Composite Refrigerant Mixtures for Low GWP and Pressure Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigerants, such as HFC-134a, have high global warming potential and carbon dioxide, while being non-toxic and non-flammable, present challenges due to high operating pressures, leading to reduced energy efficiency in refrigeration and heat pump systems, especially when temperature differences between phase changes and surrounding environments are not significant.
Innovation Solution
Compositions comprising difluoromethane, rare gases, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide, along with functionalized organic compounds like ethylene glycol diacetate, are used as refrigerants, optimizing energy efficiency by promoting dissolution and evaporation phenomena based on pressure levels and reducing the need for lubricants in compressors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant, then global warming potential is reduced, but operating pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite refrigerant formulations combining carbon dioxide (R744) with other compounds such as HFC-134a, HFC-125, or HFO-1234yf in specific weight ratios (CO2: 30-80%, co-refrigerant: 20-70%). This composite approach allows the system to maintain the low GWP benefits of CO2 while the co-refrigerant components help reduce the extreme pressure requirements, making the system compatible with existing equipment and improving overall performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant, then global warming potential is reduced, but energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite refrigerant mixture optimizes energy efficiency by combining CO2's thermodynamic properties with complementary properties of co-refrigerants. The specific formulations (e.g., R744/R134a, R744/R125, R744/R1234yf) are designed to improve heat transfer characteristics and reduce the energy penalty associated with CO2's high pressure operation, thereby improving COP and overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies key thermodynamic parameters of the refrigerant system by adjusting the composition ratios of CO2 and co-refrigerants. By changing the weight percentages of each component, the system optimizes evaporation temperature, condensation pressure, and heat transfer coefficients to improve energy efficiency while maintaining low GWP.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If temperature difference between phase change and surrounding environment is small, then environmental impact is reduced, but heat transfer efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite refrigerant formulations enhance heat transfer efficiency through synergistic effects of the mixed components. The co-refrigerants contribute different thermal properties that complement CO2, improving overall heat transfer coefficients and reducing the penalty associated with small temperature differences between phase change and surrounding environment.
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
These compositions maintain low global warming potential, enhance cooling power and system performance by managing heat transfer effectively, and can partially or completely replace HFC-134a in vehicle air conditioning systems.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant is evaporated at low pressure, absorbing heat from the surrounding environment
Implementation Method 2
The resulting vapor is then compressed by a compressor
Implementation Method 3
passes into a condenser where it condenses back into a liquid, releasing heat into a second surrounding area
Implementation Method 4
optimizing energy efficiency by promoting dissolution and evaporation phenomena based on pressure levels
Implementation Method 5
optimizing energy efficiency by promoting dissolution and evaporation phenomena based on pressure levels
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to compositions suitable for use as refrigerants. More particularly, it relates to compositions with a very low contribution to the greenhouse effect, usable in refrigeration and air conditioning. The GWP of the compositions according to the present invention is preferably no more than 150.