Reclamation processes including azeotropic and other close-boiling thermal management fluids

Abstract

A process of thermal management fluid reclamation is provided. The process includes collecting at least one recovered thermal management fluid including at least a first refrigerant compound and a second refrigerant compound to form a collected thermal management fluid; and forming a blend constituent from the collected thermal management fluid in the absence of distillation or substantially in the absence of distillation. The blend constituent is azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling. The blend constituent is configured to be combined with (i) one or more refrigerant compounds, and / or (ii) one or more blends comprising two or more refrigerant compounds, for formation of a thermal management fluid product.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTIONRECLAMATION PROCESSES INCLUDING AZEOTROPIC AND OTHER CLOSE-BOILING THERMAL MANAGEMENT FLUIDSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application 63 / 699,880 filed September 27, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Application 63 / 808,827 filed May 20, 2025, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference it its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates to systems and processes of thermal management fluid reclamation. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and processes of converting spent thermal management fluids into reclaimed azeotropic, azeotrope-like, and other close-boiling thermal management fluids.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Thermal management fluid or refrigerant reclamation has long attracted significant attention due to regulatory requirements and increasing emphasis on circularity, emissions reduction, and resource efficiency. An efficient and effective reclamation process benefits both the environment and the global economy. Indeed, in the absence of such a reclamation process, the thermal management fluids would have to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of, such as by thermal oxidation, which is very energy intensive and results in a loss of product to the circular economy.

[0004] Conventionally, refrigerant reclamation involves sending the used and recovered refrigerant to a reclaim site for further processing to produce reclaimed refrigerant having the desired purity. Such processing typically involves purification, such as by distillation, often multi-stage distillation, in order to separate the recovered refrigerant mixture into individual refrigerant components having the desired purity. The reclaimed refrigerant components may then be used to makerefrigerant blends which meet Standard for Specifications for Refrigerants, Air- Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), (AHRI 700).

[0005] However, distillation itself is an energy intensive process, and its set up often requires significant capital expenditure. As such, distillation is not necessarily the best practice to achieve conservation of energy and resources to promote a circular economy.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In an example embodiment, a process of thermal management fluid reclamation includes collecting a recovered thermal management fluid. Each recovered thermal management fluid includes at least a first refrigerant compound and a second refrigerant compound, but may further include a third refrigerant compound or additional refrigerant compounds. In one embodiment, more than one recovered thermal management fluid is collected.

[0007] The process further comprising using, storing or supplying a blend constituent formed from the collected thermal management fluid without any distillation or with only minimal distillation of the collected thermal management fluid. The blend constituent may be combined with one or more single refrigerant compounds or one or more multicomponent refrigerant blends, for formation of a thermal management fluid product. The thermal management fluid product may be a reclaimed or partially reclaimed thermal management fluid blend.

[0008] In some embodiments, the process further comprises testing the collected thermal management fluid, the blend constituent, and / or the thermal management fluid product to determine the composition, volume, water content, NAG content, acidity content, and / or the organic purity.

[0009] In some embodiments, the collected thermal management fluid, the blend constituent, and / or the thermal management fluid product is treated, as needed based on data collected from the testing, to achieve an organic purity of at least about 95 wt%, or about 96 wt%, or about 97 wt%, or about 98 wt%, or about 99 wt%, or about 99.5 wt%.

[0010] For example, the treatment may comprises purifying the collected thermal management fluid to reduce water content, NAG content and / or acidity content, and / or to remove one or more impurities to achieve an organic purity of at least about 95 wt%, or about 96 wt%, or about 97 wt%, or about 98 wt%, or about 99 wt%, or about 99.5 wt%. In some embodiments, the purified fluid preferably meets the standards of, Standard for Specifications for Refrigerants, Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), (AHRI 700).

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of this disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In exemplary embodiments, an integrated business and engineering process effectively and efficiently recovers used multicomponent (e.g., binary, ternary, quaternary and the like) thermal management fluid blends, and provides blend constituents of azeotropic, azeotrope-like, and / or close-boiling thermal management fluids. The blend constituents may be used or supplied for the formation or manufacture of thermal management fluid products, which are reclaimed thermal management fluid blends or partially reclaimed thermal management fluid blends. The process of the present invention thus reduces both manufacture of virgin thermal management fluids and the need for energy intensive destruction of out-of-specification (conventionally unreclaimable) spent thermal management fluids. The process of the present invention also includes utilization of refrigerant heel and refrigerant recovered heel, which benefits emission reduction and economics.

[0013] As used herein, “refrigerant compound” refers to any fluorocarbon (FC), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrochloroolefin (HCO), hydrofluoroolefin (HFO), chlorofluoroolefin (CFO), hydrochlorofluoroolefin (HCFO), hydrocarbon (HC), or carbon dioxide (R-744) that may be used alone or in a blend with other refrigerant compounds as a thermal management fluid.

[0014] As used herein, “thermal management fluid” refers to any fluid used for heat transfer in a closed-loop system.

[0015] As used herein, "azeotrope-like” refers to a composition of two or more refrigerant compounds that behaves like an azeotropic composition (i.e. , has constant boiling characteristics or a tendency not to fractionate upon boiling or evaporation). Hence, during boiling or evaporation, the vapor and liquid compositions, if they change at all, change only to a minimal or negligible extent. In contrast, the vapor and liquid compositions of non-azeotrope-like compositions change to a substantial degree during boiling or evaporation.

[0016] As used herein, "azeotrope-like behavior" refers to a behavior exhibiting dew point pressure and bubble point pressure with virtually no pressure differential. In some embodiments, the difference in the dew point pressure and bubble point pressure at a given temperature is 10% or less, alternatively 9% or less, alternatively 8% or less, alternatively 7% or less, alternatively 6% or less, alternatively 5% or less, alternatively 4% or less, alternatively 3% or less, alternatively 2% or less, alternatively 1% or less, or any value, range, or sub-range therebetween.

[0017] As used herein, “close-boiling composition” refers to compositions including at least two refrigerant compounds having a boiling point difference within about 20°C, or within about 18°C, or within about 15°C, or within about 12°C, or within about 10°C. In some embodiments, the boiling point difference is less than about 9°C, alternatively less than about 8°C, alternatively less than about 7°C, alternatively less than about 6°C, alternatively less than about 5°C, alternatively less than about 4°C, alternatively less than about 3°C, alternatively less than about 2°C, or any value, range, or sub-range therebetween.

[0018] As used herein, “virgin thermal management fluid” refers to a thermal management fluid composition having at least about 95 wt% organic purity, preferably at least about 99 wt% organic purity, most preferably at least about 99.5 wt% organic purity, and that has not yet been used in a thermal management fluid application

[0019] As used herein, “refrigerant heel” or “heel” refers to the residual that cannot be completely removed from a storage, transport or handling container after it is purportedly empty, often due to pressure or physical limitations. As used herein,“refrigerant recovered heel” or “heel-recovered refrigerant” refers to that refrigerant that has been extracted from the cylinder during the recovery process.

[0020] As used herein, “used thermal management fluid” refers to a thermal management fluid composition having at least about 95 wt% organic purity, preferably at least about 99 wt% organic purity, most preferably at least about 99.5 wt% organic purity, and that has been used as a thermal management fluid.

