TH73676A - Detectable refrigerant mixtures and their use - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (07/02/48) What is disclosed in this patent application is a refrigerant mixture containing a tracer substance of approximately 0.001 to approximately 5 percent by weight, which is useful for detecting leaks in refrigeration and/or air conditioning systems involving vapor compression. The presence of a tracer substance allows the refrigerant mixture to be detected by chemical/electrochemical material strip detectors, corona discharge detectors, heated diode detectors, electrochemical detectors, photodecomposition detectors, infrared detectors, ultrasonic detectors, and electron capture detectors. What is disclosed in this patent application is a refrigerant mixture containing a tracer substance of approximately 0.001 to approximately 5 percent by weight, which is useful for detecting leaks in refrigeration and/or air conditioning systems involving vapor compression. The presence of a tracer substance allows the refrigerant mixture to be detected by chemical/electrochemical material strip detectors, corona discharge detectors, heated diode detectors, electrochemical detectors, photodecomposition detectors, infrared detectors, ultrasonic detectors, and electron capture detectors. Investigate chemically/electrochemically active material array types, corona discharge types, heated diode types, electrochemical types, photocrystalline types, infrared types, ultrasonic types, and electron capture types.

Claims (16)

1. A detectable mixture of refrigerants containing (a) at least one selectable refrigerant from the group comprising: hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbon ethers, perfluorocarbon ethers, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and dimethyl ether; and (b) an effective tracer in which such tracer differs from the aforementioned refrigerants. 2. A mixture of Patent 1 in which the refrigerant is a selectable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant from fluoromethane (HFC-41), difluoromethane (HFC-32), trifluoromethane (HFC-23), fluoroethane (HFC-161), 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a), 1,1,1-trifluorothene (HFC-143a), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134), or 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), or a selectable hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant from... Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124), or 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) are selectable perfluorocarbon refrigerants. Tetrafluoromethane (PFC-14), hexafluoroethane (PFC-116), octafluoropropane (PFC-218), or dectafluorobutane (PFC-31-10) are selectable hydrofluorocarbon ether refrigerants such as CF3OCH2 (HFE-125), CF3OCH3 (HFE-143a), CF3OCH3F (HFE-134a), CHF2OCHF2 (HFE-134), cyclo-(CF-CF2CF2O-) (HFE-c216), CF3CF2OCH3 (HFE-245 cbEbg), CH2OCHFCF3 (HFE-236eaEbg), CHF2CF2OCH3 (HFE-254cb2), C4F9OCH3 (HFE-7100), or C4F9OC2H5. (HFE-7200) Selectable perfluorocarbon ether refrigerants include CF3OCF3, CF3OC2F5, or C2F5OC2F5, or CF3OCF (CF3), CF (CF3), OCF3, and selectable hydrocarbon refrigerants include methane, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, propylene, normal butane, cyclobutane, 2-methylpropane, methylcyclopropane, normal pentane, cyclopentane, 2-methylbutane, methylcyclopropane, 2,2-dimethylpropane, or any isomers of dimethylcyclopropane. 3. Method for using a mixture of refrigerants under Patent 1 to detect the presence of such mixture, where the refrigerant is at least one of a selectable type from a group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbon ethers, perfluorocarbon ethers, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and dimethyl ethers. The method involves providing a detection device equipped with a device for detecting such trace substances in the vicinity of the refrigerant mixture. 4. The method of claim 3, which uses such method to detect leaks in refrigeration or air conditioning systems involving vapor compression or heat pump systems. 5. An analytical method for analyzing at least one gaseous component in the detectable refrigerant mixture of Claim 1. Such method consists of (a) the exposure of at least two chemically/electrolytic units to each gaseous component in the refrigerant against another chemically/electrolytic unit; (b) the exposure of such units to the refrigerant mixture; (c) the determination of the electrical response of each chemically/electrolytic unit to the exposure of such units to the refrigerant; and (d) the individual gaseous components from their electrical responses. 