Dimethyl Ether Refrigerant Mixtures for Low-GWP R134a Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

R134a, a commonly used refrigerant, has a high global warming potential (GWP) leading to regulatory limitations, necessitating the development of alternative refrigerant gas mixtures with lower production costs and improved environmental impact for applications in air conditioning and refrigeration.

Innovation Solution

A gaseous mixture comprising dimethyl ether and propylene or propane within specific concentration ranges (e.g., 85-95% dimethyl ether and 5-15% propylene, or 71-85% dimethyl ether and 15-29% propane) is used as a replacement for R134a, offering improved thermodynamic characteristics and reduced GWP.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If R134a is used as refrigerant, then cooling performance is maintained, but global warming potential is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoidcooling performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing fluorinated hydrocarbons with non-fluorinated hydrocarbon mixtures (dimethyl ether and propylene/propane) in specific ratios, thereby reducing GWP while maintaining refrigeration performance through optimized mixture composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite refrigerant mixtures combining dimethyl ether with propylene or propane in specific concentration ranges (85-95% DME with 5-15% propylene, or 71-85% DME with 15-29% propane) to achieve both low GWP and adequate cooling performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If alternative refrigerant mixtures are used, then environmental impact is improved, but thermodynamic properties may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidthermodynamic properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes thermodynamic properties by precisely controlling the concentration parameters of dimethyl ether (85-95%) and propylene/propane (5-15% or 15-29%) in the mixture, ensuring adequate vapor pressure, boiling point, and coefficient of performance for refrigeration applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If flammable refrigerant mixtures are used, then production cost is reduced, but safety requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses non-fluorinated hydrocarbon components (dimethyl ether, propylene, propane) which are generally less expensive to produce than HFCs, while accepting the flammability characteristic and addressing it through concentration optimization and appropriate system design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2872587B1Refrigerant mixtures

Publication Date: 2017.09.13 TAZZETTI

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AI summary

Use of a gaseous mixture, selected from the group consisting of: - dimethyl ether in a concentration from 85% to 95% by weight and propylene in a concentration from 5% to 15% by weight, and - dimethyl ether in a concentration from 71% to 85% by weight and propane in a concentration from 15% to 29% by weight as a replacement or alternative refrigerant for R134a and/or for other refrigerants which are replacements or alternatives to R134a containing HFC (hydrofluorocarbons), HFO (hydrofluoro olefins) and HFE (hydrofluoro ethers).