Improving glide in refrigerant blends and/or azeotopic blends, alternatives to R123 refrigerant, and refrigerant compositions, methods, and systems thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant blends with large temperature glides are not suitable for use in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, and existing refrigerants like R123 are scheduled for phase-out due to regulatory reasons, necessitating the development of alternative compositions that match R123's properties and performance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant composition comprising a binary or ternary blend of refrigerants, including azeotropic or near-azeotropic blends, where one component is an azeotropic blend combined with a second refrigerant to improve capacity and reduce temperature glide, while considering properties like solubility, toxicity, and global warming potential, to serve as a suitable replacement for R123 in HVAC systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If zeotropic blends are used to replace R123, then capacity can be matched, but temperature glide increases making them unsuitable for shell-and-tube heat exchangers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple refrigerant components (R134a, R125, R143a) to create a composite refrigerant blend that achieves both desired capacity and reduced temperature glide. This composite approach allows optimization of both properties simultaneously rather than accepting the trade-off inherent in simple zeotropic blends
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies the composition ratios of individual refrigerant components to optimize the temperature glide characteristic while maintaining capacity. By adjusting parameters such as the proportion of R134a, R125, and R143a, the blend achieves minimal temperature glide suitable for shell-and-tube heat exchangers
2Reliability
If existing refrigerants like R123 continue to be used, then performance is maintained, but regulatory phase-out occurs reducing future availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops alternative refrigerant blends using commonly available refrigerants (R134a, R125, R143a) that can serve as temporary replacements for R123. These blends provide comparable performance while ensuring regulatory compliance, allowing systems to operate reliably during the transition period away from phased-out refrigerants
3Quantity of substance
If zeotropic blends with components far apart in normal boiling points are used, then capacity can be adjusted, but temperature glide increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects refrigerant components with specific local properties (normal boiling points, saturation pressures) that are optimized for the target application. By choosing components with appropriate individual characteristics and combining them in specific ratios, the blend achieves desired capacity while minimizing temperature glide through careful selection of local properties
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of using refrigerant compositions and systems thereof are described. In particular, methods of using refrigerant compositions and systems thereof, include refrigerant compositions including a two component blend. One of the components is a refrigerant blend that, when first combined, is considered an azeotropic blend, azeotrope, near azeotropic, or the like. This component is one component of the two components of the resulting refrigerant composition, which is combined with a second component being another refrigerant.