Heat transfer compositions

• US 8,911,641 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mexichem, S.A.B. De C.V. (Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V.)
• Original Assignee: Mexichem, S.A.B. De C.V. (Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V.)
• Inventors: Low, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MC GINTY, DOUGLAS J
• Application Number:
  US14/153,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20140124699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 252/67, 252/68, 252/69, 252/364, 521/131, 621/14, 134/36, 605/31
• US Class Current: 252/67
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 11/00 Solvent extraction
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3204 using compression B60H1/3233 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/06 CO2, N2 or noble gases
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/14 Saturated hydrocarbons, e.g. butane; Unspecified hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/142 Halogenated saturated hydrocarbons, e.g. H3C-CF3
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/162 Halogenated unsaturated hydrocarbons, e.g. H2C=CF2
• 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 9/149 Mixtures of blowing agents covered by more than one of the groups C08J9/141 - C08J9/143
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/106 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/12 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/126 Unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/00 Materials not provided for elsewhere
• 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 7/5018 Halogenated solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/5027 Hydrocarbons

Abstract

A heat transfer composition comprising trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E)), carbon dioxide (R-744) and a third component selected from difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), propylene, propane and mixtures thereof.

Claims

1. A heat transfer composition comprising:

trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E));

greater than zero and up to about 12% by weight carbon dioxide (R-744, CO2); and

a third component selected from a group consisting of propylene, propane and mixtures thereof, wherein the composition has an evaporator temperature glide of less than about 10 K.

2. A composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising at least about 45% by weight of said R-1234ze(E).

3. A method for generating greenhouse gas emission credit, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) replacing an existing compound or composition with a composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said composition as defined in claim 1 has a lower GWP than said existing compound or composition; and

(ii) obtaining greenhouse gas emission credit for said replacing step.

4. A composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising from about 1 to about 10% by weight of said CO2.

5. A composition according to claim 4, said composition comprising about 2 to about 7% by weight of said CO2.

6. A composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising greater than zero percent and up to about 50% by weight of said third component.

7. A composition according to claim 6, wherein said third component is selected from a group consisting of propylene and propane, said composition comprising from about 1 to about 10% by weight of said third component.

8. A composition according to claim 7, said composition comprising from about 2 to about 8% by weight of said third component.

9. A composition according to claim 8, said composition comprising from about 2 to about 10% by weight of said R-744.

10. A composition according to claim 8, said composition comprising from about 3 to about 6% by weight of said third component.

11. A composition according to claim 10, said composition comprising from about 2 to about 10% by weight of said R-744.

12. A composition according to claim 1, said composition consisting essentially of said R-1234ze(E), said R-744 and said third component.

13. A composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of pentafluoroethane (R-125) and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a).

14. A composition according to claim 13, wherein said composition has a GWP of less than 150.

15. A composition according to claim 13, wherein said composition has a GWP of less than 800.

16. A composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising a temperature glide of less than about 8K.

17. A composition according claim 1, said composition being less flammable than at least one of R-32 alone, R-152a alone, and R-1234yf alone.

18. A composition according to claim 17, said composition being less flammable than R-1234yf alone.

19. A composition according to claim 17, said composition comprising at least one of:

(a) a higher flammable limit;

(b) a higher ignition energy; and

(c) a lower flame velocity

as compared to at least one of R-32 alone, R-152a alone and R-1234yf alone.

20. A composition according to claim 19, said composition comprising at least one of:

(a) a higher flammable limit;

(b) a higher ignition energy; and

(c) a lower flame velocity

as compared to R-1234yf alone.

21. A composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising a fluorine ratio (F/(F+H)) of from about 0.42 to about 0.67.

22. A composition according to claim 21, said composition comprising a fluorine ratio (F/(F+H)) of from about 0.44 to about 0.65.

23. A composition according to claim 22, said composition comprising a fluorine ratio (F/(F+H)) of from about 0.46 to about 0.65.

24. A composition according to claim 1, said composition being non-flammable.

25. A composition according to claim 1, said composition further comprising a lubricant selected from a 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) and combinations thereof.

26. A composition according to claim 25, wherein said lubricant is selected from a group consisting of mineral oil, silicone oil, polyalkyl benzenes (PABs), poly (alpha-olefins) and combinations thereof.

27. A composition according to claim 26, wherein said lubricant is selected from a group consisting of mineral oil, polyalkyl benzenes (PABs), and combinations thereof.

28. A composition according to claim 25, said composition further comprising a stabiliser.

29. A composition according to claim 28, wherein said stabiliser is selected from a group consisting of diene-based compounds, phosphates, phenol compounds and epoxides, and mixtures thereof.

30. A composition according to claim 1, said composition further comprising a flame retardant.

31. A composition according to claim 30, wherein said flame retardant is selected from a group consisting of tri-(2-chloroethyl)-phosphate, (chloropropyl)phosphate, tri-(2,3-dibromopropyl)-phosphate, tri-(1,3-dichloropropyl)-phosphate, diammonium phosphate, various halogenated aromatic compounds, antimony oxide, aluminium trihydrate, polyvinyl chloride, a fluorinated iodocarbon, a fluorinated bromocarbon, trifluoro iodomethane, perfluoroalkyl amines, bromo-fluoroalkyl amines and mixtures thereof.