[0021] As used herein, “spent thermal management fluid” refers to a thermal management fluid composition having less than about 95 wt% organic purity, preferably less than about 99 wt% organic purity, most preferably less than about 99.5 wt% organic purity, and that has been used as a thermal management fluid.

[0022] As used herein, “recovered thermal management fluid” refers to a spent thermal management fluid or a used thermal management fluid composition drained or otherwise removed from a thermal management device, such as, for example, a refrigeration, an air-conditioning system or a heat pump.

[0023] As used herein, “collected thermal management fluid composition” refers to a composition formed by the one or more recovered thermal management fluids.

[0024] As generally used herein, “reclaimed thermal management fluid” refers to a thermal management fluid having at least about 95 wt% organic purity, preferably at least about 99 wt% organic purity, most preferably at least about 99.5 wt% organic purity and meeting conventional specifications for commercial use or sale as a thermal management fluid

[0025] As used herein, “partially reclaimed thermal management fluid” refers to a thermal management fluid which comprises, at least in part, a reclaimed thermal management fluid.

[0026] As used herein, “organic purity” refers to the degree to which a fluid or fluid composition is free of contaminants such as oil and inorganic materials, such as water, acid, non-absorbable gases (NAGs), particulates / solids, and the like.

[0027] In some embodiments, “virgin thermal management fluid”, “used thermal management fluid”, “spent thermal management fluid”, “recovered thermal management fluid”, “collected thermal management fluid composition”, “partiallyreclaimed fluid” and / or “reclaimed thermal management fluid”, as used herein, refer to a thermal management fluid composition as each is defined above, and optionally further comprising at least one stabilizer, particularly when the thermal management fluid composition includes an HFO refrigerant compound, such as R-1234yf. In some embodiments, the stabilizer comprises at least one inhibitor compound that inhibits, if not eliminates, a fluoroethylene from interacting with another compound and forming dimers, oligomers, homopolymers, or polymeric products. In some embodiments, the at least one inhibitor is selected from hydrocarbons such as cyclic monoterpenes (e.g., limonene, pinene, a-pinene, p-pinene, and terpinene); lipophilic organic compounds such as tocopherols (e.g., a-tocopherol) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT); phenols or aromatic organic compounds having at least one chemical moiety -C6H4(OH) (e.g., benzene-1 ,4-diol, 4-methoxyphenol); and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of inhibitor compounds may include at least one member selected from limonene (particularly D-limonene), a-terpinene, pinene, a- pinene, p-pinene, a-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 4-methoxyphenol, benzene-1,4-diol, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the thermal management fluid composition of any of a “virgin thermal management fluid”, “used thermal management fluid”, “spent thermal management fluid”, “recovered thermal management fluid”, “collected thermal management fluid composition”, “partially reclaimed fluid” and / or “reclaimed thermal management fluid”, each as defined above, comprises R-1234yf and at least one stabilizer comprising at least one inhibitor selected from hydrocarbons including at least cyclic monoterpene; lipophilic organic compounds; or phenols, aromatic organic compounds having at least one chemical moiety -CeH^OH), and more particularly selected from limonene (particularly D-limonene), a-terpinene, pinene, a-pinene, p-pinene, a-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 4-methoxyphenol, benzene-1 ,4-diol, and mixtures thereof.

[0028] In another embodiment, the stabilizer comprises an acid scavenger, such as, but not limited to, hindered amines and epoxy compounds such as epoxy butene. In one embodiment, the thermal management fluid composition of any of a “virgin thermal management fluid”, “used thermal management fluid”, “spent thermal management fluid”, “recovered thermal management fluid”, “collected thermal management fluid composition”, “partially reclaimed fluid” and / or “reclaimed thermalmanagement fluid”, each as defined above, comprises at least one refrigerant compound, such as an HFO or HFC refrigerant compound, and at least one stabilizer comprising at least one acid scavenger, such as, but not limited to, hindered amines and epoxy compounds such as epoxy butene.

[0029] As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a composition, process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such composition, process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0030] The transitional phrase “consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified. If in the claim such would close the claim to the inclusion of materials other than those recited except for impurities ordinarily associated therewith. When the phrase “consists of’ appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following the preamble, it limits only the element set forth in that clause; other elements are not excluded from the claim as a whole.

[0031] The transitional phrase “consisting essentially of’ is used to define a composition, method that includes materials, steps, features, components, or elements, in addition to those literally disclosed provided that these additional included materials, steps, features, components, or elements do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention, especially the mode of action to achieve the desired result of any of the processes of the present invention. The term ‘consisting essentially of occupies a middle ground between “comprising” and ‘consisting of.’

[0032] Where applicants have defined an invention or a portion thereof with an open-ended term such as “comprising,” it should be readily understood that (unless otherwise stated) the description should be interpreted to also include such an invention using the terms “consisting essentially of’ or “consisting of.”

[0033] Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

[0034] As used herein the term “about” in certain embodiments can be quantified to mean ± 1%, ± 2%, ± 3% and up to and including ±10% of the stated value, and all whole numbers and fractions therebetween.

[0035] In exemplary embodiments, systems and processes of thermal management fluid reclamation comprise collecting at least one recovered thermal management fluid. Each recovered thermal management fluid includes at least a first refrigerant compound and a second refrigerant compound. In some embodiments, the recovered thermal management fluid may comprise more than two refrigerant compounds. Upon collection, the recovered thermal management fluid is referred to herein as a collected thermal management fluid.

[0036] In one embodiment, systems and processes of thermal management fluid reclamation comprise collecting more than one recovered thermal management fluid. Each recovered thermal management fluid preferably has at least one refrigerant compound in common. In one embodiment, at least two of the recovered thermal management fluid are comprised of the same refrigerant compounds. While the recovered thermal management fluids may be comprised of the same refrigerant compounds, the amount of each compound may differ amongst the recovered thermal management fluids and / or the recovered thermal fluids may be collected from different air conditioning, heating or refrigeration systems. The plurality of recovered thermal management fluids are combined together to form the collected thermal management fluid.

[0037] In one embodiment, at least one refrigerant compound contained in the recovered thermal management fluids, and thus which is also contained in the collected thermal management fluid, is an HFC. Examples of such HFCs include, but are not limited to, HFC-134, HFC-134a, HFC-32, HFC-152a, HFC-125, HFC- 227ea and HFC-236fa.

[0038] In one embodiment, each recovered thermal management fluid is an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition.

[0039] In one embodiment, the collected thermal management fluid is an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition.

[0040] In one embodiment, each recovered thermal management fluid and the collected thermal management fluid are azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling.

[0041] In one embodiment, the systems and processes of the present invention further comprise analyzing the collected thermal management fluid for composition, and more particularly analyzing the collected thermal management fluid to identify the refrigerant compounds contained in the composition and the amounts of each identified refrigerant compound.

[0042] In some embodiments, the systems and processes of the present invention further comprise analyzing each recovered thermal management fluid for composition, and more particularly analyzing each recovered thermal management fluid to identify the refrigerant compounds contained in the composition and the amounts of each identified refrigerant compound. In some embodiments, the systems and processes of the present invention comprises analysis of the collected thermal management fluid for composition. In some embodiments, where the composition of each recovered thermal management fluid has been determined, it is not necessary to analyze the collected thermal management fluid. In other embodiments, the systems and processes of the present invention comprises analysis of each recovered thermal management fluid and of the collected thermal management fluid for composition.

