Refrigerant composition and heat pump including the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current refrigerants, such as 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, have a low coefficient of performance (COP) and global warming potential, necessitating the development of a refrigerant composition that balances high performance with environmental friendliness and reduced global warming.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerant composition comprising trifluoroiodomethane (R-131I), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), and difluoromethane (R-32), with specific weight ratios and properties that enhance thermal stability, refrigeration capacity, and environmental friendliness, while avoiding chlorine and minimizing global warming potential.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf) is used as a refrigerant, then global warming potential is reduced and ozone layer damage is prevented, but coefficient of performance decreases and additional heat pump is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoidcoefficient of performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite refrigerant composition comprising multiple components (R-131I, R-152a, and R-32) in specific proportions. This composite approach combines the environmental benefits of HFO-based refrigerants with the high COP characteristics of HFC-based refrigerants, achieving both low GWP and high cooling performance without requiring additional heat pump equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the refrigerant composition parameters by selecting specific weight ratios of R-131I (20-60%), R-152a (30-75%), and R-32 (5-10%). By optimizing these compositional parameters, the refrigerant achieves a balance between environmental friendliness (low GWP) and thermodynamic performance (high COP), resolving the contradiction between reduced harmful effects and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If refrigerants containing chlorine (Cl) are used, then cooling performance is maintained, but ozone layer damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidozone layer damage

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates chlorine-containing compounds from the refrigerant composition. The selected components (R-131I, R-152a, and R-32) are all chlorine-free hydrofluorocarbon and hydrofluoroolefin-based refrigerants, thereby preventing ozone layer damage while maintaining cooling performance through optimized compositional ratios and thermodynamic properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20240392177A1Refrigerant composition and heat pump including the same

Publication Date: 2024.11.28 SK INNOVATION CO LTD

AI summary

A refrigerant composition according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes trifluoroiodomethane (R-131I), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) and difluoromethane (R-32), wherein a content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-131I) may be 20 to 60 wt. % based on a total weight of the refrigerant composition. Accordingly, environmental pollution caused by the refrigerant composition may be suppressed, and the cooling performance of the refrigerant composition may be improved.