Ternary Refrigerant Composition for Low-GWP Heat Cycle Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current working fluids for heat cycles, such as R410A, have high global warming potential and limited durability, and existing alternatives like HFO-1234yf lack sufficient refrigerating capacity and coefficient of performance for conventional air-conditioning applications.

Innovation Solution

A working fluid composition comprising HFO-1123, HFO-1234yf, and HFC-32 in specific proportions, exceeding 90% mass% and with HFO-1123 between 10% and 70% mass%, HFO-1234yf up to 50% mass%, and HFC-32 between 30% and 75% mass%, is used to achieve balanced cycle performance and low global warming potential.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If HFO-1234yf is used as a working fluid, then global warming potential is reduced, but refrigerating capacity and coefficient of performance become insufficient for conventional air-conditioning applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglobal warming potentialVSAvoidrefrigerating capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines HFO-1234yf with HFO-1123 and HFC-32 in specific proportions to create a mixed working fluid. This merging allows the composition to benefit from the low GWP of HFO-1234yf while compensating for its insufficient refrigerating capacity through the contributions of other components, achieving a balance between environmental friendliness and performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite working fluid system consisting of multiple components (HFO-1234yf, HFO-1123, HFC-32) in optimized ratios. This composite approach enables the system to exhibit properties that are superior to individual components, specifically achieving both low global warming potential and sufficient refrigerating capacity for conventional air-conditioning applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If HFO-1123 is used to improve cycle performance, then self-decomposition occurs at high temperature or with ignition source under high pressure, requiring special suppression measures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle performanceVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses HFO-1234yf and HFC-32 as intermediary substances that moderate the self-decomposition tendency of HFO-1123. By incorporating these components in specific proportions, the mixed working fluid achieves good cycle performance while the intermediaries suppress the harmful self-decomposition reaction, eliminating the need for special suppression measures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the compositional parameters of the working fluid by creating a specific mixture ratio of HFO-1123, HFO-1234yf, and HFC-32. This parameter optimization allows the system to maintain the high cycle performance benefits of HFO-1123 while reducing its self-decomposition issues through the buffering effect of other components in the mixture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If R410A is used for common air-conditioning apparatus, then refrigerating capacity is high, but global warming potential becomes excessively high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerating capacityVSAvoidglobal warming potential
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the working fluid by replacing R410A (HFC-32 and HFC-125) with a new mixture of HFO-1234yf, HFO-1123, and HFC-32. This parameter change significantly reduces the global warming potential while maintaining sufficient refrigerating capacity for conventional air-conditioning applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adopts HFO-1234yf, which has inherently low GWP and shorter atmospheric lifetime, as a key component to replace the high-GWP HFCs in R410A. This substitution achieves environmental benefits by using substances that decompose more quickly and have lesser impact on global warming, while maintaining operational performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3101081B1Working fluid for heat cycle, composition for heat cycle system, and heat cycle system
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 AGC INC
  • EP3101081B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3101081B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3101081B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

To provide a working fluid for heat cycle having a low global warming potential and having high durability, which can replace R410A, a composition for a heat cycle system comprising it, and a heat cycle system employing the composition. A working fluid for heat cycle, which contains trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and difluoromethane, wherein the proportion of the total amount of trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and difluoromethane based on the entire amount of the working fluid is higher than 90 mass% and at most 100 mass%, and based on the total amount of trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and difluoromethane, the proportion of trifluoroethylene is at least 10 mass% and less than 70 mass%, the proportion of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is at most 50 mass%, and the proportion of difluoromethane is higher than 30 mass% and at most 75 mass%.