[0043] Appropriate refrigerant compounds for systems and methods of the present disclosure may include, but are not limited to, CO2; R-11; R-12; R-13; R-22; R-23; R-32; R-50; R-113; R-114; R-115; R-116; R-123; R-124; R-125; R-134; R-134a; R- 141b; R-142b; R-143a; R-152a; R-170; R-218; R-227ea; R-236fa; R-245fa; R-290; R-600; R-600a; R-601 ; R-601a; R-610; R-744; R-1132a; R-1132(E); R-1132(Z); R- 1132a; R-1150; R-1233zd(E); R-1233zd(Z); R-1234yf; R-1234ze(Z); R-1234ze(E); R- 1224yd (E); R-1224yd(Z); R-1243yc; R-1252zc; R-153-10mczz; R-43-10mee; R- 1270; R-1336mzz(E) and R-1336mzz(Z).

[0044] The systems and processes of the present invention further comprise storing, using or supplying the collected thermal management fluid as a blend constituent, sometimes also referred to as a “building block” by the applicant and inventors of the present invention. As used herein, a blend constituent is a composition comprising two or more refrigerant compounds which may be combined with one or more single component thermal management fluids and / or one or more multicomponent thermal management fluids to form a thermal management fluid product which has a composition that is different from the blend constituent. One or more of the single component thermal management fluids and / or one or more of the multicomponent thermal management fluids may be virgin, used or reclaimed thermal management fluids. As such, the thermal management fluid products which may be prepared from the blend constituents of the present invention may be reclaimed thermal management fluids or partially reclaimed thermal management fluids.

[0045] Appropriate zeotropic blend thermal management fluids that may be used in systems and processes of the present disclosure or zeotropic blend thermal management fluid products which may be formed from blend constituents provided by systems and processes of the present disclosure may include, but are not limited to, R-401A; R-401B; R-402A; R-402B; R-403A; R-403B; R-404A; R-405A; R-406A; R-407A; R-407B; R-407C; R-407D; R-407E; R-407F; R-407G; R407H; R407I; R- 408A; R-409A; R-409B; R-410A; R-410B; R-411A; R-411 B; R-412A; R-413A; R-414A; R-414B; R-415A; R-415B; R-416A; R-417A; R-417B; R-417C; R-418A; R-419A; R-419B; R-420A; R-421A; R-421B; R-422A; R-422B; R-422C; R-422D; R-422E; R-423A; R-424A; R-425A; R-426A; R-427A; R-428A; R-429A; R-430A; R-431 A; R-432A; R-433A; R-433B; R-433C; R-434A; R-435A; R-436A; R-436B; R-437A; R-438A; R-439A; R-440A; R-441A; R-442A; R-443A; R-444A; R-444B; R-445A; R-446A; R-447A; R-447B; R-448A; R-449A; R-449B; R-449C; R-450A; R-451 A; R-451B; R-452A; R-452B; R-452C; R-453A; R-454A; R-454B; R-454C; R-454D; R-455A; R-455B; R-455C; R-456A; R-457A; R-457B; R-457C; R-457D; R-458A; R-459A; R-459B; R-460A; R-460B; R-461A; R-462A; R-463A; R-464A; R-465A; R-466A; R-467A; R-468A; R-468B; R-468A; R-469A; R-470A; R-471B; R-471A; R-472A; R-472B; R-473A; R-474A; R-475A; R-476A; R-479A; R-482A; R-491 A and R-495A.

[0046] Appropriate azeotropic blend thermal management fluids that may be used in systems and processes of the present disclosure or azeotropic blend thermal management fluid products which may be formed from blend constituents provided by systems and processes of the present disclosure may include, but are not limited to, R-500; R-502; R-503; R-507A; R-508A; R-508B; R-509A; R-510A; R-511A; R- 512A; R-513A; R-513B; R-514A; R-515A; 515B; 516A; and R-516B.

[0047] In some embodiments, at least one HFC component of the thermal management fluid products is a reclaimed HFC. In some embodiments, all HFC components of the thermal management fluid products are reclaimed HFCs. In either case, any HFO components present in the thermal management fluid products may be reclaimed, used or virgin material.

[0048] In conventional processes and systems where recovered thermal management fluids are collected, the recovered thermal management fluids are typically subjected to distillation in order to form a usable thermal management fluid from the recovered thermal management fluids. Often multistage distillation is required. In contrast, according to the present invention, the systems and processes do not employ distillation or employ only minimal distillation in order to form the blend constituent. In other words, processes of the present invention are carried out in the absence of distillation or substantially in the absence of distillation. By “minimal distillation” or “substantially in the absence of distillation”, as used herein, is meant that the systems and processes do not utilize multistage distillation, with < 5 distillation stages being preferred, < 3 distillation stages being more preferred, and < 2 distillation stages being most preferred, but may include single stage distillation. That is, the systems and processes of the present invention are executed or conducted in the absence of distillation or substantially in the absence of distillation because the desired end product is a blend constituent, which may then be further processed, as described herein, to form a reclaimed or partially reclaimed thermal management fluid.

[0049] In some embodiments, systems and processes of the present invention further comprise purification of the collected thermal management fluid or the blend constituent before it is supplied or used as intended; i.e. , before the blend constituent is combined with other refrigerant compound(s) to form a thermal management fluidproduct. In such cases, in some embodiments, the systems and processes of the present invention further comprise validating that the collected thermal management fluid or blend constituent has greater than about 95 wt%, about 96 wt%, about 97 wt%, about 98 wt%, about 99 wt%, or about 99.5 wt% organic purity.

[0050] In other embodiments, systems and processes of the present invention further comprise purification of the thermal management fluid product which is formed from the blend constituent(s). In such cases, in some embodiments, the systems and processes of the present invention further comprise validating that the thermal management fluid product has greater than about 95 wt%, about 96 wt%, about 97 wt%, about 98 wt%, about 99 wt%, or about 99.5 wt% organic purity.

[0051] In some embodiments, depending on whether the purification is carried out before or after formation of the thermal management fluid product from the blend constituent(s), either the collected thermal management fluid or blend constituent or the thermal management fluid product is / are tested to determine not only the composition, but also water content, non-absorbable gases (NAG) content, acidity content, and / or the organic purity, and is / are purified as needed for water content, NAG content, acidity content, and / or removing one or more impurities to achieve an organic purity of at least about 95 wt%, or about 96 wt%, or about 97 wt%, or about 98 wt%, or about 99 wt%, or about 99.5 wt%, preferably to meet the standards of AHRI 700.

[0052] The purification may include, for example, at least one treatment such as dilution, filtration, particulate removal, acid removal, nonvolatile residue removal, oil removal, decanting (i.e., moisture reduction), vapor transfer, single stage distillation, and deNAg (i.e., reduction of NAGs). The purification preferably does not include multistage distillation.

[0053] Systems and processes of the present invention may optionally further comprise dilution or adjustment of the ratios of components of the blend constituent, before or after purification, as needed for formation of the desired thermal management fluid product. More particularly, in some embodiments, all or a portion of an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent may be combined with all or a portion of a virgin, a used, or other reclaimed thermal management fluid(s) sharing the same refrigerant compounds to adjust their composition ratios.

