Near-Azeotropic Mixed Refrigerant for HFC-134a Drop-In Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current alternatives to HFC-134a, such as CO2, HFC-152a, and HFO-1234yf, face issues like high system pressure, flammability, low energy efficiency, and limited cooling capacity, making them unsuitable as direct replacements in industrial and automotive air conditioning systems without requiring significant system redesign or additional safety measures.
Innovation Solution
A near-azeotropic mixed refrigerant composition comprising 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf), trifluoromethyl ether (HFE-143a), and additional components like fluoroethane, difluoromethane, dimethyl ether, propane, or cyclopropane, optimized in specific mass percentages to achieve low GWP, low flammability, and improved energy efficiency, allowing direct replacement in HFC-134a systems without equipment changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If CO2 is used as an alternative to HFC-134a, then environmental performance is improved, but system pressure increases and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite refrigerant formulation by combining HFO-1234yf (70-98%), HFE-143a (1-15%), and a third component (1-15%) to create a mixed refrigerant that achieves both environmental performance and acceptable system pressure characteristics, avoiding the extreme pressures of pure CO2 systems
2Use of energy by moving object
If HFC-152a is used as an alternative to HFC-134a, then energy efficiency is improved, but flammability increases requiring secondary loop systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines HFO-1234yf (low flammability) with HFE-143a and third components to create a mixed refrigerant that maintains low flammability while achieving good energy efficiency, eliminating the need for secondary loop safety systems required by pure HFC-152a
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the composition ratios of individual components to achieve local optimization of properties - HFO-1234yf provides low flammability and low GWP, while HFE-143a and third components contribute to energy efficiency and thermodynamic performance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If HFO-1234yf is used as an alternative to HFC-134a, then flammability is reduced, but energy efficiency and cooling capacity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines HFO-1234yf with HFE-143a and third components in specific ratios to compensate for the low energy efficiency of pure HFO-1234yf, achieving overall high energy efficiency while maintaining low flammability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermodynamic parameters of the refrigerant system by using a mixed composition that achieves optimal evaporating and condensing pressures, temperature glide control, and volumetric cooling capacity, improving energy efficiency compared to pure HFO-1234yf
4Object-affected harmful factors
If mixed refrigerants are used as alternatives to HFC-134a, then environmental performance is improved, but system compatibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the temperature glide of the mixed refrigerant to remain less than 10°C (preferably less than 5°C), ensuring near-azeotropic behavior that maintains system compatibility with existing HFC-134a equipment and simplifies operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the composition ratios to achieve local optimization of system compatibility - the mixed refrigerant maintains pressure-temperature characteristics and heat transfer properties similar to HFC-134a, ensuring ease of operation and direct replacement capability
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an environmentally friendly near-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, consisting essentially of HFO-1234 yf, HFE-143a and a third component, with the mass percentage of each component being: 70%-98% of HFO-1234yf, 1%-15% of HFE-143a and 1%-15% of the third component. The refrigerant of the present invention is environmentally friendly, excellent in thermodynamic properties, can directly realize drop-in substitution in an original system using HFC-134a without changing any parts, and can be used as a long term alternative to HFC-134a.