System and method for retrofitting a refrigeration system from HCFC to HFC refrigerant
First Claim
1. A method for retrofitting a refrigeration system from an HCFC refrigerant compatible with a mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant to an HFC refrigerant compatible with a polyol ester lubricant, comprising:
- evacuating the HCFC from the refrigeration system, leaving at least a portion of the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant; and
charging the refrigeration system with a composition comprising the HFC refrigerant mixed with a polyol ester lubricant,thereby resulting in a refrigeration system charged with the HFC and a mixed lubricant comprising both the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant and the polyol ester lubricant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for retrofitting a refrigeration system containing an HCFC refrigerant and a compatible lubricant, with an HFC refrigerant, comprising providing a transport container containing a mixture of a miscible lubricant and the HFC refrigerant, removing the HCFC refrigerant from the refrigeration system while maintaining at least a portion of a lubricant immiscible with the HFC refrigerant, and charging the refrigeration system with the mixture. The polyol ester lubricant may be present in a range exceeding about 5-15% by weight, e.g., 8%.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for retrofitting a refrigeration system from an HCFC refrigerant compatible with a mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant to an HFC refrigerant compatible with a polyol ester lubricant, comprising:
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evacuating the HCFC from the refrigeration system, leaving at least a portion of the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant; and charging the refrigeration system with a composition comprising the HFC refrigerant mixed with a polyol ester lubricant, thereby resulting in a refrigeration system charged with the HFC and a mixed lubricant comprising both the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant and the polyol ester lubricant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for retrofitting an HCFC refrigeration system having a mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant, which persists as a residual after removal of the HCFC from the refrigeration system by evacuation, to an HFC refrigerant which is not compatible with the HFC refrigerant as a sole lubricant, comprising:
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providing a container adapted for common carrier transport, containing a composition comprising an HFC refrigerant mixed with a compatible polyol ester lubricant; evacuating the HCFC from the refrigeration system, leaving at least a portion of the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant within the refrigeration system; and charging the refrigeration system with the composition from the container, comprising the HFC refrigerant mixed with the compatible polyol ester lubricant, to thereby provide the refrigeration system charged with the HFC and a combination of the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant and the HFC refrigerant. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for retrofitting a refrigeration system from an HCFC refrigerant compatible with a mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant to 407C premixed with a compatible polyol ester lubricant in an amount of between 5%-20% by weight of the refrigerant, comprising:
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providing a mixture of the 407C premixed with the compatible polyol ester lubricant to the refrigeration system in a U.S. Department of Transportation compliant transport container having a capacity of 50 pounds or lower; evacuating the HCFC from the refrigeration system through a charge-discharge port of the refrigeration system, without draining the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant, and leaving at least a portion of the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant in the refrigeration system; and charging the refrigeration system with the mixture from the container of the 407C premixed with the compatible polyol ester lubricant, thereby resulting in the refrigeration system charged with the 407C and a mixed lubricant comprising both the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant and the compatible polyol ester lubricant, wherein the mixed lubricant is present in the refrigeration system in an amount of 16% to 32% by weight of the refrigerant charge, and the compatible polyol ester lubricant is present in the refrigeration system an amount of 25% to 50% by weight of the mixed lubricant.
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Specification