6. Method of Claim 3, 4 or 5, in which such refrigerant is a selectable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant of fluoromethane (HFC-41), difluoromethane (HFC-32), trifluoromethane (HFC-23), fluoroethane (HFC-161), 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134), or 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (HFC-125); or a selectable hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant of... Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-123), 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124), or 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) are selectable perfluorocarbon refrigerants. Tetrafluoromethane (PFC-14), hexafluoroethane (PFC-116), octafouropropane (PFC-218), or dectafluorobutane (PFC-31-10) are selectable hydrofluorocarbon ether refrigerants such as CF3OCHF2 (HFE-125), CF3OCH3 (HFE-143a), CF3OCH3F (HFE-134a), CHF2OCHF2 (HFE-134), cyclo-(CF2CF2CF2O-) (HFE-c216), CF3CF2OCH3 (HFE-245 cbEbg), or CHF2OCHFCF3 (HFE-236eaEbg), CHF2CF2OCH3 (HFE-254cb2), C4F9OCH3 (HFE-7100), or C4F9OC2H5. (HFE-7200) Selectable perfluorocarbon ether refrigerants include CF3OCF3, CF3OC2F5, or C2F5OC2F5, or CF3OCF (CF3), CF (CF3), OCF3, and selectable hydrocarbon refrigerants include methane, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, propylene, normal butane, cyclobutane, 2-methylpropane, methylcyclopropane, normal pentane, cyclopentane, 2-methylbutane, methylcyclobutane, 2,2-dimethylpropane, or any isomers of dimethylcyclopropane. 7. The method of claim 5, which includes additional components: the independent determination of the temperature of the refrigerant mixture from the chemical/electrical response of the active material; and the optional digitization of the electrical and temperature responses so that a value can be calculated from the digitized electrical and temperature responses; and the optional analysis of the gas components. 8. A detectable refrigerant mixture in which at least one refrigerant is selected from a group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbon ethers, perfluorocarbon ethers, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and dimethyl ether, and a tracer in an effective quantity to produce a detectable refrigerant mixture. This refrigerant mixture is contained in a container whose exterior is equipped with a device for detecting the tracer in the refrigerant-tracene mixture. 9. A mixture of claims under Patent 8 in which the hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants are: fluoromethane (HFC-41), difluoromethane (HFC-32), trifluoromethane (HFC-23), fluoroethane (HFC-101), 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134), or 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (HFC-125). The hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerants are: Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124), or 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) are perfluorocarbon refrigerants. Tetrafluoromethane (PFC-14), hexafluoroethane (PFC-116), octafluoropropane (PFC-218), or dectafluorobutane (PFC-31-10) are examples of hydrofluorocarbon ether refrigerants. These include CF3OCHF2 (HFE-125), CF3OCH3 (HFE-134a), CF3OCH3F (HFE-134a), CHF2OCHF2 (HFE-134), cyclo-(CF2CF2CF2O-) (HFE-c216), CF3CF2OCH3 (HFE-245 cbEbg), CHF2OCHFCF3 (HFE-236eaEbg), CHF2CF2OCH3 (HFE-254cb2), C4F9OCH3 (HFE-7100), or C4F9OC2H5. (HFE-7200) The perfluorocarbon ether refrigerants are CF3OCF3, CF3OC2F5, or C2F5OC2F5, or CF3OCF (CF3), CF (CF3) OCF3, and the hydrocarbon refrigerants are methane, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, propylene, normal butane, cyclobutane, 2-methylpropane, methylcyclopropane, normal pentane, cyclopentane, 2-methylbutane, methylcyclopropane, 2,2-dimethylpropane, or any isomers of dimethylcyclopropane. 10. A mixture of claims I, in which case the tracer is at least one selectable compound from the group comprising C1-5 hydrofluorocarbons, C1-2 hydrochlorofluorocarbons, C1-4 hydrochlorocarbons, C2-6 fluoroethers, C1-5 hydrocarbons, C1-3 alcoholic hydrocarbons, C1-3 amineic hydrocarbons, C1-3 mercaptan hydrocarbons, C1-4 etheric hydrocarbons, C3-4 ketone hydrocarbons, C3-4 bromofluoroketones, C2-4 aldehyde hydrocarbons, 1,1,1-trifluorotoluene, parachloro-1,1,1-trifluorotoluene, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ethanolamine, ammonia, perfluoromethyl iodide, and perfluoroethyl iodide. 