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
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D3/10—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air
  • F25D3/107—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
  • F25D2331/805—Cans

Definitions

• the present invention provides a novel refrigerant composition useful for a self-cooling beverage can and a process for producing said refrigerant composition.
• the present invention relates to a refrigerant composition for cooling a beverage in a can and a process for producing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a refrigerant composition for a self-cooling beverage can (instantly self-cooling can provided with a small cooling chamber (refrigerant capsule) which can cool the beverage in the can by canning, and thus which can does not need to be stored in a refrigerator or a ice box) which comprises paraffin hydrocarbons and olefm hydrocarbons, and to a process for producing said composition.
• a refrigerant composition for a self-cooling beverage can instantly self-cooling can provided with a small cooling chamber (refrigerant capsule) which can cool the beverage in the can by canning, and thus which can does not need to be stored in a refrigerator or a ice box
• paraffin hydrocarbons and olefm hydrocarbons and to a process for producing said composition.
• a refrigerator or other cooling apparatus are used to keep a beverage fresh in a can.
• an ice box is commonly used to enjoy a cool, refreshing beverage.
• Cooling with an ice box is disadvantageous in that it is inconvenient to carry and handle the ice box because of its bulky volume and heavy weight.
• refrigerants which had been applied to put a self-cooling beverage can into commerce include HCFC-22 or HFC- 134a (HPC-134a).
• HPC-134a HFC-134a
• HCFC-22 or HFC-134a HPC-134a
• HPC-134a are known as a major causes of environmental damage and thus are not suitable as a refrigerant for a self-cooling beverage can to be consumed in mass.
• a refrigerant for a self-cooling beverage can requires the following properties.
• the evaporating temperature is low and the refrigerant pressure is lower than an atmospheric pressure, air penetrates the refrigerant receiving chamber installed within the self- cooling beverage can so that the can material is oxidized and rust forms.
• a refrigerant is easily liquefied by water or air and has a low condensing pressure.
• the condensing pressure of the refrigerant is high, for example, carbonic acid gas, then the refrigerant receiving chamber installed within the self- cooling beverage can should be constructed so as to endure a high interior pressure.
• Table la below shows the condensing pressures of several refrigerants.
• a refrigerant should be liquefied even when pressure is added at a temperature above the critical point.
• a refrigerant gas such as carbonic acid gas, is not be liquefied even when the temperature of a beverage in the can is slightly higher than the critical temperature of the refrigerant. Then, the self-cooling beverage can does not function.
• the refrigerant has a critical temperature above a normal temperature.
• the refrigerant should be necessarily liquefied within a range of temperatures at which a beverage can is kept. Table lb below shows the critical temperatures of several refrigerants.
• a refrigerant has a low condensing temperature.
• the condensing temperature of ammonia is -77.7 °C and thus the lowest temperature at which ammonia can be applied as a refrigerant is -70 °C.
• Composition of the present invention has a condensing temperature of -165°C, so it is possible to use it at a temperature of -80°C. Table lc below shows the condensing temperatures of several refrigerants.
• liquid heat having no cooling ability is passed over a port of the refrigerant receiving chamber installed within the self-cooling can to impede the heat transition action of the refrigerant and also to help reduce the pressure within the port of the chamber.
• a refrigerant having an ability to attract water may not be effected by water incorporated therein.
• water is incorporated into a Freon refrigerant which is unable to attract water
• the port of a refrigerant receiving chamber installed within a self-cooling can may be frozen and thereby the refrigerant may not be released through the port. Consequently, the cooling action of the refrigerant will be interrupted.
• the Freon refrigerant is hydrolyzed to form an acid followed by generating rust or deposits.
• a chemically unstable refrigerant is introduced into a refrigerant receiving chamber installed within a self-cooling beverage can, it may be decomposed under pressure, temperature and the like. As a result, the properties of the refrigerant change, so that the pressure of the blowing gas is increased or the cooling action is diminished.
• the refrigerant receiving chamber may be rusted.
• the rust formed therefrom may shorten the life of the chamber and deactivate the cooling action of the chamber.
