Methods of replacing refrigerant

• US 7,622,435 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, Raymond H., Singh, Rajiv R., Pham, Hang T., Wilson, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Webb; Gregory E
• Application Number:
  US11/109,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 510/408, 510/412
• US Class Current: 510/408
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2201/03 Extrusion of the foamable blend
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/144 Perhalogenated saturated hydrocarbons, e.g. F3C-CF3
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/162 Halogenated unsaturated hydrocarbons, e.g. H2C=CF2
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/182 of physical blowing agents, e.g. acetone and butane
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2205/052 Closed cells, i.e. more than 50% of the pores are closed
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2207/04 Aerosol, e.g. polyurethane foam spray
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/22 Thermoplastic resins
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/24 Thermosetting resins
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2323/06 Polyethene
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2323/12 Polypropene
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2325/06 Polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2361/04 Condensation polymers of aldehydes or ketones with phenols only
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2367/02 Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds; C08J2367/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2375/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/146 only fluorine as halogen atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/147 containing carbon and halogen atoms only
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/122 Halogenated hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/126 Unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons
• 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

Abstract

Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising tetrafluoropropene and trifluoroiodomethane and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, and sprayable compositions, including aerosol propellants.

Claims

1. A method for replacing an existing refrigerant contained in a refrigeration system comprising removing at least a portion of said existing refrigerant from said refrigeration system and introducing into said refrigeration system a replacement refrigerant composition comprising an azeotrope-like composition comprising effective amounts of HFO-1234yf and CF₃I.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said existing refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of HFC-134a, R-12, HFC-143a, HFC-125, HFC-32, 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 refrigerant system comprises at least a first compressor having a first displacement and further comprising the step of removing said first compressor from the system and inserting into said system at least a second compressor having a larger displacement than said first compressor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said 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.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the capacity of said refrigerant system after said introducing step is at least about 90% of the system capacity prior to said removing step.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the mass flow of the refrigeration system after said introducing step is at least about 90% of the mass flow of the refrigeration system prior to said removing step.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said replacement refrigerant has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of not greater than about 1000.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 25 to less than 100 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from greater than zero to about 75 weight percent of CF₃I.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 30 to about 85 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from about 15 to about 70 weight percent of CF₃I.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 35 to about 70 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from about 30 to about 65 weight percent of CF₃I.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 45 to about 70 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from about 30 to about 55 weight percent of CF₃I.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 50 to about 60 weight percent HFO-1234yf and from about 40 to about 50 weight percent of CF3I.

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

28°

C. to about −

31°

C. at a pressure of about 14.26 psia.

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

29°

C. to about −

31°

C. at a pressure of about 14.26 psia.

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

30°

C. to about −

31°

C. at a pressure of about 14.26 psia.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said replacement refrigerant further comprises at least one lubricant.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said lubricant is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, silicone oil, polyalkyl benzenes (PABs), polyol esters (POEs), polyalkylene glycols (PAGs), polyalkylene glycol esters (PAG esters), polyvinyl ethers (PVEs), poly(alpha-olefins) (PAOs), and combinations of these.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said replacement refrigerant comprises at least about 50% by weight of said azeotrope-like composition.