Compositions comprising tetrafluoropropene and carbon dioxide

• US 8,053,404 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Shankland, Ian, Singh, Rajiv R., Pham, Hang T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Webb; Gregory E
• Application Number:
  US12/558,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 252/67, 252/68, 510/408, 510/412
• US Class Current: 510/408
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/06 CO2, N2 or noble gases
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/162 Halogenated unsaturated hydrocarbons, e.g. H2C=CF2
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2205/052 Closed cells, i.e. more than 50% of the pores are closed
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/22 Thermoplastic 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 2367/02 Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds; C08J2367/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/122 Hydrogen, oxygen, CO2, nitrogen or noble gases
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/127 Mixtures of organic and inorganic blowing agents
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/146 only fluorine as halogen atoms
• 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: C11D 7/5063 Halogenated hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms, e.g. fluoro alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 Replacing of defective part

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions useful in a wide variety of applications, including heat transfer fluids which possess a highly desirable and unexpectedly superior combination of properties, and heat transfer systems and methods based on these fluids. The preferred heat transfer fluid comprises from about 1 to about 40 percent, on a weight basis, of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and from about 99 to about 60 percent, on a weight basis, of a compound having the Formula I XCF_zR_3-z (I), where X is a C₂ or a C₃ unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl radical, each R is independently Cl, F, Br, I or H, and z is 1 to 3. A preferred compound of Formula I is tetrafluoropropene, particularly 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene and/or 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene.

Claims

1. A heat transfer composition comprising from about 1 to about 40 percent by weight of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and from about 60 to about 99 percent by weight of one or more compounds of Formula I, XCF_zR_3-z (I), where X is a C₂ or a C₃ unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, radical, each R is independently Cl, F, Br, I or H, and z is 1 to 3.

2. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 wherein said one or more compounds of Formula I comprises 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze).

3. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 wherein said CO₂ is present in an amount of at least about 5 percent by weight and said trans-1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene is present in an amount not greater than about 95 percent by weight.

4. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 wherein said one or more compounds of Formula I comprises 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) and wherein said composition has a vapor pressure of at least about 30 psia at 35°

F.

5. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 wherein said CO₂ is present in an amount of at least about 3 percent by weight and said trans-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene is present in an amount not greater than about 97 percent by weight.

6. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 wherein said composition is non-flammable.

7. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one lubricant.

8. The heat transfer composition of claim 7 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.

9. The heat transfer composition of claim 7 further comprising at least one compatibilizer.

10. The heat transfer composition of claim 9 comprising from about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight of said at least one compatibilizer.

11. The heat transfer composition of claim 9 wherein said lubricant is present in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of the heat transfer composition.

12. The heat transfer composition of claim 7 further comprising one or more supplemental flame suppressants.

13. The heat transfer composition of claim 12 wherein said one or more flame suppressant(s) together are present in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of the heat transfer composition.

14. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 in the form of a heat transfer fluid having a refrigeration capacity substantially matching that of R-22.

15. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 in the form of a heat transfer fluid having a refrigeration capacity substantially matching that of R-407C.

16. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 in the form of a heat transfer fluid having a refrigeration capacity substantially matching that of R-410A.

17. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 in the form of a heat transfer fluid having a refrigeration capacity substantially matching that of R-404A.

18. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 in the form of a heat transfer fluid having a refrigeration capacity substantially matching that of R-507A.

19. A process for changing the heat content of a body comprising providing the heat transfer composition of claim 1 and transferring heat between said composition and said body.

20. A blowing agent comprising from about 1 to about 40 percent by weight of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and from about 60 to about 99 percent by weight of one or more compounds of Formula I, XCF_zR_3-z (I), where X is a C₂ unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted radical, and each R is independently Cl, F, Br, I or H, and z is 1 to 3.

21. The blowing agent of claim 20 wherein Z is 3.

22. A blowing agent comprising from about 1 to about 40 percent by weight of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and from about 60 to about 99 percent by weight of one or more compounds of Formula I, XCF_zR_3-z (I), where X is a C₃ unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted radical, and each R is independently Cl, F, Br, I or H, and z is 1 to 3.

23. The blowing agent of claim 22 wherein Z is 3.