Five-Component Refrigerant Composition for Low-GWP R404A Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current refrigerants like R410A and R404A have high global warming potential (GWP) and are flammable, posing environmental and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerant composition comprising CO2, difluoromethane (R32), pentafluoroethane (R125), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1234yf), and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) is developed, with specific mass percentage ratios to achieve a low GWP and non-flammability, while maintaining refrigerating capacity equivalent to R410A.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If R410A or R404A is used as refrigerant, then refrigerating capacity is maintained, but global warming potential increases and flammability risk occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoidrefrigerating capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite refrigerant formulation by combining five different refrigerant components (CO2, R32, R125, R1234yf, and R134a) in specific proportions. This composite approach allows the mixture to achieve low GWP (1500 or less) and non-flammability while maintaining refrigerating capacity equivalent to R410A, resolving the contradiction between environmental harm and performance reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the compositional parameters of the refrigerant mixture by precisely controlling the mass percentages of each component (CO2: 2.8-4.2%, R32: 45-60%, R125: 20-40%, R1234yf: 5-15%, R134a: 5-15%). This parameter optimization enables the refrigerant to simultaneously achieve low GWP, non-flammability, and adequate refrigerating capacity, resolving the contradiction between environmental safety and functional performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If R404A is used as refrigerant, then refrigerating capacity is sufficient, but global warming potential becomes extremely high (equivalent to R22)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerating capacityVSAvoidglobal warming potential

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces R404A with a composite refrigerant mixture containing five components in optimized proportions. This composite formulation achieves GWP of 1500 or less (compared to R404A's GWP of 3922) while maintaining sufficient refrigerating capacity, effectively resolving the contradiction between performance reliability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the compositional parameters by limiting CO2 to 2.8-4.2% and controlling the proportions of R32, R125, R1234yf, and R134a within specific ranges. This precise parameter control enables the refrigerant to achieve dramatically lower GWP while preserving refrigerating capacity, resolving the contradiction between environmental safety and functional performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If flammable refrigerants are used, then refrigerating capacity can be optimized, but safety risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerating capacityVSAvoidflammability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a non-flammable composite refrigerant by combining five components where CO2 (non-flammable) and R125 (non-flammable) serve as safety anchors, while R32, R1234yf, and R134a contribute to refrigerating capacity. The specific composition ratios ensure the mixture remains non-flammable while maintaining productivity equivalent to R410A, resolving the contradiction between performance and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent controls the compositional parameters to ensure non-flammability by limiting the concentration of highly flammable components (R32: 45-60%, R1234yf: 5-15%) and incorporating sufficient non-flammable components (CO2: 2.8-4.2%, R125: 20-40%). This parameter optimization achieves both safety and productivity, resolving the contradiction between refrigerating capacity and flammability risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11773307B2Refrigerant-containing composition, use thereof, refrigerating method using same, and refrigerator comprising same

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure addresses the problem of providing a refrigerant composition that has a low GWP and a refrigerating capacity equivalent to that of R404A, which is currently widely used. As a solution to the problem, the present disclosure provides a composition containing carbon dioxide and a mixture of fluorinated hydrocarbons, the mixture containing difluoromethane (R32), pentafluoroethane (R125), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1234yf), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a), and carbon dioxide (CO2) in specific concentrations.