Refrigerant Composition Balancing Low GWP and Non-Flammability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current refrigerant compositions struggle to achieve a balance of low global warming potential (GWP), non-flammability, and high refrigerating capacity (Cap) or coefficient of performance (COP) equivalent to traditional refrigerants like R-134a, R-410A, R-123, and R-404A, while also addressing flammability concerns.

Innovation Solution

A specific refrigerant composition containing hexafluoropropylene (FO-1216) combined with hydrofluoroolefins such as HFO-1234ze and HFO-1243zf, optionally with hydrofluoroethers like HFE-227me, which maintains non-flammability and achieves GWP and performance comparable to or exceeding traditional refrigerants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional refrigerants like R-134a, R-410A, R-123, or R-404A are used to achieve high Cap and COP, then refrigerating capacity and performance are maintained, but GWP increases and flammability concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerating capacity and COPVSAvoidGWP and flammability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite mixture of HFO-1234ze(E), FO-1216, and optionally HFC-134a that combines the advantages of different refrigerants. The mixture maintains Cap and COP equivalent to or higher than traditional refrigerants while achieving GWP less than 150 and non-flammable or mildly flammable properties, resolving the contradiction between performance and environmental/safety concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3660122B1Refrigerant composition

Publication Date: 2023.10.18 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

Figure 1

AI summary

Provided is a refrigerant composition that has a low GWP; is non-flammable or mildly flammable; and has a refrigerating capacity (Cap) and/or coefficient of performance (COP) equivalent to or higher than those of traditional refrigerants, such as R-134a, R-410A, R-123, or R-404A, when used as an alternative refrigerant for these traditional refrigerants. Specifically, provided is a refrigerant composition containing FO-1216 and a hydrofluoroolefin, wherein the hydrofluoroolefin is at least one member of HFO-1234ze and HFO-1243zf.