Refrigerant Composition with CF3I for Low-GWP R-410A Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a refrigerant that can replace R-410A in heat exchange systems, offering excellent heat transfer properties, chemical stability, non-flammability, lubricant miscibility, and low Global Warming Potential (GWP) without requiring significant modifications to existing systems, as R-410A has a high GWP and is not a drop-in replacement for R-22, leading to inefficiencies and environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerant composition comprising 48-51% difluoromethane (HFC-32), 9.5-11.5% pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), and 36.5-40.5% trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I), which maintains efficiency and capacity comparable to R-410A while being non-flammable and miscible with polyol ester lubricants across a wide temperature range, allowing for its use in air conditioning, refrigeration, and heat pump systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If R-410A is used as a replacement for R-22, then ozone depletion potential is reduced, but system redesign is required due to higher operating pressure and volumetric capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveozone depletion potentialVSAvoidsystem redesign requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the refrigerant composition parameters by blending HFC-32, HFC-125, and CF3I in specific proportions to achieve a refrigerant that maintains compatibility with existing R-22 systems while reducing ozone depletion potential, thereby avoiding system redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If R-410A is used to replace R-22, then refrigerant performance is improved, but lubricant compatibility issues arise at low temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant performanceVSAvoidlubricant compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite refrigerant formulation by combining HFC-32, HFC-125, and CF3I in specific ratios, where the synergistic interaction of components maintains both high-performance refrigeration capabilities and reliable lubricant compatibility across temperature ranges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a refrigerant replacement is sought with low GWP, then environmental impact is reduced, but achieving a mosaic of properties including heat transfer, stability, and non-flammability becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoiddifficulty in achieving property mosaic
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically adjusts the compositional parameters of the refrigerant blend, optimizing the proportions of HFC-32, HFC-125, and CF3I to simultaneously achieve low GWP while maintaining excellent heat transfer properties, chemical stability, and non-flammability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a composite refrigerant system combining three different compounds, where each component contributes specific properties that collectively satisfy the challenging requirement of low GWP alongside excellent thermodynamic performance and safety characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3365408B1Heat transfer compositions, methods and systems
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3365408B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3365408B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a refrigerant composition, including difluoromethane (HFC- 32), pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), and trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) for use in a heat exchange system, including air conditioning and refrigeration applications and in particular aspects to the use of such compositions as a replacement of the refrigerant R-410A for heating and cooling applications and to retrofitting heat exchange systems, including systems designed for use with R-410A.