11. A mixture of claims I in which at least one tracer is: a selectable hydrofluorocarbon of fluoromethane (HFC-41), difluoromethane (HFC-32), trifluoromethane (HFC-23), fluoroethane (HFC-161), 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134), 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236fa). Selectable hydrochlorofluorocarbons include 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-277ea) or 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutane (HFC-338pcc), chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124), or 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b), and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, methyl chloride, methylene chloride, ethyl chloride, 1-propyl chloride, or 2-propyl chloride. Selectable fluoroethers include CF3OCHF2 (HFE-125), CF3OCH3 (HFE-143a), CF3OCH3F (HFE-134a), CHF2OCHF2 (HFE-134), cyclo-(CF2CF2CF2O-) (HFE-c216), CF3CF2OCH3 (HFE-245 cbEbg), CHF2OCHFCF3 (HFE-236eaEbg), C4F9OCH3 (HFE-7100) or C4F9OC2H5 (HFE-7200). Selectable hydrocarbons include methane, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, propylene, normal butane, cyclobutane, 2-methylpropane, methylcyclopropane, normal pentane, cyclopentane. 2-methylbutane, methylcyclobutane, 2,2-dimethylpropane, or any isomers of dimethylcyclopropane; selectable alcoholic hydrocarbons from methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, or 2-propanol; selectable amine hydrocarbons from methylamine or ethylamine; selectable mercaptan hydrocarbons from ethyl mercaptan; selectable ether hydrocarbons from dimethyl ether, ethylmethyl ether, or diethyl ether; selectable ketone hydrocarbons from propanone or butanone; selectable bromofluoroketones from... CF3C(O)CBrFCF2CF3; CF3C(O)CF2CF2CBrF2; CBrF2C(O)CF(CF3)2; CF3C(O)CBr(CF3)2; CBrF2CF2C(O)CF2CF3; CF3CBrFC(O)CF2CF3; CF3CBrFC(O)CF2CF2CF3; CF3CF2C(O)CBrFCF2CF3; CF3CF2C(O)CF2CF2CBrF2; CF3C(O)CBr(CF3)CF2CF3; CF3C(O)CF(CF3)CBrFCF3; CF3C(O)CBrFCF2CF2CF2CF3; CF3C(O)CF2CF2CF2CF2CBrF2; CF3CBrFC(O)CF2CF2CF2CF3; CF3CF2C(O)CBrFCF2CF2CF3; CF3CF2C(O)CF2CF2CBrF2; CF3CF2CBrFC(O)CF2CF2CF3; CBrF2CF2C(O)CF(CF3)CF2CF3; CF3CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)CF2CF3; CF3CF2C(O)CBr(CF3)CF2CF3; CF3CF2C(O)CF(CBrF2)CF2CF3; CBrF2CF2CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2; CF3CF2CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)2; CF3CF2CF2C(O)CBr(CF3)2; (CF3)2CBrC(O)CF(CF3)2; CF3CBrFCF2C(O)CF(CF3)2; CHF2CF2C(O)CBr(CF3)2; (CF3)2CHC(O)CBr(CF3)2; CHF2CF2C(O)CBrFCF3; (CF3)2CHC(O)CBrFCF3; (CF3)2CHC(O)CBrF2; CBrF2CF2C(O)CH(CF3)2; CBrF2C(O)CF(CF3)OCF3; CBrF2CF2C(O)CF(CF3)OCF3; CBrF2CF2CF2C(O)CF(CF3)OCF3; CBrF2C(O)CF(CF3)OC2F5; CBrF2CF2C(O)CF(CF3)OC2F5; CBrF2C(O)CF(CF3)OCF2C2F5; CBrF2CF2C(O)CF(CF3)OCF2C2F5; CBrF2C(O)CF(CF3)OCF(CF3)2; CBrF2CF2C(O)CF(CF3)OCF(CF3)2; CF3CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)OCF(CF3)2; CF3CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)OCF3; CF3CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)OC2F5; CF3CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)OCF3; (CF3)2CBrC(O)CF(CF3)OCF3; CF3CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)OC2F5; (CF3)2CBrC(O)CF(CF3)OC2F5; CF3CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)OCF2C2F5; CF3CBrFC(O)CF(CF3)OCF(CF3)2; CBrF2C(O)CF(OCF2CHF2)CF3; CBrF2C(O)CH(OCF2CHF2)CF3; CBrF2C(O)CF(OCH3)CF3; CBrF2C(O)CF(CF2OCH3)CF3; CCIF2CFBrC(O)CF2CF3; CBrF2CFCIC(O)CF2CF3; CCIF2CFBrC(O)CF(CF3)2; CBrF2CFCIC(O)CF(CF3)2; CCIF2CFBrC(O)CF(CF3)(C2F5); CBrF2CFCIC(O)CF(CF3)(C2F5); CCIF2C(O)CBr(CF3)2; CCIF2CF2C(O)CBr(CF3)2; CF3CCIFC(O)CBr(CF3)2; CCIF2C(O)CBrFCF3; CCIF2CF2(O)CCBrFCF3; CF3CCIFC(O)CBrFCF3; CBrF2C(O)CCI(CF3)2; CBrF2CF2C(O)CCI(CF3)2; CBrF2C(O)CCIFCF3; or CBrF2CF2C(O)CCIFCF3; Selectable aldehyde hydrocarbons derived from acetaldehyde. Or propionaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen oxides, selectable from nitric oxide or nitrous oxide. 12. The mixture of claim 1, in which the mixture contains trace material ranging from approximately 0.001 to approximately 5 percent by weight, relative to the total weight of the refrigerant and trace material. 13. The mixture of claim 1, in which the mixture contains trace agents ranging from approximately 0.001 to approximately 1 percent by weight, relative to the total weight of the refrigerant and such trace agents. 14. A mixture of claims 1 in which the trace substance has a vapor pressure at 25°C ranging from approximately 0.01 to approximately 500 times the vapor pressure at 25°C of the refrigerant. 15. A mixture of claims 1 in which the trace substance has a vapor pressure at 25°C ranging from approximately 1 to approximately 300 times the vapor pressure at 25°C of the refrigerant. 16. The method of claim 3, in which the device for detecting the tracer consists of a line detector of chemically/electrochemically active materials, a corona discharge detector, a heated diode detector, a heated electrochemical detector, a photocluster detector, an infrared detector, an ultrasonic detector, and an electron capture detector.