Heat transfer compositions

• US 8,999,190 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US13/717,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20130140482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 252/67, 252/68, 252/69, 252/364, 62/56, 623/04, 623/241, 624/67, 264/416, 510/410, 510/412, 134/34
• US Class Current: 252/67
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/044 comprising halogenated compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49718 Repairing

Abstract

The invention provides a heat transfer composition comprising R-1234ze (E), R-32 and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a).

Claims

1. A heat transfer composition comprising 30-90% by weight trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E)), R-32 and 10-50% by weight 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), wherein the composition comprises substantially no R-1243zf.

2. A composition according to claim 1 containing up to about 20% by weight R-32.

3. A heat transfer composition according to claim 1, containing from about 4 to about 20% by weight R-32.

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

5. A composition according to claim 1 containing from about 4 to about 16% by weight R-32, from about 10 to about 50% by weight R-134a, and from about 35 to about 90% R-1234ze(E).

6. A composition according to claim 5 containing from about 4 to about 14% by weight R-32, from about 10 to about 50% by weight R-134a, and from about 35 to about 85% R-1234ze(E).

7. A composition according to claim 1, consisting essentially of R-1234ze(E), R-32 and R-134a.

8. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has a GWP of less than 1000, preferably less than 150.

9. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the temperature glide is less than about 10K, preferably less than about 5K.

10. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has a volumetric refrigeration capacity within about 15%, preferably within about 10% of the existing refrigerant that it is intended to replace.

11. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is less flammable than R-32 alone or R-1234yf alone.

12. A composition according to claim 11 which is non-flammable.

13. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has a cycle efficiency within about 5% of the existing refrigerant that it is intended to replace.

14. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has a compressor discharge temperature within about 15K, preferably within about 10K, of the existing refrigerant that it is intended to replace.

15. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a lubricant.

16. A composition according to claim 11 wherein the composition has:

(a) a higher flammable limit;

(b) a higher ignition energy; and

/or

(c) a lower flame velocity compared to R-32 alone or R-1234yf alone.

17. A composition according to claim 15, wherein the lubricant is selected from 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.

18. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a stabiliser.

19. A composition according to claim 18, wherein the stabiliser is selected from diene-based compounds, phosphates, phenol compounds and epoxides, and mixtures thereof.

20. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a flame retardant.

21. A composition according to claim 20, wherein the flame retardant is selected from the 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.

22. A composition according to claim 1 which is a refrigerant composition.

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

24. A method according to claim 4 wherein the product is selected from a heat transfer device, a blowing agent, a foamable composition, a sprayable composition, a solvent or a mechanical power generation device.

25. A heat transfer device according to claim 23 which is a refrigeration device.

26. A heat transfer device according to claim 25 which is selected from 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.

27. A heat transfer device according to claim 25 which contains a compressor.

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

29. A foamable composition comprising one or more components capable of forming foam and a composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more components capable of forming foam are selected from polyurethanes, thermoplastic polymers and resins, such as polystyrene, and epoxy resins, and mixtures thereof.

30. A foam obtained by foaming the foamable composition of claim 29.

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

32. A sprayable composition comprising material to be sprayed and a propellant comprising a composition as defined in claim 1.

33. A method for cooling an article which comprises condensing a composition defined in claim 1 and thereafter evaporating the composition in the vicinity of the article to be cooled.

34. A method for heating an article which comprises condensing a composition as defined in of claim 1 in the vicinity of the article to be heated and thereafter evaporating the composition.

35. A method for extracting a substance from biomass comprising contacting biomass with a solvent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1, and separating the substance from the solvent.

36. A method of cleaning an article comprising contacting the article with a solvent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1.

37. A method of extracting a material from an aqueous solution comprising contacting the aqueous solution with a solvent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1, and separating the substance from the solvent.

38. A method for extracting a material from a particulate solid matrix comprising contacting the particulate solid matrix with a solvent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1, and separating the material from the solvent.

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

40. A mechanical power generating device according to claim 39 which is adapted to use a Rankine Cycle or modification thereof to generate work from heat.

41. A method of retrofitting a heat transfer device comprising the step of removing an existing heat transfer fluid, and introducing a composition as defined in claim 1.

42. A method of claim 41 wherein the heat transfer device is a refrigeration device.

43. A method according to claim 42 wherein the heat transfer device is an air conditioning system.

44. A method according to claim 4 wherein the existing compound or composition is a heat transfer composition.

45. A method for preparing a composition as defined in claim 1 which composition contains R-134a, the method comprising introducing R-1243ze(E) and R-32, and optionally a lubricant, a stabiliser and/or a flame retardant, into a heat transfer device containing an existing heat transfer fluid which is R-134a.

46. A method according to claim 45 comprising the step of removing at least some of the existing R-134a from the heat transfer device before introducing the R-1243ze(E) and R-32, and optionally the lubricant, the stabiliser and/or the flame retardant.

47. A method for generating greenhouse gas emission credit comprising (i) replacing an existing compound or composition with a composition as defined in any claim 1, wherein the composition has a lower GWP than the existing compound or composition;

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

48. A method of claim 47 wherein the use of the composition of the invention results in a lower Total Equivalent Warming Impact, and/or a lower Life-Cycle Carbon Production than is be attained by use of the existing compound or composition.

49. A method of claim 47 carried out on a product from the fields 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.

50. A method according to claim 24 wherein the product is a heat transfer device.

51. A method according to claim 44 wherein the heat transfer composition is a refrigerant selected from R-134a, R-1234yf and R-152a.