Refrigerant Composition to Balance Low GWP and Flammability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerants like HFC-134a and HFO-1234ze(E) have high global warming potential (GWP) and flammability, and their compositions result in increased temperature glide and discharge temperatures, necessitating a reduction in environmental impact and flammability while maintaining thermal efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A working medium comprising (E)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, (Z) 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and 1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, with specific mass ratios, is used to reduce GWP, flammability, and temperature glide, along with a thermal cycle device and method that includes a compressor, condenser, pressure reducing device, and evaporator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If HFC-134a is used as a refrigerant, then flammability is reduced (non-flammable), but global warming potential increases (GWP = 1300)

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflammabilityVSAvoidglobal warming potential

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing HFC-134a with HFO-1234ze(E) which has fundamentally different molecular structure and properties, achieving low GWP (<1) while maintaining acceptable flammability through compositional modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite refrigerant formulation by combining HFO-1234ze(E) with HFC-134a in specific ratios (44-64% HFO-1234ze(E) and 36-56% HFC-134a), achieving a balance between low GWP and reduced flammability through material composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If HFO-1234ze(E) content is increased to reduce GWP, then environmental impact is reduced, but flammability increases (2L category)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoidflammability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of HFO-1234ze(E) within the range of 44-64% by weight, achieving the lowest possible GWP while limiting flammability increase through precise compositional control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If HFO-1234ze(E) content is increased to reduce GWP, then environmental impact is reduced, but discharge temperature increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoiddischarge temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent balances the HFO-1234ze(E) content within 44-64% range to achieve low GWP while managing discharge temperature through compositional optimization, and further controls it by adjusting the specific heat ratio to 1.104 or less

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-generated harmful factors

If HFO-1234ze(E) content is increased to reduce GWP, then environmental impact is reduced, but temperature glide increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoidtemperature glide

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the dew point temperature and boiling point temperature difference to 4.00°C or less through compositional optimization, managing temperature glide while achieving low GWP by balancing HFO-1234ze(E) content at 44-64%

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250346792A1Working medium, composition for thermal cycle, thermal cycle device and thermal cycle method

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 AGC INC

AI summary

A working medium contains (E)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, (Z) 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, wherein, with respect to a total content of the (E)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, the (Z) 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and the 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, a content of the 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane is 14.5% by mass or less, a content of the (Z) 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is 10.0% by mass or less, and a content of the (E)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is 75.5% by mass or more.