Methods of replacing refrigerant

• US 7,605,117 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Singh, Rajiv R., Pham, Hang T., Nalewajek, David, Thomas, Raymond H., Wilson, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Webb; Gregory E
• Application Number:
  US11/109,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 510/408, 510/412, 510/415, 252/67
• US Class Current: 510/408
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2207/04 Aerosol, e.g. polyurethane foam spray
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/144 containing carbon, halogen and hydrogen only
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/126 Unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/22 All components of a mixture being fluoro compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/30 for aerosols aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/045 containing only fluorine as halogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 171/008 Lubricant compositions compatible with refrigerants
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/042 Epoxides
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/101 Containing Hydrofluorocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/5063 Halogenated hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms, e.g. fluoro alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/006 the refrigerant containing more than one component F25B9/004 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising tetrafluoropropene and pentafluoropropene and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, blowing agent compositions, foamable compositions, foams, sterilant compositions, sprayable compositions, and systems and methods using same.

Claims

1. A method of replacing an existing refrigerant contained in a refrigerant system comprising removing at least a portion of said existing refrigerant from said system and replacing at least a portion of said existing refrigerant by introducing into said system a refrigerant composition comprising an azeotrope-like composition comprising effective amounts of HFO-1234yf and HFO-1225yez.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said existing refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of HFC-134a, R-12, R-500, HFC-152a, and HFC-22 and combinations of these.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said existing refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of HFC-134a, HFC-143a, HFC-125, HFC-32 and combinations of these.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said existing refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of HFC-143a, HFC-125, HFC-32 and combinations of these.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said existing refrigerant system is selected from the group consisting of automotive air conditioning systems, residential air conditioning systems, commercial air conditioning systems, residential refrigerator systems, residential freezer systems, commercial refrigerator systems, commercial freezer systems, chiller air conditioning systems, chiller refrigeration systems, heat pump systems, and combinations of two or more of these.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant introduced into said system has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of not greater than about 1000.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 50 to less than 100 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from greater than zero to about 50 weight percent of HFO-1225yeZ.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 65 to less than 100 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from greater than zero to about 35 weight percent of HFO-1225yeZ.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 85 to less than 100 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from greater than zero to about 15 weight percent of HFO-1225yeZ.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 93 to less than 100 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from greater than zero to about 7 weight percent of HFO-1225yeZ.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition has a boiling point of from about −

26°

C. to about −

30°

C. at a pressure of about 14.2 psia.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition has a boiling point of from about −

27°

C. to about −

30°

C. at a pressure of about 14.2 psia.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition has a boiling point of from about −

28°

C. to about −

29.5°

C. at a pressure of about 14.2 psia.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant introduced into said system further comprises at least one adjuvant selected from the group consisting of supplemental lubricants, compatibilizers, surfactants, supplemental flame suppressants, solubilizing agents, dispersing agents, cell stabilizers, cosmetics, polishing agents, medicaments, cleaners, fire retarding agents, colorants, chemical sterilants, stabilizers, polyols, polyol premix components and combinations of two or more of these.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said adjuvant is a stabilizer comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of C3-C5 dienes or derivatives thereof, phenols, aromatic epoxides, alkyl epoxides, and alkenyl epoxides.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said adjuvant is a lubricant comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, polyalkylene glycol, polyalkylene glycol ester, polyvinyl ethers, and polyol esters.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said adjuvant is a lubricant selected from the group consisting of polyalkylene glycol, polyalkylene glycol ester, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant system is selected from automotive air conditioning systems and transport refrigeration systems.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant introduced into said system is a drop-in replacement for said existing refrigerant.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said drop-in replacement has a refrigeration capacity of at least about 90% of said existing refrigerant.