• the refrigerant composition of the present invention does not corrode any metals except for magnesium. Thus, it is possible to select any currently available metals as a material for a refrigerant receiving chamber according to the present invention
• a refrigerant is inflammable and explosive, there are problems when it is used at public buildings, shelters, vessels, vehicles, and the like. For instance, an inflammable and explosive ammonia may be restricted at such places.
• the refrigerant R-22, nonflammable and nonexplosive can be used in a mine tunnel 100 metres below the ground but is not environmentally friendly. However, the refrigerant composition of the present invention is environmentally friendly, nonflammable and nonexplosive.
• the depletion of the ozone layer results in an increase in an ultraviolet radiation which is harmful to the human body and causes burn damage, eyesight loss, cataract, skin aging, skin cancer, and the like. Furthermore, as the immune system is adversely affected by such ultraviolet radiation, immunity to various cancers, and general resistance of the human body to various causative agents is alleviated. In addition, the occurrence of various diseases such as measles, varicella, herpes, eruption, tuberculosis, and leprosy is increased in line with the increased ultraviolet radiation. Accordingly, a refrigerant must have an ozone depletion potential of zero.
• a refrigerant should not be classified as a factor causing for a green house effect which is known to lead to the El Nino phenomenon, extraordinary temperature change, ecosystem destruction, and seawater level rising.
• ammonia is superior to fluorinated halohydrocarbon (HFC) as a refrigerant.
• HFC fluorinated halohydrocarbon
• ammonia is inflammable, explosive and has a bad odor. It is gradually being replaced by a Freon refrigerant.
• the fluorinated halocarbon refrigerant also bears a toxicity, there are problems using it as a refrigerant. It was now found that the refrigerant composition of the present invention does not cause damages to the cooling can when released, and also is harmless to the human body.
• a refrigerant composition comprising (i) at least two components selected from a group consisting of paraffin hydrocarbons such as methane, dimethyl ether, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane and cyclopentane and oiefin hydrocarbons such as ethylene, propylene and butylene, (ii) at least one component selected from a group consisting of methanol and ethanol, and (iii) a heat-stable silicone oil as a flame retardant is effective in cooling a beverage in a self-cooling can which is provided with a refrigerant receiving chamber, and thus enables consumers to conveniently and pleasantly enjoy a canned beverage.
• the refrigerant composition of the present invention is advantageously nonflammable and thus ensures both excellent cooling effects and safety for a self-cooling can. It is also environmentally friendly
• Fig. 1 shows the gas chromatography analysis of the components of the refrigerant composition according to the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is a schematically illustrated view of an apparatus which is used to produce the refrigerant composition according to the present invention.
• Fig. 3 is a frontal sectional view of a self-cooling beverage can.
• the refrigerant composition for a self-cooling beverage can according to the present invention comprises from 37.0% to 64.9% by weight of at least two components selected from a group consisting of paraffin hydrocarbons such as methane, dimethyl ether, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane and cyclopentane and oiefin hydrocarbons such as ethylene, propylene and butylene, from 35.0% to 60.0% by weight of at least one component selected from a group consisting of methanol and ethanol and from 0.1% to 3% by weight of a heat-stable silicone oil as a flame retardant.
• paraffin hydrocarbons such as methane, dimethyl ether, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane and cyclopentane and oiefin hydrocarbons such as ethylene, propy
• the refrigerant composition of the present invention can be prepared using an apparatus of the present invention with a mixing chamber (10) which is provided with a knitted mesh (20) made from nickel for forming a catalyst layer and a mixer (30) for blending the refrigerant components.
• the mixer is run by an electric motor (40).
• Each of the refrigerant components is reserved in tanks (50), respectively.
• the components in tanks are released through valves (60) and transferred by pump (71), via valve No. 5 (65), to the mixing chamber (10).
• a heat- stable silicone oil is supplied by pump (71) to the mixing chamber (10).
• Second, one component of methanol, ethanol and a mixture thereof is introduced by pump (71 ) into the mixing chamber (10) and the resulting mixture is blended by running the electric motor (40).
