-22. It is also evident that refrigerant compositions containing from 75 to 90 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 25 to 10 Z by weight of difluoromethane, especially from 75 • to 85 Z by weight of difluoromethyl trifluoromethyl ether and from 25 to 15 Z by weight of difluoromethane, offer a good alternative to Refrigerant R-22 in air conditioning applications .
• the refrigerant compositions of the invention may be prepared by a simple mixing process.
• compositions are useful in all types of compression cycle heat transfer devices.
• they m_.T be used to provide cooling by a method involving condensing the refrigerant composition and thereafter evaporating it in a heat exchange relationship with a body to be cooled.
• They may also be used to provide heating by a method involving condensing the refrigerant composition in a heat exchange relationship with a body to be heated and thereafter evaporating it.
• compositions of the invention provide a good compromise between atmospheric lifetime, ozone depletion, discharge temperature, working pressure and efficiency. They are especially suitable as replacements for R-22 and the R-502 azeotrope. TABLE 1

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Lubricants (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
• Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)

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• 1992
  • 1992-01-10 GB GB929200523A patent/GB9200523D0/en active Pending
  • 1992-12-23 EP EP93900353A patent/EP0620838A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1992-12-23 CA CA002126187A patent/CA2126187A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-12-23 AU AU31688/93A patent/AU666510B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1992-12-23 KR KR1019940702374A patent/KR940703903A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-12-23 BR BR9207017A patent/BR9207017A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-12-23 JP JP5512217A patent/JPH07503741A/ja active Pending
  • 1992-12-23 WO PCT/GB1992/002383 patent/WO1993014174A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

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