32. A heat transfer device containing a composition as defined in claim 1.

33. A heat transfer device according to claim 32, wherein said heat transfer device comprises a refrigeration device.

34. A heat transfer device according to claim 32, wherein said heat transfer device comprises a device selected from a 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, and commercial or residential heat pump systems.

35. A heat transfer device according to claim 32, said heat transfer device comprising a compressor.

36. A heat transfer device according to claim 32, wherein said device optionally previously contained an existing refrigerant prior to containing said composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising a volumetric refrigeration capacity within about 15% of said existing refrigerant.

37. A heat transfer device according to claim 36, said composition comprising a volumetric refrigeration capacity within about 10% of said existing refrigerant.

38. A heat transfer device according to claim 32, wherein said device optionally previously contained an existing refrigerant prior to containing said composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising a cycle efficiency within about 5% of said existing refrigerant.

39. A heat transfer device according to claim 32, wherein said device previously contained an existing refrigerant prior to containing said composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising a compressor discharge temperature within about 15K of said existing refrigerant.

40. A heat transfer device according to claim 39, said composition comprising a compressor discharge temperature within about 10K of said existing refrigerant.

41. A blowing agent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1.

42. A foamable composition comprising:

one or more components capable of forming foam; and

a composition as defined in claim 1,

wherein said one or more components capable of forming foam are selected from a group consisting of polyurethanes, thermoplastic polymers and resins, epoxy resins, and mixtures thereof.

43. A foamable composition according to claim 42, wherein said one or more components capable of forming foam comprise polystyrene.

44. A foam comprising a composition as defined in claim 1.

45. A sprayable composition comprising:

a material to be sprayed; and

a propellant comprising a composition as defined in claim 1.

46. A method for cooling an article, said method comprising the steps of:

condensing a composition defined in claim 1; and

thereafter, evaporating said composition in a vicinity of an article to be cooled.

47. A method for heating an article, said method comprising the steps of:

condensing a composition as defined in claim 1 in a vicinity of an article to be heated; and

thereafter, evaporating said composition.

48. A method for extracting a substance from biomass, said method comprising the steps of:

contacting a biomass with a solvent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1; and

separating a substance from said solvent.

49. A method of cleaning an article, said method comprising the step of:

contacting an article with a solvent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1.

50. A method of extracting a material from an aqueous solution or a particulate solid matrix, said method comprising the steps of:

contacting one of an aqueous solution and a particulate solid matrix with a solvent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1; and

separating a material from said solvent.

51. A mechanical power generation device containing a composition as defined in claim 1.

52. A mechanical power generating device according to claim 51 which is adapted to use a Rankine Cycle or modification thereof to generate work from heat.

53. A method of retrofitting a heat transfer device, said method comprising the steps of:

removing at least some of an existing heat transfer fluid from said heat transfer device; and

introducing into said heat transfer device a composition as defined in claim 1.

54. A method according to claim 53 wherein said heat transfer device comprises a refrigeration device.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein said heat transfer devices comprises an air conditioning system.

56. A method for reducing environmental impact arising from operation of a product comprising an existing compound or composition, said method comprising a step of replacing at least partially said existing compound or composition with a composition as defined in claim 1.

57. A method according to claim 56 wherein said product is selected from a group consisting of a heat transfer device, a blowing agent, a foamable composition, a sprayable composition, a solvent, and a mechanical power generation device.

58. A method according to claim 57, wherein said product comprises a heat transfer device.

59. A method for preparing a heat transfer device containing R-134a, said method comprising the step of:

introducing a composition according to claim 1 into said heat transfer device.

60. A method according to claim 59, said method further comprising a step of introducing into said heat transfer device a component selected from a group consisting of R-125, a lubricant, a stabiliser and a flame retardant.

61. A method according to claim 60, further comprising a step of removing at least some of said R-134a from said heat transfer device before either introducing step.

62. A method according to claim 59, further comprising a step of removing at least some of said R-134a from said heat transfer device before said introducing step.

63. A composition according to claim 13, wherein said composition has a GWP of less than 500.

64. A method according to claim 3, said method further comprising a step of a use of said composition as defined in claim 1 that results in a lower Total Equivalent Warming Impact, and/or a lower Life-Cycle Carbon Production than is attained by an at least substantially similar use of said existing compound or composition.

65. A method according to claim 3, wherein said replacing step is carried out on a product from a field selected from a group consisting of air-conditioning, refrigeration, heat transfer, blowing agents, aerosols or sprayable propellants, gaseous dielectrics, cryosurgery, veterinary procedures, dental procedures, fire extinguishing, flame suppression, solvents, cleaners, air horns, pellet guns, topical anesthetics, and expansion applications.

66. A method according to claim 65 wherein said product is selected from a group consisting of a heat transfer device, a blowing agent, a foamable composition, a sprayable composition, a solvent, and a mechanical power generation device.

67. A method according to claim 66, wherein said product comprises a heat transfer device.