• At least two components selected from a group consisting paraffin hydrocarbons (methane, dimethyl ether, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, neobutane, isobutane, neopentane and cyclopentane) and oiefin hydrocarbons (ethylene, propylene and butylene) were together supplied by pump (71) to the mixing chamber (10) and the resulting mixture is blended by running the electric motor (40).
• the blended composition is released through valve No. 6 (66) and is transferred by pump No. 2 (72) to a cooler (80) in which the composition is cooled and liquefied.
• the resulting liquefied composition is released through valve No. 7 (67) to tank (90) for storage.
• a pressure indicator (101) is installed behind the supply pump (71) to measure the pressure of the components.
• the mixing chamber (10) is equipped with a pressure indicator (102), thermometer (110), heater (120) and component level measuring gauge (130).
• the outside of the mixing chamber (10) is equibbed with a thermowall (111) in which a thermocouple is inserted to measure and regulate the precise reaction temperature by sensor and regulator. Examples
• Valve No. 1 (61 ) was opened to permit 1 % by weight of silicone oil reserved in tank No. 1 (51) to be released, via pump No. 1 (71) and valve No. 5 (65), to the mixing chamber (10).
• Valve No. 2 (62) was opened to permit 46% by weight of ethanol reserved in tank No. 2 (52) to be released, via pump No. 1 (71) and valve No. 5 (65), to the mixing chamber (10).
• the electric motor (40) was turned on to blend the components by the mixer (30) for at least two hours. After opening valve No. 3 (63), 33%) by weight of cyclopropane stored in tank No. 3 (53) was supplied, via pump No. 1 (71) and valve No. 5 (65), to the mixing chamber (10).
• valve No. 4 (64) was opened to allow 20% by weight of isobutane stored in tank No. 4 (64) to be supplied, via pump No. 1 (71) and valve No. 5 (65), to the mixing chamber (10).
• the components were again blended by the mixer (30) for at least two hours.
• valve No. 6 66
• the resulting composition was transferred by pump No. 2 (72) to the cooler (80).
• the composition was then cooled and liquefied in the cooler.
• the resulting liquefied composition was passed through valve No. 7 (67) and kept in a storage tank (90).
• a refrigerant composition was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that ethanol, cyclopropanol and isobutanol were used in the amounts of 46.5%, 32% and 20.5% by weight, respectively.
• Example 3
• a refrigerant composition was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that ethanol, cyclopropanol and isobutanol were used in the amounts of 45%, 36% and 18% by weight, respectively.
• the refrigerant composition was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 47% by weight of ethanol and 34% by weight of cyclopropanol were used.
• the refrigerant composition was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that ethanol, cyclopropanol and isobutanol were used in the amounts of 48%, 26% and 25% by weight, respectively.
• GWP Global Warming Potential
• the spontaneous inflammation (SI) temperature was determined by the ASTM E659-78 standard in a range of 400° C - 700 °C (The flask melts at temperatures of more than 700 °C)
• the flammable limit was determined by the ASTM E681-85 standard within lowest and highest limits of 0.3-10% and 10-30%, respectively.
• the can (210) is internally provided with a refrigerant (251, 252) receiving chamber (221, 222).
• the refrigerant composition of the present invention is contained in the chamber (221, 222), and water (241, 242) is contained in the can. 170 g of water was contained in each ofa cartridge-type can and a cup-type can (210). 80 g and 56 g of the refrigerant composition were contained in the chamber (221, 222) within cartridge-type can and cup-type can (210), respectively.
• the experiments were carried out at normal temperature of 25 °C. After the refrigerant composition was completely released out of the vaporizing aperture (230) by canning the beverage within the can, the temperature of the beverage was measured immediately.
• the refrigerant composition of the present invention can cool the beverage in the can to a temperature of 6°C to 9°C. Therefore, it is believed that the refrigerant composition of the present invention makes it possible to put a self-cooling beverage can into commerce.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)

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Citations (6)

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• 1998
  • 1998-06-09 KR KR1019980021269A patent/KR100386829B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-06-22 AU AU79396/98A patent/AU7939698A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-06-22 WO PCT/KR1998/000170 patent/WO1999029799A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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