[0054] As discussed above, the blend constituent formed by the systems and products of the present invention may be stored as needed, until ready for use or supply as a building block for formation of a reclaimed thermal management fluid or partially reclaimed thermal management fluid. More particularly, the blend constituent may be combined with one or more single component thermal management fluids, such as an HFO or HFC, and / or one or more multicomponent thermal management fluids, formed of virgin material, used material or reclaimed material, to form a thermal management fluid product which has a composition that is different from the blend constituent. The blend constituent is preferably an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or a close-boiling composition of two or more refrigerant compounds or three or more refrigerant compounds. In some embodiments, the thermal management fluid product is an azeotropic or zeotropic composition or azeotropic or zeotropic commercial thermal fluid blend which is a reclaimed or partially reclaimed composition.

[0055] In some embodiments, a target thermal management fluid product is first identified, such as by a customer, and the process of the present invention is carried out in such a manner as to make a blend constituent suited for formation of the target thermal management fluid product. In some embodiments, the systems and processes of the present invention further comprise an inventory unit, more particularly a centralized and advanced inventory system, which tracks data or design information such as quality, quantity and / or availability of recovered thermal management fluids, blend constituents formed from recovered thermal management fluids, and / or reclaimed thermal management fluids, and which enables the system operator or owner (e.g., a reclaimer) to easily design or develop a target thermal management fluid product based on the design information, to meet customer needs or commercial demand. The process will then be carried out based on the design information tracked by the inventory unit to make one or more blend constituents suitable for formation of the target thermal management fluid product. Such an informed process would eliminate unnecessary inventory consumption or build-up, and would run at maximum efficiency to meet customer needs and commercial demand.

[0056] The blend constituent or the thermal management fluid product may be subjected to a final purification and analysis to confirm its composition and that it iscommercial grade. The final purification and analysis may include analyzing and purifying as needed for water content, NAG content, acidity content of other impurities, and / or organic purity.

[0057] The system may operate on a continuous, batch, or semi-batch basis.

[0058] In exemplary embodiments, when the blend constituent or the thermal management fluid product includes at least one HFO refrigerant compound, the reclamation process includes adding a stabilizer package to the thermal fluid.

[0059] In some embodiments, the stabilizer package further comprises at least one acid scavenger. Examples of the acid scavengers that may be included in the present compositions include, but are not limited to, the stabilizers and / or the epoxide component of the stabilizers disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,535,555 and the acid scavengers disclosed in International Application Publication No.WO 2020 / 222864, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0060] In some embodiments, the acid scavenger may comprise one or more epoxides, one or more amines and / or one or more hindered amines, such as, for example but not limited to, epoxybutane.

[0061] In exemplary embodiments, the stabilizer package includes an effective amount of at least one inhibitor such that the thermal fluid remains substantially free of oligomeric, homopolymeric, or other polymeric products derived from the thermal fluid. In some embodiments, at least one inhibitor is selected from hydrocarbons such as cyclic monoterpenes (e.g., limonene, pinene, a-pinene, p-pinene, and terpinene); lipophilic organic compounds such as tocopherols (e.g., a-tocopherol) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT); phenols or aromatic organic compounds having at least one chemical moiety -C6H4(OH) (e.g., benzene-1,4-diol, 4-methoxyphenol); and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of inhibitor compounds may include at least one member selected from limonene (particularly D-limonene), a-terpinene, pinene, a-pinene, p-pinene, a-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 4- methoxyphenol, benzene-1 ,4-diol, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the inhibitor composition includes a liquid at a temperature from about -80°C to about 180°C, about -70°C to about 170°C, and in some cases about -60°C to about 160°C. By “stabilized” it is meant to refer to a composition including an effective amount of atleast one inhibitor compound that inhibits, if not eliminates, a fluoroethylene or fluoropropene (e.g., HFO-1234yf) from interacting with another compound and forming dimers, oligomers, homopolymers, or polymeric products.

[0062] In some embodiments, when oligomeric, homopolymeric, or other polymeric products derived from the thermal management fluid, such as HFO- 1234yf, are found in a system or certain components of a system, such as, for example, compressors, and / or equipment, such as, for example, cylinders, the system components and / or equipment may be cleaned using the same refrigerant(s) previously utilized in the system / equipment or using HFO-1234yf, and / or one or more other solvents, such as, for example, acetone, R-134a, R-125 and the like, or combinations thereof. The present invention thus relates, in some aspects, to methods of treating or cleaning such system components and / or equipment.

[0063] The equipment or tools involved in or utilized in the process of treating or cleaning system components or equipment containing oligomeric, homopolymeric, or other polymeric products derived from a thermal management fluid comprising, for example, HFO-1234yf, include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: the equipment containing HFO-1234yf polymer, including but not limited to, one or more cylinders containing HFO-1234yf polymer; the system and associated components containing HFO-1234yf polymer, such as, but not limited to, an HVAC system and associated components, a refrigeration system and associated components, and the like; one or more ISO tanks; one or more recovery units (e.g., a conventional recovery unit is suitable); one or more empty recovery cylinders; one or more hoses; respective connections (auto Hi / Low); clean, virgin or reclaimed (original refrigerant) HFO-1234yf for flushing; one or more other solvents, such as, for example, acetone, R-134a, R-125 and the like, or combinations thereof; filling station;scales; and pressure gauges.

[0064] In one embodiment, if polymeric material is discovered in equipment such as but not limited to compressors, containers, piping, cylinders, filling stations, and the like, the process comprises flushing or washing the system, system components and / or equipment with clean virgin or reclaimed refrigerant, such as the same refrigerant or refrigerants previously utilized in the system / equipment or HFO-1234yf, and / or with one or more solvents, such as, for example, acetone, R-134a, R-125 and the like, or combinations thereof, until little or no polymeric residue is observable in a discharged sample.

[0065] For example, if yf-derived polymeric material is discovered in any system utilizing HFO-1234yf, the preferred cleaning material comprises HFO-1234yf (virgin, reclaimed, a mixture of virgin and reclaimed, heel recovered, or a combination thereof); if yf-derived polymeric material is discovered in a chiller or refrigeration system utilizing R-513A, the preferred cleaning material comprises HFO-1234yf (virgin, reclaimed, a mixture of virgin and reclaimed, heel recovered, or a combination thereof) and / or HFC-134a (virgin, reclaimed, a mixture of virgin and reclaimed, heel recovered, or a combination thereof); if yf-derived polymeric material is discovered in a refrigeration system utilizing R-448A, the preferred cleaning material comprises HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and / or HFO-E- 1234ze (virgin, reclaimed, a mixture of virgin and reclaimed, heel recovered, or a combination thereof); if yf-derived polymeric material is discovered in a refrigeration system utilizing R-449A, the preferred cleaning material comprises HFC-32, HFC- 125, HFC-134a and / or HFO-1234yf (virgin, reclaimed, a mixture of virgin and reclaimed, heel recovered, or a combination thereof); if yf-derived polymeric material is discovered in an AC system utilizing R-454B, the preferred cleaning material comprises HFO-1234yf (virgin, reclaimed, a mixture of virgin and reclaimed, heel recovered, or a combination thereof) and / or HFC-32 (virgin, reclaimed, a mixture of virgin and reclaimed, heel recovered, or a combination thereof).

