HFO-1123 Working Fluid Composition for Heat Cycle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current working fluids for heat cycles, such as HFCs and HFOs, pose challenges due to their impact on the ozone layer and global warming, and existing production processes result in impurities that affect cycle performance, necessitating the development of a fluid with reduced global warming potential and improved purity.

Innovation Solution

A working fluid composition containing HFO-1123 with a low content of difluoroethylene, combined with HFC-32 and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf), where the difluoroethylene content is less than 1.5 mass%, optimizing cycle performance and reducing impurity levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If HFCs are used as working fluids, then ozone layer protection is improved, but global warming potential increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveozone layer influenceVSAvoidglobal warming potential

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using HFO-1123 (trifluoroethylene) as the primary component instead of conventional HFCs, achieving both low ozone layer influence and low global warming potential through fundamental parameter change in the working fluid chemistry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite working fluid by combining HFO-1123 with specific amounts of difluoroethylene (less than 1.5 mass%) and other fluorinated compounds, achieving optimized environmental performance and cycle performance through material composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If crude HFO-1123 is used directly, then productivity is improved, but cycle performance deteriorates due to impurities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidcycle performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes specific compositional parameters (difluoroethylene content less than 1.5 mass%, HFO-1123 content of 85-99.5 mass%) that allow direct use of crude HFO-1123 while maintaining excellent cycle performance, eliminating the need for complex purification steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent accepts the presence of certain impurities (difluoroethylene) in the working fluid, treating them as tolerable rather than requiring complete removal, thereby simplifying the purification process and improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If difluoroethylene content is increased, then ease of manufacture is improved, but cycle performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurification simplicityVSAvoidcycle performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies and establishes the critical threshold parameter for difluoroethylene content (less than 1.5 mass%) that separates acceptable from unacceptable cycle performance, providing a clear manufacturing target that balances ease of manufacture with performance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2993212B1Working medium for heat cycle

Publication Date: 2019.08.28 AGC INC

Figure 1~2

AI summary

To provide a working fluid for heat cycle, which has less influence over the ozone layer and has less influence over global warming, and which has favorable cycle performance. A working fluid for heat cycle, which contains trifluoroethylene and difluoroethylene, in a proportion of the difluoroethylene of less than 1.5 mass% based on the working fluid.