Mixed Refrigerant for Automotive AC with Low GWP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigerants like HFC-134a have high Global Warming Potential (GWP) values, leading to environmental concerns and regulatory restrictions, and existing alternatives face issues such as high system pressure, flammability, low energy efficiency, and incompatibility with existing systems in automotive air conditioners.
Innovation Solution
A mixed refrigerant composition comprising HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), and HFE-143a, with specific mass percentage ratios, which has a GWP value less than 150, is proposed, allowing direct replacement of HFC-134a without system modifications, offering superior environmental performance, safety, and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If HFC-134a is used as refrigerant, then excellent cooling performance is achieved, but high GWP value (1430) causes environmental harm and regulatory restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite refrigerant mixture containing HFO-1234yf (50-90 wt%), HFO-1234ze(E) (5-30 wt%), and HFE-143a (5-18 wt%). This composite composition achieves GWP less than 150 while maintaining cooling capacity comparable to or exceeding HFC-134a, resolving the contradiction between environmental performance and cooling effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If CO2 is used as alternative refrigerant, then environmental performance is improved and non-combustible, but system pressure becomes high and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the refrigerant by selecting HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze(E) with specific boiling points and saturation pressures. This mixture achieves operating pressure comparable to HFC-134a (not excessively high like CO2) while maintaining low GWP, resolving the contradiction between environmental performance and system pressure.
3Use of energy by moving object
If HFC-152a is used as alternative refrigerant, then energy efficiency is high and price is low, but strong flammability requires secondary loop adding which increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses HFO-1234yf as an intermediary substance that provides the desired energy efficiency while having low flammability (A2L safety class). This eliminates the need for secondary loops or complex safety systems required by highly flammable HFC-152a, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and flammability safety.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If HFO-1234yf is used as alternative refrigerant, then low flammability and small system transformation are achieved, but energy efficiency is low and cooling capacity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges HFO-1234yf (low flammability) with HFO-1234ze(E) and HFE-143a to create a composite refrigerant. This combination maintains the low flammability advantage while achieving cooling capacity and energy efficiency comparable to or exceeding HFC-134a, resolving the contradiction between safety and performance.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If existing alternative refrigerant mixtures are used, then some environmental improvements are achieved, but high temperature glide and low efficiency prevent direct use in HFC-134a systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the composition parameters to achieve temperature glide less than 5K, which is compatible with existing HFC-134a system tolerances. The mixture ratio optimization ensures that the refrigerant can be directly filled into existing systems without modification, resolving the contradiction between environmental performance and system compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a mixed refrigerant having a GWP value less than 150. The mixed refrigerant consists of 2,3,3,3-tetra-fluoropropene (HFO-1234yf), Trans-1,3,3,3-tetra-fluoropropene (HFO-1234ze(E)) and trifluoromehyl ether(CH3OCH3,HFE-143a), and the mass percent thereof is: HFO-1234yf: 52%-90%; HFO-1234ze(E): 5%-30%; HFE-143a: 5-18%. The mixed refrigerant t does not destroy atmosphere ozonosphere, the greenhouse effect value is very low, and the environmental protection performance is excellent; the thermal performance is equivalent to HFC-134a. It can be directly used in the system originally using the existing HFC-134a without changing any details to achieve the filling replacement, enhancing energy efficiency ratio and reducing filling capacity. It has the advantage of low replacement cost, resource economization. It can be used as a long substitute for HFC-134a in the automotive air conditioner.