[0066] Other refrigerants such as HFC-134a, HFC-125, HFC-43-10mee (known commercially as Vertrel®XF), HFC-123, HFO-Z-1336mzz, may also be used forcleaning or flushing out system equipment or components found to contain the polymeric material.

[0067] In some embodiments, the reclamation process comprises purification or treatment of the collected thermal management fluid or the blend constituent to remove 1234yf-derived polymeric material and obtain a thermal management fluid product which is free of (meaning from 0 to less than 100 ppm of polymeric material) or substantially free of (meaning greater than 0 but less than 0.1 wt%, or less than 0.3 wt%, or less than 0.5 wt%, or less than 1 wt% of polymeric material) 1234yf- derived polymeric material. Further, the refrigerant materials utilized for cleaning / flushing out the system / equipment may be subjected to such treatment to remove 1234yf-derived polymer. For example, the collected thermal management fluid or the collected cleaning refrigerant may be subjected to single-stage distillation to obtain to a reclaimed thermal management fluid product which is free of or substantially free of 1234yf-derived polymeric material, as defined herein.

[0068] In some embodiments, the process comprises recovery, recycling and reuse of fluids in the equipment found to contain 1234yf-derived polymeric material. For example, the thermal management fluid or the refrigerant materials utilized for cleaning / flushing out a system / equipment which contained 1234yf-derived polymeric material is / are recovered from the system / equipment; recycled (i.e. , treated) to obtain a fluid which is free of (meaning from 0 to less than 100 ppm of polymeric material) or substantially free of (meaning greater than 0 but less than 0.1 wt%, or less than 0.3 wt%, or less than 0.5 wt%, or less than 1 wt% of polymeric material) 1234yf-derived polymeric material; and then recharged to the same system / equipment for reuse therein. For example, the recovered refrigerant(s) and cleaning solution containing 1234yf-derived polymer can be recycled utilizing polymer separation techniques which are free of distillation, such as but not limited to filtration with a corresponding filter selected from, for example, centrifugal, impingement or coalescing filters.

[0069] Upon analysis of the collected thermal management fluid, blend constituent or thermal management fluid product, if there are impurities (or the organic purity is less than 95 wt%, or 96 wt%, or 97 wt%, or 98 wt%, or 99 wt%, or 99.5 wt%), such as, oil, water, dirt, and / or acid, found in the analyzed fluid, the analyzed fluid may besent to a regenerator for reprocessing, and more particularly for purification to a state that meets AHRI Standard 700 purity specifications. The regenerator can include at least a compressor, a separator, a filter dryer, and may further include a single-stage distiller, a diluter, or a reformulator. In some embodiments, the compressor is driven to circulate the thermal fluid in a refrigerant circuit such that a voltage is applied to reduce or remove oil, such as the refrigerating machine oil, in the thermal fluid. In some embodiments, the separator is a type of oil separator. In some embodiments, the filter dryer reduces or removes water and acid included in the thermal fluid. The regenerator can also determine information on the appropriateness of the oil, water, and acid included in the thermal fluid after the regeneration processing and compile the thermal fluid composition, the weight, and the like.

[0070] In some embodiments, the collected (used or spent) thermal management fluid may be tested for nonvolatile residue (NVR), for example, per AHRI standard 700, prior to purification, and then treated, either in the absence of distillation or substantially in the absence of distillation, to reduce the NVR content to a predetermined level.

[0071] In some embodiments, the reclaimed or partially reclaimed thermal management fluid product is selected from, and meets the standards of, Standard for Specifications for Refrigerants, Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), (AHRI 700), which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. AHRI 700 specifies acceptable levels of contaminants (purity requirements) for fluorocarbon, hydrocarbon, and carbon dioxide refrigerants regardless of source and lists acceptable test methods. These refrigerants are as referenced in the ANSI / American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 34 with Addenda, which is also incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. The compositions of certain blends can be found in “Factsheet 1: Update on New Refrigerants Designations and Safety Classifications”, ASHRAE, April 2023; or at https: / / www.ashrae.org / technical-resources / standards-and- guidelines / ashrae-refrigerant-designations; or in ISO 817 (International Organization for Standardization), each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0072] In some embodiments, the system of the present invention may be located at a site separate and distinct from the site of a blending facility or a refrigerantmanufacturing facility which produces virgin material, or may be co-located with a blending facility or refrigerant manufacturing facility.EXAMPLES

[0073] The invention will be described in greater detail by way of specific examples. The following examples are offered for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the invention in any manner. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a variety of non-critical parameters which can be changed or modified to yield essentially the same results.Example 1 (A / B plus C)

[0074] An used or spent thermal management fluid comprising A and B is recovered and optionally tested for composition, and stored as a collected thermal management fluid. The collected thermal management fluid is an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition containing HFC-32 and HFC-125. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises HFC-32; HFC-125; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises R- 410A or R-410B; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40.

[0075] The azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid, optionally after adjustment of the ratio of the components by combination with virgin, used, or other reclaimed thermal fluids, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels or combinations thereof, of HFC-32 and / or HFC-125, is sold, supplied or used as a blend constituent to make a thermal management fluid product, such as R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407D, R- 407E, R-407F, R-407G, R-407H, R-407I, R-447A, R-447B, R-452A, R-452B and / or R-452C comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125, supplied from the blend constituent, anda further refrigerant compound (i.e. , a third refrigerant compound). The process is carried out in the absence of or substantially in the absence of distillation.

[0076] For example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFC-134a, which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125 and HFC-134a; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125 and HFC-134a; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC- 115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC- 134, HFC-152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31, CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC- 125 and / or HFC-134a may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R- 407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407D, R-407E, R-407F, R-407G, R-407H or R-407I.

[0077] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFO-E-1234ze, which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125 and HFO- E-1234ze; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125 and HFC- 134a; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC- 143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1234yf, HFC- 245cb, HFO-1225yf(E), HFO-1225yf(Z), HFO-1225zc, HFC-236fa, HFC-152a, HFC- 143a, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234zc, HFO-1233xf, HFO-1233zd, CFC-114, HCFC-124, 2223, HFO-1234ze(Z), HFC-245fa, HFC-227ea, HFO-1243zf, HFC- 263fb and HFC-134. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125 and / or HFO-E-1234ze may be carried out, if needed,in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-447A or R-447B.

[0078] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFO-1234yf, which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125 and HFO- 1234yf; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125 and HFC- 134a; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC- 143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1225ye, HFO-1243zf, E-HFO-1234ze, HFC-236ea, HCFC-244bb, HFC-245fa, HFC-245eb, HFC-245cb, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne, HFC- 152a, FO-1114, CFO-1123, HCFO-1131a, trans-HCFO-1131 , HCO- 1140, HCFO- 1214ya, HFO-1216, HCFO-1224yd, HFO-1252 isomers, HFC-143a, HCFC-225, HFC-254eb, HFC-263fb, HFC- 236fa, HCFC-142b, HCFC-244cc, HCFO-1223, HFO- 1132a and HCC-40. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125 and / or HFO-1234yf may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-452A, R-452B or R-452C.

