Ternary Refrigerant Composition to Replace R404A with Lower GWP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigerants like R404A have high global warming potential (GWP) and flammability, necessitating the development of alternatives with similar non-flammability, refrigerating capacity, and coefficient of performance (COP) to R404A but with lower GWP.
Innovation Solution
A composition of difluoromethane (R32), pentafluoroethane (R125), and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) in specific mixing ratios, falling within a ternary composition diagram defined by points A, F, and G, ensuring non-flammability, refrigerating capacity, and reduced GWP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If R404A is used as a refrigerant, then refrigerating capacity and non-flammability are achieved, but global warming potential becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the refrigerant mixture by specifying precise weight percentage ranges of R32 (30-40%), R125 (10-20%), and R134a (50-65%), thereby achieving lower GWP while maintaining refrigerating capacity and non-flammability properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite refrigerant composition by combining three different fluorinated hydrocarbons (R32, R125, and R134a) in specific proportions, where each component contributes different properties that collectively achieve the desired balance of low GWP, adequate refrigerating capacity, and non-flammability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative refrigerants with lower GWP are developed, then environmental friendliness improves, but non-flammability and refrigerating capacity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the compositional parameters within specific ranges to ensure the mixture remains non-flammable while achieving lower GWP, demonstrating that parameter optimization can simultaneously satisfy multiple conflicting requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent assigns specific functional roles to different components in the mixture: R32 provides refrigerating capacity, R125 and R134a contribute to non-flammability and low GWP, with each component optimized for its specific contribution to the overall system performance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative refrigerants with lower GWP are developed, then environmental friendliness improves, but coefficient of performance may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes compositional parameters to achieve a balance between low GWP and high COP, demonstrating that proper parameter selection can prevent performance degradation when transitioning to environmentally friendly refrigerants
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention provides, as alternative refrigerants for R404A, a refrigerant and refrigerant composition that have, for example, a nonflammability similar to that of R404A, a refrigerating capacity that can replace that of R404A, a ratio of refrigerating capacity to power consumed in a refrigeration cycle (coefficient of performance (COP)) that is equal or superior to that of R404A, and a lower GWP than that of R404A. More specifically, this invention provides a composition comprising a mixture containing fluorinated hydrocarbons, the composition ratio of the fluorinated hydrocarbons contained in the mixture falling within a triangle having the following three points as vertices in a ternary composition diagram in which the sum of the concentrations of difluoromethane (R32), pentafluoroethane (R125), and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) is 100 wt%: point A (R32/R125/R134a = 37.3/17.0/45.7 wt%), point F (R32/R125/R134a = 30.7/10.9/58.4 wt%), and point G (R32/R125/R134a = 29.4/14.1/56.5 wt%).