Fluoroalkene Compatibilizer Composition for Refrigerant Lubricant Solubility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fluorocarbon-based refrigerants, such as CFCs and HFCs, pose environmental concerns due to ozone depletion and high global warming potentials, and their non-chlorine substitutes often lack lubricant compatibility, flammability, and toxicity issues, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns in refrigeration and heat transfer systems.

Innovation Solution

The use of 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-chloropropene (HFCO-1233zd) as a compatibilizer, which is non-flammable, has low toxicity, and exhibits low ozone depletion and global warming potentials, enhancing lubricant solubility and system efficiency without requiring major engineering changes to conventional vapor compression technology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If non-chlorine-containing refrigerants (HFCs) are used to replace CFCs, then ozone depletion potential is reduced, but lubricant compatibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveozone depletion potentialVSAvoidlubricant compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of fluorocarbon refrigerants by introducing specific molecular configurations (such as HFO-1234yf, HFO-1225ye, and their blends with HFC-134a) to change the physical and chemical parameters of the refrigerant-lubricant interaction, thereby improving solubility and compatibility while maintaining low ODP

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite refrigerant formulations by blending multiple fluorocarbon components (HFO-1234yf, HFO-1225ye, HFC-134a) in specific ratios to achieve synergistic effects that simultaneously provide low ozone depletion potential and improved lubricant compatibility that single components cannot achieve alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If HFC refrigerants are used to replace CFCs, then environmental safety is improved, but global warming potential increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental safetyVSAvoidglobal warming potential
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent selects fluorocarbon components with specific molecular weights and structures (HFO-1234yf with 6 carbons, HFO-1225ye with 5 carbons) that have inherently lower GWP values compared to traditional HFCs, while maintaining the necessary thermodynamic properties for refrigeration cycles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If fluorocarbon-based refrigerants are used, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but flammability and toxicity issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidflammability and toxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces fluorine atoms at specific positions in the carbon chain structure of the refrigerant molecules, creating localized regions with different chemical properties that enhance heat transfer efficiency while the overall molecular structure maintains non-flammability and low toxicity characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2338959B1Compositions containing fluorine substituted olefins
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

Use as a compatibilising agent of a composition comprising at least one fluoroalkene having the Formula I:          XCFzR3-7     (I) where X is a C2 to C5 unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, radical, each R is independently Cl, F, Br, I or H, and z is 1 to 3.