[0079] Purification may be carried out before formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e. , the collected thermal management fluid or the blend constituent is purified) or after formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e., the thermal management fluid product is purified). If the impurities are greater than 5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 5%; or if the impurities are greater than 0.5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 0.5%.Example 2 (A / B plus C plus D)

[0080] An used or spent thermal management fluid comprising A and B is recovered and optionally tested for composition, and stored as a collected thermal management fluid. The collected thermal management fluid is an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition containing HFC-32 and HFC-125. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermalmanagement fluid comprises HFC-32; HFC-125; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises R- 410A or R-410B; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40.

[0081] The azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid, optionally after adjustment of the ratio of the components by combination with virgin, used, or other reclaimed thermal fluids of HFC-32 and / or HFC-125, is sold, supplied or used as a blend constituent to make a thermal management fluid product, such as R-449A, R-449B, R-449C, R-460A, R-460B, R- 460C, or R-467A, comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125, supplied from the blend constituent, and two further refrigerant compounds (i.e., a third refrigerant compound and a fourth refrigerant compound). The process is carried out in the absence of or substantially in the absence of distillation.

[0082] For example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFC-134a and HFO-E-1234ze, either or both of which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC- 32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and HFO-E-1234ze; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and HFO-E-1234ze; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC- 115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC- 134, HFC-152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31, CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1234yf, HFC-245cb, HFO-1225yf(E), HFO-1225yf(Z), HFO-1225zc, HFC-236fa, HFC-152a, HFC-143a,HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234zc, HFO-1233xf, HFO-1233zd, CFC-114, HCFC- 124, 2223, HFO-1234ze(Z), HFC-245fa, HFC-227ea, HFO-1243zf, HFC-263fb and HFC-134. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC- 32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and / or HFO-E-1234ze may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-460A, R-460B or R-460C.

[0083] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf, either or both of which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC- 32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC- 143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC-134, HFC- 152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31 , CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1225ye, HFO-1243zf, E-HFO- 1234ze, HFC-236ea, HCFC-244bb, HFC-245fa, HFC-245eb, HFC-245cb, 3,3,3- trifluoropropyne, HFC-152a, FO-1114, CFO-1123, HCFO-1131a, trans-HCFO-1131 , HCO- 1140, HCFO-1214ya, HFO-1216, HCFO-1224yd, HFO-1252 isomers, HFC- 143a, HCFC-225, HFC-254eb, HFC-263fb, HFC- 236fa, HCFC-142b, HCFC-244cc, HCFO-1223, HFO-1132a and HCC-40. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and / or HFO-1234yf may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-449A, R-449B or R-449C.

[0084] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFC-134a and R-600a (isobutane), either or both of which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprisingHFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and isobutane; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and isobutane; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC- 143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC-134, HFC- 152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31 , CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; and one or more additional compounds selected from propane, propylene, butane, butylene, isobutene, pentane and isopentane. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and / or isobutane may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-467A.

[0085] Purification may be carried out before formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e. , the collected thermal management fluid or the blend constituent is purified) or after formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e., the thermal management fluid product is purified). If the impurities are greater than 5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 5%; or if the impurities are greater than 0.5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 0.5%.Example 3 (A / B plus C / D)

[0086] An used or spent thermal management fluid comprising A and B is recovered and optionally tested for composition, and stored as a collected thermal management fluid. The collected thermal management fluid is an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition containing HFC-32 and HFC-125. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises HFC-32; HFC-125; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises R- 410A or R-410B; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32,HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFC0-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40.

[0087] The azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid, optionally after adjustment of the ratio of the components by combination with virgin, used, or other reclaimed thermal fluids of HFC-32 and / or HFC-125, is sold, supplied or used as a blend constituent to make a thermal management fluid product, such as R-449A, R-449B, R-449C, or R-464A, comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125, supplied from the blend constituent, and two further refrigerant compounds (i.e. , a third refrigerant compound and a fourth refrigerant compound) supplied from another blend. The process is carried out in the absence of or substantially in the absence of distillation.

[0088] For example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with a blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf, which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC- 32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC- 143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC-134, HFC- 152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31 , CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1225ye, HFO-1243zf, E-HFO- 1234ze, HFC-236ea, HCFC-244bb, HFC-245fa, HFC-245eb, HFC-245cb, 3,3,3- trifluoropropyne, HFC-152a, FO-1114, CFO-1123, HCFO-1131a, trans-HCFO-1131 , HCO- 1140, HCFO-1214ya, HFO-1216, HCFO-1224yd, HFO-1252 isomers, HFC- 143a, HCFC-225, HFC-254eb, HFC-263fb, HFC- 236fa, HCFC-142b, HCFC-244cc, HCFO-1223, HFO-1132a and HCC-40. The blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO- 1234yf may be an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition. The blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf may also be a blend constituentformed by the process of the present invention. For example, the blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf may be a recovered, used, virgin or reclaimed composition comprising R-451A, R-451 B, R-513A or R-513B. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC- 134a and / or HFO-1234yf may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R- 449A, R-449B or R-449C.

[0089] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with a blend comprising HFC-227ea and HFO-E-1234ze, which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-227ea and HFO-E-1234ze; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-227ea and HFO-E-1234ze; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC- 115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, FC-1216, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, HCFC-124, FC-218, HFC-236fa and HFO-1225zc; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1234yf, HFC-245cb, HFO-1225yf(E), HFO-1225yf(Z), HFO-1225zc, HFC-236fa, HFC-152a, HFC-143a, HFC-125, HFC- 134a, HFO-1234zc, HFO-1233xf, HFO-1233zd, CFC-114, HCFC-124, 2223, HFO- 1234ze(Z), HFC-245fa, HFC-227ea, HFO-1243zf, HFC-263fb and HFC-134. The blend comprising HFC-227ea and HFO-E-1234ze may be an azeotropic, azeotropelike, or close-boiling composition. The blend comprising HFC-227ea and HFO-E- 1234ze may also be a blend constituent formed by the process of the present invention. For example, the blend comprising HFC-227ea and HFO-E-1234ze may be a recovered, used, virgin or reclaimed comprising R-515A or R-515B. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC- 227ea and / or HFO-E-1234ze may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R- 464A.

[0090] Purification may be carried out before formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e. , the collected thermal management fluid or the blend constituent is purified) or after formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e., the thermal management fluid product is purified). If the impurities are greater than 5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 5%; or if the impurities are greater than 0.5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 0.5%.Example 4 (A / B plus C plus D plus E)

[0091] An used or spent thermal management fluid comprising A and B is recovered and optionally tested for composition, and stored as a collected thermal management fluid. The collected thermal management fluid is an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition containing HFC-32 and HFC-125. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises HFC-32; HFC-125; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises R- 410A or R-410B; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40.

[0092] The azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid, optionally after adjustment of the ratio of the components by combination with virgin, used, or other reclaimed thermal fluids of HFC-32 and / or HFC-125, is sold, supplied or used as a blend constituent to make a thermal management fluid product, such as R-438A, R-448A, R-448B, R-458A and R-462A, comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125, supplied from the blend constituent, and three further refrigerant compounds (i.e., a third refrigerant compound, a fourth refrigerant compound and a fifth refrigerant compound). The process is carried out in the absence of or substantially in the absence of distillation.

