HFO-1123 Working Medium Blends for Low-GWP Heat-Cycle Capacity
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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 hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) have insufficient cycle performance and combustibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A working medium comprising 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene (HFO-1123) with difluoromethane (HFC-32) and optional hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluoroolefins (HCFOs), or chlorofluoroolefins (CFOs) to enhance cycle performance, safety, and reduce global warming potential.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If HFCs (e.g., HFC-134a) are used as working medium, then ozone layer influence is reduced, but global warming potential increases and combustibility safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing HFO-1123 (1,1,2-trifluoroethylene) with specific molecular structure characteristics (carbon-carbon double bond) that fundamentally alter the environmental impact parameters, achieving low global warming potential while maintaining refrigeration performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite working medium formulation combining HFO-1123 with other fluorinated compounds (e.g., HFC-32, HFC-125) to achieve synergistic effects that simultaneously reduce global warming potential, maintain cycle performance, and suppress combustibility
2Object-generated harmful factors
If HFOs (e.g., HFO-1243zf, HFO-1234ze) are used as working medium, then global warming potential is reduced, but cycle performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular structure parameters of HFO compounds by selecting HFO-1123 with specific fluorine atom arrangement that enhances thermodynamic properties and cycle performance while maintaining low global warming potential
Solution Approach 2:
The patent formulates composite working mediums combining HFO-1123 with complementary fluorinated compounds to achieve synergistic enhancement of cycle performance (refrigeration capacity, coefficient of performance) while maintaining low environmental impact
3Object-generated harmful factors
If HFOs with low fluorine proportion are used, then global warming potential is reduced, but combustibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite working mediums where HFO-1123 is combined with fluorinated compounds having high fluorine content (e.g., HFC-32, HFC-125), achieving flame suppression through the high fluorine content components while maintaining the low global warming potential and good cycle performance contributed by HFO-1123
4Object-generated harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is used as working medium, then global warming potential is reduced, but equipment pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermodynamic parameters of the working medium by selecting HFO-1123 and its composites that operate at pressures comparable to conventional HFC systems, avoiding the extremely high pressure requirements of carbon dioxide systems while achieving similar or better environmental performance
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 offers improved cycle performance, safety, and reduced environmental impact by suppressing combustibility and minimizing ozone layer influence, allowing for system downsizing and efficient thermodynamic properties.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) having a carbon-carbon double bond which is easily decomposed by OH radicals in the air
Data Source
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Figure 3
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 (capacity), and a heat cycle system, of which the safety is secured, and which is excellent in the cycle performance (capacity). A working medium for heat cycle comprising 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene 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).