REFRIGERANT WITH LUBRICATING OIL FOR REPLACEMENT OF R22 REFRIGERANT

• US 20110163117A1
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R421A, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kenneth M. Ponder, Thomas, Steffan Jr.
• Inventors: Thomas, Steffan JR., Ponder, Kenneth M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/22 All components of a mixture being fluoro compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/43 Type R22
• 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 2203/1065 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/041 Triaryl phosphates
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/101 Containing Hydrofluorocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/18 Refrigerant conversion

Abstract

An apparatus and method wherein potential ozone layer-damaging chlorodifluoromethane (Refrigerant R-22) is substituted with a mix of less environmentally damaging refrigerants pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane in chlorodifluoromethane-based air-cooling systems mainly in residential cooling. While less environmentally damaging than chlorodifluoromethane, the substitute refrigerant has a temperature-pressure relationship similar to that of chlorodifluoromethane, making the substitute refrigerant suitable for use with chlorodifluoromethane-based air-cooling systems. In this event, it is mixed with a relatively small percentage of a lubricating oil which is compatible with both the unit refrigerant and typical R-22 system design.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. In an apparatus designed for use with chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the improvement comprising substituting the chlorodifluoromethane with a refrigerant composition, the refrigerant composition comprising a combination of refrigerant gases, said refrigerant gases consisting of a blend of tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane, the ratio of the tetrafluoroethane to the pentafluoroethane being selected such that the blend exhibits one or more of a dew point at −

32°

F., a bubble point at −

41.5°

F. or a glide at 9.5°

F.

23. In the apparatus of claim 22, wherein the blend exhibits all three of the dew point at −

32°

F., the bubble point at −

41.5°

F. and a glide at 9.5°

F.

24. In the apparatus of claim 22, wherein the refrigerant composition further comprises non-refrigerant gas components, said non-refrigerant gas components including up to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant gases a lubricating oil that is soluble in wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants, paraffinic based lubricants, and mixtures thereof, mineral oil, polyol ester, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with mineral oil, and synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with polyol ester.

25. In the apparatus of claim 24, the lubricating oil having the following components:

65-88% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and

10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum.

36. In the apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning equipment, and HVAC equipment.

37. In the apparatus of claim 24, wherein the lubricating oil includes an additive selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymer, a corrosion inhibitor, a surfactant, a foaming agent, and mixtures thereof.

38. In the apparatus of claim 24, wherein the lubricating oil is an alkylbenzene-based lubricating oil.

42. In the apparatus of claim 22, wherein the tetrafluoroethane is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.

26. A method for refilling an apparatus designed for use with a chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the method comprising:

(1) supplying a substitute refrigerant composition under pressure, in a cylinder can fitted with an outlet compatible with a chlorodifluoromethane recharging manifold of the apparatus; and

(2) adding to said apparatus via the manifold the substitute refrigerant composition for chlorodifluoromethane, said substitute refrigerant composition comprising a combination of refrigerant gases, the refrigerant gases consisting of a blend of tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane, the ratio of the tetrafluoroethane to the pentafluoroethane being selected such that the blend exhibits one or more of a dew point at −

32°

F., a bubble point at −

41.5°

F. or a glide at 9.5°

F.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the blend exhibits all three of the dew point at −

32°

F., the bubble point at −

41.5°

F. and the glide at 9.5°

F.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the refrigerant composition further comprises non-refrigerant gas components, said non-refrigerant gas components including up to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant gases a lubricating oil that is soluble in wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants, paraffinic based lubricants, and mixtures thereof, mineral oil, polyol ester, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with mineral oil, and synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with polyol ester.

29. The method of claim 28, the lubricating oil having the following components:

65-85% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and

10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum.

39. The method according to claim 26, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning equipment, and HVAC equipment.

40. The method according to claim 28, wherein the lubricating oil includes an additive selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymer, a corrosion inhibit, a surfactant, a foaming agent, and mixtures thereof.

41. The method according to claim 28, wherein the lubricating oil is a alkylbenzene-based lubricating oil.

43. The method of claim 26, wherein the tetrafluoroethane is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.

30. A refrigerant composition comprising a combination of refrigerant gases, the refrigerant gases consisting of a blend of tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane, the ratio of the tetrafluoroethane to the pentafluoroethane being selected such that the blend exhibits one or more of a dew point at −

32°

F., a bubble point at −

41.5°

F. or a glide at 9.5°

F.

31. The refrigerant composition of claim 30, wherein the blend exhibits all three of the dew point at −

32°

F., the bubble point at −

41.5°

F. and a glide at 9.5°

F.

32. The refrigerant composition of claim 30, wherein the refrigerant composition further comprises non-refrigerant gas components, said non-refrigerant gas components including up to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant gases a lubricating oil that is soluble in wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants, paraffinic based lubricants, and mixtures thereof, mineral oil, polyol ester, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with mineral oil, and synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with polyol ester.

33. The refrigerant composition of claim 32, the lubricating oil having the following components:

65-88% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and

10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum.

34. The refrigerant composition according to claim 32, wherein the lubricating oil further includes an acrylic polymer, a corrosion inhibitor, a surfactant or a foaming agent.

35. The refrigerant composition of claim 32, wherein the lubricating oil is an alkylbenzene-based lubricating oil.

44. The refrigerant composition of claim 30, wherein the tetrafluoroethane is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.