[0093] For example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFC-134a, R-600 (butane), R-601a (isopentane), one, two or all of which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, butane and isopentane; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, butane and isopentane; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC-134, HFC-152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO- 1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31 , CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; one or more additional compounds selected from propane, propylene, isobutane, butylene, isobutene, pentane and isopentane; and one or more additional compounds selected from butane, propane, propylene, isobutane, butylene, isobutene and pentane. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a butane and / or isopentane may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-438A.

[0094] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFC-134a, HFC-227ea and HFC-236fa, one, two or all of which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea and HFC-236fa; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea and HFC-236fa; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC-134, HFC-152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO- 1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31 , CFC-114, CFC-114a andHCO-1140; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, FC-1216, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, HCFC-124, FC-218, HFC-236fa and HFO-1225zc; and one or more additional compounds selected from CFC-11 , CFC-12, HCC-40, HCFC-124, HCFC-133a, HFC-134a, HFC-152a, HFC-227ea, CFO-1112a, HCO- 1130a, CFC-1215xc, HFO-1225zc and HFO-1234yf. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea and / or HFC-236fa may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-458A.

[0095] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFC-134a, HFC-143a and R-600 (butane), one, two or all of which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC- 125, HFC-134a, HFC-143a and butane; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-143a and butane; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC- 143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC-134, HFC- 152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31 , CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; one or more additional compounds selected from CFC-115, HFC-134a, HFC-152a, HCFC-22, CFC-12, HCFC-124, CFC-114a and HCFC-133a; and one or more additional compounds selected from propane, propylene, isobutane, butylene, isobutene, pentane and isopentane. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-143a and / or butane may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-462A.

[0096] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and HFO-E-1234ze, one, two or all of which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and HFO-E-1234ze; moreparticularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and HFO-E-1234ze; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC-134, HFC-152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161 , E-HFO- 1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31 , CFC- 114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1225ye, HFO-1243zf, E-HFO-1234ze, HFC-236ea, HCFC-244bb, HFC-245fa, HFC-245eb, HFC-245cb, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne, HFC-152a, FO-1114, CFO-1123, HCFO-1131a, trans-HCFO-1131 , HCO- 1140, HCFO-1214ya, HFO-1216, HCFO- 1224yd, HFO-1252 isomers, HFC-143a, HCFC-225, HFC-254eb, HFC-263fb, HFC- 236fa, HCFC-142b, HCFC-244cc, HCFO-1223, HFO-1132a and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1234yf, HFC-245cb, HFO- 1225yf(E), HFO-1225yf(Z), HFO-1225zc, HFC-236fa, HFC-152a, HFC-143a, HFC- 125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234zc, HFO-1233xf, HFO-1233zd, CFC-114, HCFC-124, 2223, HFO-1234ze(Z), HFC-245fa, HFC-227ea, HFO-1243zf, HFC-263fb and HFC- 134. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and / or HFO-E-1234ze may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-448A or R-448B.

[0097] Purification may be carried out before formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e. , the collected thermal management fluid or the blend constituent is purified) or after formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e., the thermal management fluid product is purified). If the impurities are greater than 5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 5%; or if the impurities are greater than 0.5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 0.5%.Example 5 (A / B plus C / D plus E)

[0098] An used or spent thermal management fluid comprising A and B is recovered and optionally tested for composition, and stored as a collected thermal management fluid. The collected thermal management fluid is an azeotropic,azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition containing HFC-32 and HFC-125. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises HFC-32; HFC-125; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40. In one embodiment, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid comprises R- 410A or R-410B; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC-115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41 , HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40.

[0099] The azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling collected thermal management fluid, optionally after adjustment of the ratio of the components by combination with virgin, used, or other reclaimed thermal fluids of HFC-32 and / or HFC-125, is sold, supplied or used as a blend constituent to make a thermal management fluid product, such as R-448A, R-448B or R-463A, comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125, supplied from the blend constituent, two further refrigerant compounds (i.e. , a third refrigerant compound and a fourth refrigerant compound) supplied from another blend, and a further single refrigerant compound (i.e., a fifth refrigerant compound). The process is carried out in the absence of or substantially in the absence of distillation.

[0100] For example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with a blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf, which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, and HFO-E-1234ze, which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC- 134a, HFO-1234yf and HFO-E-1234ze; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and HFO-E-1234ze; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC- 115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC-134, HFC-152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31, CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1225ye, HFO-1243zf, E- HFO-1234ze, HFC-236ea, HCFC-244bb, HFC-245fa, HFC-245eb, HFC-245cb, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne, HFC-152a, FO-1114, CFO-1123, HCFO-1131a, trans-HCFO- 1131, HCO- 1140, HCFO-1214ya, HFO-1216, HCFO-1224yd, HFO-1252 isomers, HFC-143a, HCFC-225, HFC-254eb, HFC-263fb, HFC- 236fa, HCFC-142b, HCFC- 244cc, HCFO-1223, HFO-1132a and HCC-40; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1234yf, HFC-245cb, HFO-1225yf(E), HFO- 1225yf(Z), HFO-1225zc, HFC-236fa, HFC-152a, HFC-143a, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234zc, HFO-1233xf, HFO-1233zd, CFC-114, HCFC-124, 2223, HFO- 1234ze(Z), HFC-245fa, HFC-227ea, HFO-1243zf, HFC-263fb and HFC-134. The blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf may be an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition. The blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf may also be a blend constituent formed by the process of the present invention. For example, the blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf may be a recovered, used, virgin or reclaimed composition comprising R-451A, R-451B, R-513A or R- 513B. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and / or HFO-E-1234ze may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R-448A or R-448B.

[0101] As another example, the azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling blend constituent comprising HFC-32 and HFC-125 (or, e.g., R-410A or R-410B) may be combined with a blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf, which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, and R-744 (CO2), which may be virgin, used or reclaimed, which as defined herein may include virgin, reclaimed, heels, recovered heels and combinations thereof, to form a composition comprising HFC- 32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and R-744; more particularly a composition comprising HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf and R-744; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, CFC- 115, CFCO-1113 and HCC-40; one or more additional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFC-41, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, CFC-12 and HCC-40; one or moreadditional compounds selected from HFC-143a, HFO-1225zc, HFC-245cb, HFC- 134, HFC-152a, HFO-1225ye, HFC-161, E-HFO-1234ze, HCFC-22, HFO-1243zf, CHFC-124, HCC-40, CHFO-1122, HCFC-31, CFC-114, CFC-114a and HCO-1140; and one or more additional compounds selected from HFO-1225ye, HFO-1243zf, E- HFO-1234ze, HFC-236ea, HCFC-244bb, HFC-245fa, HFC-245eb, HFC-245cb, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne, HFC-152a, FO-1114, CFO-1123, HCFO-1131a, trans-HCFO- 1131, HCO- 1140, HCFO-1214ya, HFO-1216, HCFO-1224yd, HFO-1252 isomers, HFC-143a, HCFC-225, HFC-254eb, HFC-263fb, HFC- 236fa, HCFC-142b, HCFC- 244cc, HCFO-1223, HFO-1132a and HCC-40. The blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf may be an azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or close-boiling composition. The blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf may also be a blend constituent formed by the process of the present invention. For example, the blend comprising HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf may be a recovered, used, virgin or reclaimed composition comprising R-451A, R-451 B, R-513A or R-513B. In some embodiments, optional ratio adjustment of the components HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC- 134a, HFO-1234yf and / or R-744 may be carried out, if needed, in order to provide a composition meeting the specifications of the desired commercial blend, such as R- 463A.

