Refrigerant with lubricating oil for replacement of R22 refrigerant
DCFirst Claim
1. In an apparatus designed for use with chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the improvement comprising substituting the chlorodifluoromethane with a refrigerant composition designed to achieve a phase change, 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 a dew point at about −
- 32°
F. or a bubble point at about −
41.5°
F., wherein the refrigerant composition further comprises non-refrigerant gas components, said non-refrigerant gas components including a lubricating oil, wherein the lubricating oil is present up to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant gases and is soluble in chlorodifluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants and polyol ester.
2 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
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.
5 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In an apparatus designed for use with chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the improvement comprising substituting the chlorodifluoromethane with a refrigerant composition designed to achieve a phase change, 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 a dew point at about −
- 32°
F. or a bubble point at about −
41.5°
F., wherein the refrigerant composition further comprises non-refrigerant gas components, said non-refrigerant gas components including a lubricating oil, wherein the lubricating oil is present up to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant gases and is soluble in chlorodifluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants and polyol ester. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- 32°
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3. 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 about − - 32°
F. or a bubble point at about −
41.5°
F. 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 the lubricating oil having the following components;65-88% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and 10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- 32°
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9. A method for refilling an apparatus designed for use with a chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the method comprising:
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(1) selecting a substitute refrigerant composition designed to achieve a phase change and 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 a dew point at about −
32°
F. or a bubble point at about −
41.5°
F.(2) supplying a the substitute refrigerant composition under pressure, in a cylinder can fitted with an outlet compatible with a chlorodifluoromethane recharging manifold of the apparatus; and (3) adding to said apparatus via the manifold the substitute refrigerant composition for chlorodifluoromethane, wherein the refrigerant composition further comprises non-refrigerant gas components, said non-refrigerant gas components including a lubricating oil, wherein the lubricating oil is present up to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant gases and is soluble in chlorodifluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane, wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants and polyol ester. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for refilling an apparatus designed for use with a chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the method comprising:
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(1) selecting a substitute refrigerant composition designed to achieve a phase change and 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 a dew point at about −
32°
F. or a bubble point at about −
41.5°
F.,(2) supplying a the substitute refrigerant composition under pressure, in a cylinder can fitted with an outlet compatible with a chlorodifluoromethane recharging manifold of the apparatus; and (3) adding to said apparatus via the manifold the substitute refrigerant composition for chlorodifluoromethane, the lubricating oil having the following components; 65-85% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and 10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. 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 a dew point at about −
- 32°
F. or a bubble point at about −
41.5°
F., wherein the refrigerant composition further comprises non-refrigerant gas components, said non-refrigerant gas components including a lubricating oil, wherein the lubricating oil is present up to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant gases and is soluble in chlorodifluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane, wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants and polyol ester. - View Dependent Claims (18)
- 32°
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19. 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 about −
- 32°
F. or a bubble point at about −
41.5°
F., 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 the lubricating oil having the following components;65-88% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and 10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
- 32°
Specification