Ternary Refrigerant Composition to Reduce GWP and Ozone Depletion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heat transfer fluids used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, such as R-404A and R-407C, have high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and ozone depletion potential, and existing alternatives like carbon dioxide face challenges with high pressure requirements, limiting their effectiveness and safety.
Innovation Solution
Ternary compositions of 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1-difluoroethane, and difluoromethane are used as heat transfer fluids in compression-type refrigeration systems, particularly in countercurrent or crossed-current modes, offering zero ozone depletion potential and lower GWP, along with improved performance metrics like higher critical temperature, lower pressures, and increased volumetric capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If HFC-134a is used as refrigerant to replace CFC-12, then ozone depletion potential is reduced, but global warming potential increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using HFO-1234yf and HFC-134e as refrigerants instead of conventional HFC-134a. These alternative substances have fundamentally different molecular structures and thermodynamic properties, achieving low GWP (below 150) while maintaining acceptable ozone safety, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing ozone depletion and minimizing global warming impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite refrigerant formulations, specifically mentioning R-452B and R-454E compositions that combine multiple fluorinated hydrocarbons in specific ratios. These composite formulations leverage the complementary properties of individual components to achieve both low environmental impact and effective refrigeration performance, simultaneously addressing both harmful factors.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is used as refrigerant to achieve low GWP, then global warming potential is reduced, but system pressure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refrigerant substance parameters by selecting HFO-1234yf-based formulations with intermediate thermodynamic properties between CO2 and conventional HFCs. These substances operate at moderate pressures that are significantly lower than CO2 systems while maintaining low GWP, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving low environmental impact and avoiding excessive system pressure.
3Productivity
If existing heat transfer fluids like R-404A and R-407C are used, then refrigeration performance is maintained, but environmental harm increases due to high GWP and ODP
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing conventional HFC-based refrigerants with HFO-1234yf and HFC-134e formulations. These new substances maintain the necessary thermodynamic properties for effective heat transfer and refrigeration cycles while having dramatically reduced environmental impact, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining performance and reducing environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts refrigerant formulations with inherently low environmental persistence and impact. The HFO-1234yf-based compositions are designed to be environmentally benign with short atmospheric lifetimes and negligible ozone depletion potential, effectively treating the refrigerant as a sustainable, low-impact working fluid that can be used without long-term environmental burden.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These compositions provide enhanced performance with higher coefficients of performance and volumetric capacity, reduced pipeline diameters, and lower compression ratios, enabling efficient heat transfer while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
A heat exchanger is a device enabling thermal energy to be transferred from one fluid to another, without mixing them. The thermal flux passes through the exchange surface that separates the fluids.
Implementation Method 2
In compression systems, heat exchange between the refrigerant and the heat sources is effected via heat-transfer fluids. These heat-transfer fluids are in the gaseous state (the air in air conditioning and direct-expansion refrigeration), liquid (the water in domestic heat pumps, glycol solution) or two-phase.
Data Source
AI summary
A heat transfer method using ternary compositions containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1-difluoroethane and difluoromethane, said compositions being especially interesting as a heat transfer fluid in compression refrigeration systems comprising exchangers operation in counterflow mode or in split flow mode with counterflow tendency. The use of a ternary composition of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1-difluoroethane and difluoromethane as heat transfer fluid in compression-type refrigeration systems with exchangers operating in countercurrent mode or in crossed-current mode with countercurrent tendency.