[0102] Purification may be carried out before formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e. , the collected thermal management fluid or the blend constituent is purified) or after formation of the thermal management fluid product (i.e., the thermal management fluid product is purified). If the impurities are greater than 5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 5%; or if the impurities are greater than 0.5%, the composition may be purified to reduce the level of impurities to less than 0.5%.

[0103] For blends containing one or more HFOs, and more particularly blends containing HFO-1234yf, a stabilizer package may be added to the reclaimed thermal fluid to stabilize the HFO in the thermal fluid, and more particularly to stabilize the HFO-1234yf to inhibit, if not eliminate, the HFO-1234yf from interacting with another compound and forming dimers, oligomers, homopolymers, or polymeric products.OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0104] Embodiment 1. A process of thermal management fluid reclamation comprising: collecting at least one recovered thermal management fluid comprising at least a first refrigerant compound and a second refrigerant compound to form a collected thermal management fluid; and forming a blend constituent from the collected thermal management fluid in the absence of distillation or substantially in the absence of distillation, wherein the blend constituent is azeotropic, azeotropelike, or close-boiling, wherein the blend constituent is configured to be combined with (i) one or more refrigerant compounds, and / or (ii) one or more blends comprising two or more refrigerant compounds, for formation of a thermal management fluid product.

[0105] Embodiment 2. The process of Embodiment 1 , wherein the thermal management fluid product has a reclaimed composition or a partially reclaimed composition.

[0106] Embodiment 3. The process of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, further comprising purification to ensure the thermal management fluid product has greater than about 95 wt%, preferably greater than about 99 wt%, most preferably greater than about 99.5 wt% organic purity.

[0107] Embodiment 4. The process of Embodiment 3, wherein the purification comprises removal of one or more impurities and / or removal of oligomeric, homopolymeric, or other polymeric products derived from HFO-1234yf.

[0108] Embodiment s. The process of Embodiment 4, wherein the one or more impurities comprises an oil.

[0109] Embodiment 6. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the refrigerant compounds combined with the blend constituent is an HFC.

[0110] Embodiment 7. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the first refrigerant compound or the second refrigerant compound is an HFC.

[0111] Embodiment 8. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 7, further comprising adding a stabilizer package to the thermal management fluid product.

[0112] Embodiment 9. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the thermal management fluid product is azeotropic.

[0113] Embodiment 10. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the blend constituent comprises HFC-32 and HFC-125.

[0114] Embodiment 11. The process of Embodiment 10, wherein the blend constituent comprises R-410A.

[0115] Embodiment 12. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the blend constituent comprises HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf.

[0116] Embodiment 13. The process of Embodiment 12, wherein the blend constituent comprises R-513A.

[0117] Embodiment 14. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the blend constituent comprises HFO-E-1234ze and HFC-227ea.

[0118] Embodiment 15. The process of Embodiment 14, wherein the blend constituent comprises R-515B.

[0119] Embodiment 16. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 15, wherein forming of the blend constituent comprises single-stage distillation to remove one or more impurities and / or to remove oligomeric, homopolymeric, or other polymeric products derived from HFO-1234yf.

[0120] Embodiment 17. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 15, wherein the blend constituent is formed in the absence of distillation.

[0121] Embodiment 18. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the blend constituent is formed based on a target thermal management fluid product which has been identified.

[0122] Embodiment 19. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 18, further comprising analysis for nonvolatile residue prior to purification of the collected thermal management fluid.

[0123] Embodiment 20. The process of Embodiment 19, wherein purification of the collected thermal management fluid comprises treatment, either in the absenceof distillation substantially in the absence of distillation, to reduce the nonvolatile residue content to a predetermined level.

[0124] Embodiment 21. The process of any of Embodiments 1 to 20, the process further comprising combining the collected thermal management fluid, or the blend constituent, or the thermal management fluid product with virgin thermal management fluid and / or reclaimed thermal management fluid, wherein the virgin thermal management fluid and / or the reclaimed thermal management fluid include heels and / or heel-recovered refrigerants.

[0125] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

[0126] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

[0127] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0128] While the disclosure has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A process of thermal management fluid reclamation comprising: collecting at least one recovered thermal management fluid comprising at least a first refrigerant compound and a second refrigerant compound to form a collected thermal management fluid; and forming a blend constituent from the collected thermal management fluid in the absence of distillation or substantially in the absence of distillation, wherein the blend constituent is azeotropic, azeotrope-like, or closeboiling, wherein the blend constituent is configured to be combined with (i) one or more refrigerant compounds, and / or (ii) one or more blends comprising two or more refrigerant compounds, for formation of a thermal management fluid product.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the thermal management fluid product has a reclaimed composition or a partially reclaimed composition.

3. The process of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising purification such that the thermal management fluid product has greater than about 95 wt%, preferably greater than about 99 wt%, most preferably greater than about 99.5 wt% organic purity.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the purification comprises removal of one or more impurities; and / or wherein the purification comprises removal of oligomeric, homopolymeric, or other polymeric products derived from HFO-1234yf; and / or wherein the purification comprises removal of oligomeric, homopolymeric, or other polymeric products derived from HFO-1234yf contained in a refrigerant blend selected from the group consisting ofR-448A, R-449A, R-513A, R-452A, R-454A, R-454B. R-454C, R-455A, R-479A, R-474A, and R-495A.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the one or more impurities comprises an oil.

6. The process of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the refrigerant compounds combined with the blend constituent is an HFC.

7. The process of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first refrigerant compound or the second refrigerant compound is an HFC.

8. The process of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising adding a stabilizer package to the thermal management fluid product.

9. The process of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the thermal management fluid product is azeotropic.

10. The process of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the blend constituent comprises HFC-32 and HFC-125.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the blend constituent comprises R-410A.

12. The process of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the blend constituent comprises HFC- 134a and HFO-1234yf.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the blend constituent comprises R-513A.

14. The process of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the blend constituent comprises HFO-E-1234ze and HFC-227ea.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the blend constituent comprises R-515B.

16. The process of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein forming of the blend constituent comprises single-stage distillation to remove one or more impurities.

17. The process of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein forming of the blend constituent comprises single-stage distillation to remove oligomeric, homopolymeric, or other polymeric products derived from HFO-1234yf.

18. The process of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the blend constituent is formed in the absence of distillation.

19. The process of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the blend constituent is formed based on a target thermal management fluid product which has been identified.

20. The process of any of claims 1 to 19, further comprising analysis for nonvolatile residue prior to purification of the collected thermal management fluid.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein purification of the collected thermal management fluid comprises treatment, either in the absence of distillation substantially in the absence of distillation, to reduce the nonvolatile residue content to a predetermined level.

22. The process of any of claims 1 to 21 , the process further comprising combining the collected thermal management fluid, or the blend constituent, or the thermal management fluid product with virgin thermal management fluid and / or reclaimed thermal management fluid, wherein the virgin thermal management fluid and / or the reclaimed thermal management fluid include heels and / or heel- recovered refrigerants.