Heat Cycle Working Medium Composition for Low-GWP Combustibility Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current working mediums for heat cycles, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), pose risks to the ozone layer and contribute to global warming, while alternatives like hydrochlorofluorolefins (HCFOs) have insufficient cycle performance and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A working medium comprising 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HCFO-1224yd) with a high halogen proportion, easily decomposed by OH radicals, combined with hydrocarbons and HFCs or hydrofluoroolefins, to suppress combustibility and enhance cycle performance and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If HFCs are used as working medium, then ozone layer protection is improved, but global warming potential increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing HCFO compounds with specific molecular structures (containing carbon-carbon double bonds and halogen atoms) to simultaneously reduce both ozone layer influence and global warming potential, achieving GWP less than 150 while maintaining heat cycle performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite working medium formulations combining HCFO-1224yd with other refrigerants (such as HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf, or hydrocarbons) in specific proportions to balance environmental performance with thermodynamic properties and safety requirements
2Reliability
If HCFO-1233zd(E) is used as working medium, then combustibility is suppressed and ozone layer influence is reduced, but cycle performance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular structure parameters by selecting HCFO-1224yd with specific halogen content and double bond configuration, achieving better cycle performance than HCFO-1233zd(E) while maintaining suppressed combustibility and low GWP
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the insufficient cycle performance of HCFO-1233zd(E) and recovers/improves upon it by using HCFO-1224yd which provides enhanced heat cycle efficiency and capacity while maintaining the desired safety and environmental properties
3Object-generated harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is used as coolant, then global warming potential is reduced, but equipment pressure becomes extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter by using HCFO-1224yd which operates at moderate pressures comparable to conventional refrigerants, avoiding the extremely high pressures of carbon dioxide systems while achieving low GWP through its chemical composition
4Object-generated harmful factors
If HFC-152a is used as coolant, then global warming potential is reduced, but safety is compromised due to inflammability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the safety parameter by using HCFO-1224yd with high halogen content (chlorine and fluorine atoms) which suppresses combustibility due to the halogen's ability to inhibit flame propagation, achieving both low GWP and enhanced safety
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
The proposed medium reduces ozone layer impact and global warming potential while improving heat cycle efficiency and capacity, leading to reduced power consumption and system downsizing.
Implementation Method 1
HCFO-1224yd having a carbon-carbon double bond which is easily decomposed by OH radicals in the air
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a working medium for heat cycle, of which combustibility is suppressed, which has less influence over the ozone layer, which has less influence over global warming and which provides a heat cycle system excellent in the cycle performance (efficiency and capacity), and a heat cycle system, of which the safety is secured, and which is excellent in the cycle performance (efficiency and capacity).A working medium for heat cycle comprising 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is employed for a heat cycle system (such as a Rankine cycle system, a heat pump cycle system, a refrigerating cycle system 10 or a heat transport system).