Azeotropic Heat Transfer Composition for Stable Phase Ratios

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) face challenges such as flammability, long atmospheric lifetime leading to global warming concerns, and instability in non-azeotropic mixtures used for coolants, cleaners, and heat transfer mediums, which affect ozone depletion and heat pump performance.

Innovation Solution

A composition of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylmethylether and hexafluoroisopropanol exhibiting an azeotropic mixture-like behavior, maintaining consistent vapor and liquid phase ratios, is developed, which is non-flammable or low flammable, and has a low global warming potential, suitable for heat transfer compositions and cleaners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If hydrocarbons are used as alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs, then ozone depletion is prevented, but flammability increases causing safety concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveozone depletionVSAvoidflammability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite HFE materials combining fluorinated ether structures with specific functional groups to achieve both ozone safety and fire resistance simultaneously, creating a material that integrates the benefits of different chemical families

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If HFCs are used as alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs, then ozone depletion is prevented, but global warming potential increases due to long atmospheric lifetime

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveozone depletionVSAvoidglobal warming potential
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies molecular parameters of HFE compounds by adjusting fluorine content, carbon chain length, and functional group configuration to optimize atmospheric degradation rate while maintaining thermal performance, thereby reducing GWP

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If non-azeotropic mixtures are used for heat transfer compositions, then required performance can be achieved through mixing HFEs with other compounds, but mixture ratio stability deteriorates during evaporation and leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer performanceVSAvoidmixture ratio stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully selects and adjusts the composition parameters of HFE mixtures to achieve near-azeotropic behavior where vapor and liquid phases have substantially equal compositions, preventing ratio drift during phase change operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the heat transfer composition to exhibit controlled phase transition characteristics where the mixture maintains compositional stability during evaporation and condensation cycles, eliminating the need for concentration control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The azeotropic mixture-like composition provides stable performance in heat transfer and cleaning applications with minimal environmental impact, improving heat pump efficiency and reducing global warming potential, while maintaining consistent mixture ratios across phases.

Implementation Method 1

a composition containing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylmethylether and hexafluoroisopropanol exhibits an azeotropic mixture-like phenomenon of having substantially the same mixture ratio in a vapor phase portion and a liquid phase portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAzeotropic mixture behavior:

Implementation Method 2

the present invention also relates to a heat transfer composition containing such an azeotropic mixture-like composition, and a high-temperature heat pump device and a heat transfer method using the same

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP2889355B1Azeotropic mixture-like composition, heat transfer composition, cleaner, high-temperature heat pump device, and heat transfer method
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 CENT GLASS CO LTD
  • EP2889355B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2889355B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2889355B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An azeotropic mixture-like composition containing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylmethylether (HFE-356mmz) and hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) is provided. 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylmethylether may be contained at a ratio higher than or equal to 0.1 % by mass and lower than or equal to 99.9% by mass.