Five-Component Refrigerant Blend for Non-Flammable R-22 Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

The refrigeration industry faces challenges in finding non-flammable, low global warming potential (GWP), low toxicity, and low ozone depletion potential refrigerant compositions that provide performance equivalent to phased-out refrigerants like R-22 and R-410A, while also meeting new environmental sustainability standards.

Innovation Solution

Compositions comprising difluoromethane, pentafluoroethane, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, and carbon dioxide are developed, which are non-flammable and offer performance matching that of R-22, R-410A, R-407A, R-407C, and R-407F, with reduced GWP, allowing for their use as environmentally sustainable alternatives in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If difluoromethane content is increased to improve refrigeration capacity, then performance matches R-22 and R-410A, but flammability risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigeration capacityVSAvoidflammability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses HFO-1234yf as an intermediary component that suppresses the flammability of HFC-32. By formulating HFO-1234yf at 70-80% of the mixture, it acts as a flammability inhibitor while still contributing to refrigeration performance, enabling the inclusion of 5-15% HFC-32 without exceeding safety thresholds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent carefully controls the concentration parameter of HFC-32 within the range of 5-15%, which is sufficient to enhance refrigeration capacity but low enough to maintain non-flammability when combined with the flammability-suppressing HFO-1234yf majority component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If new refrigerant compositions are developed to meet environmental standards, then GWP is reduced, but system compatibility and performance equivalence become challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoidsystem compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the refrigerant composition to be universally compatible with existing refrigeration systems. The blend of HFC-32, HFC-134a, and HFO-1234yf is formulated to work across different system types (hermetic, semi-hermetic, open compressors) and temperature ranges, maintaining performance equivalence to R-22 and R-410A while meeting environmental standards

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10836944B1Refrigerant mixtures comprising difluoromethane, pentafluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, tetrafluoropropene, and carbon dioxide and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2020.11.17 THE CHEMOURS CO FC LLC

AI summary

In accordance with the present invention refrigerant compositions are disclosed. The compositions comprise HFC-32, HFC-125, HFO-1234yf, HFC-134a, and CO2. The refrigerant compositions are useful in processes to produce cooling and heating, in methods for replacing refrigerant R-R-22, and in refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump systems. These inventive compositions are non-flammable and match cooling performance for R-22. The compositions as described herein have unexpected flammability properties.