Method for preparing a ternary or higher zeotropic refrigerant mixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9273240-B2
Application number	US-201213983751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2012
Priority date	Feb 16, 2011
Publication date	Mar 1, 2016
Grant date	Mar 1, 2016

Abstract

A method for preparing a ternary or higher zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprising components of different volatilities is described. The method comprises: mixing together the less volatile components of the mixture in a pre-blending process; and separately adding the most volatile component to the pre-blended mixture by pressure or mass flow control so that the desired initial liquid composition is attained. The liquid zeotropic refrigerant mixture that is prepared may be transferred from a container in which it is held to another container or to a piece of equipment that is to use the refrigerant mixture. This method comprises the steps of: removing at least a portion of the prepared liquid zeotropic refrigerant mixture from a container in which it is held; charging the liquid zeotropic refrigerant mixture that is removed to another container or to a piece of equipment in which it is to be used; and adding at least the most volatile component of the refrigerant mixture to the holding container to compensate for the removal of liquid refrigerant mixture therefrom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preparing a ternary or higher zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprising carbon dioxide, at least one hydrofluoroalkene, and optionally at least one further hydrofluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of pentafluoroethane (R-125), difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), said method comprising:
mixing together the at least one hydrofluoroalkene and optionally the at least one hydrofluorocarbon compound in a pre-blending process; and
separately adding the carbon dioxide to the pre-blended mixture by pressure or mass flow control so as to obtain a desired initial liquid composition of the zeotropic refrigerant mixture.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrofluoroalkene is a hydrofluoropropene.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R-1243zf), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprises at least one further hydrofluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of pentafluoroethane (R-125), difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1- difluoroethane (R-152a).

5. A method for preparing a ternary or higher zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprising carbon dioxide, at least one hydrofluoroalkene, and optionally at least one further hydrofluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of pentafluoroethane (R-125), difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), and then transferring the prepared mixture from a container in which it is held to another container or to a piece of equipment that is to use the refrigerant mixture, said method comprising the steps of:
mixing together the at least one hydrofluoroalkene and optionally the at least one hydrofluorocarbon compound in a pre-blending process;
separately adding the carbon dioxide to the pre-blended mixture by pressure or mass flow control so as to obtain a desired initial liquid composition of the zeotropic refrigerant mixture;
removing at least a portion of the prepared liquid zeotropic refrigerant mixture from a container in which it is held;
charging the liquid zeotropic refrigerant mixture that is removed to another container or to a piece of equipment in which it is to be used; and
adding at least carbon dioxide to the holding container to compensate for the removal of liquid refrigerant mixture therefrom.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hydrofluoroalkene is a hydrofluoropropene.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R-1243zf), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye).

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprises at least one further hydrofluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of pentafluoroethane (R-125), difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a).

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprises at least one further hydrofluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of pentafluoroethane (R-125), difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a).

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprises at least one further hydrofluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of pentafluoroethane (R-125), difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a).

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprises at least one further hydrofluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of pentafluoroethane (R-125), difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a).

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the zeotropic refrigerant mixture comprises at least one further hydrofluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of pentafluoroethane (R-125), difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a).

Assignees

• Low Robert E
• Corr Stuart
• Mexichem Amanco Holding Sa

Inventors

• Low Robert E
• Corr Stuart

Classifications

• C09K2205/106

  Carbon dioxide · CPC title

• C09K2205/126

  Unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons · CPC title

• C09K5/045 Primary

  containing only fluorine as halogen · CPC title

• C09K2205/34

  The mixture being non-azeotropic · CPC title