Patent Application
20240368445
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0058372 filed on May 4, 2023 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0029329 filed on Feb. 29, 2024, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a composition containing a refrigerant and a heat pump including the same. More specifically, the embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a composition containing different refrigerants and a heat pump including the same.
Refrigerants are substances used to remove heat from heat pumps utilized in air conditioners, refrigerators, cooling towers and the like. The refrigerants may include, for example, natural refrigerants, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants, hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerants, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerants, and hydrofluoroolefin (IHFO)-based refrigerants.
Recently, types of heat pumps used indoors and outdoors have become more diverse, and due to the development of electric vehicles, etc., miniaturized heat pumps are required. Furthermore, refrigerants containing chlorine (Cl), may cause ozone layer destruction, etc., such that the development of refrigerants which do not contain chlorine atoms are being tried.
For example, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf) which is a hydrofluoroolefin refrigerant does not contain chlorine atoms and, therefore, its use as a refrigerant in an air conditioner for an automobile is desirable because of its relatively low global warming potential (GWP).
However, when 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is used as a refrigerant in air conditioners, there is a problem in that generally their performance is decreased due to the refrigerant's low coefficient of performance (COP).
Accordingly, there is an urgent need to develop refrigerants or combinations of refrigerants which have a high COPs while at the same time do not increase environmental pollution or destroy the ozone layer.
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a mixed refrigerant composition with improved environmental friendliness.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a heat pump which includes the mixed refrigerant composition, and has improved cooling performance and heating performance.
To achieve the above objects, according to embodiments the present disclosure, there is provided a mixed refrigerant composition including carbon dioxide (R-744), trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), wherein a sum of a content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) and a content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on a total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition is 60% by weight or more and less than 100% by weight.
According to an embodiment, the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be greater than 0% by weight and 40% by weight or less.
According to an embodiment, the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 35 to 80% by weight.
According to an embodiment, the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 20 to 60% by weight.
According to an embodiment, the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 30 to 50% by weight.
According to an embodiment, the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 20 to 40% by weight.
According to an embodiment, the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 40 to 60% by weight.
According to an embodiment, a ratio of the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) to the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 5 to 80.
According to an embodiment, a ratio of the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) to the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 0.01 to 0.3.
According to an embodiment, a ratio of the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) to the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 0.5 to 4.
According to an embodiment, a boiling point of the mixed refrigerant composition at 1 atm may be −70 to −30° C.
According to an embodiment, a critical temperature of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 105 to 120° C. 11 According to an embodiment, the critical pressure of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 40 to 50 bar.
According to an embodiment, a temperature glide of the mixed refrigerant composition at a pressure of 1.5 bar may be 5 to 40° C.
According to an embodiment, a temperature glide of the mixed refrigerant composition at a pressure of 15 bar may be 3 to 300° C.
According to an embodiment, a latent heat of the mixed refrigerant composition at −25° C. may be 100 to 250 kJ/kg.
According to an embodiment, a global warming potential (GWP) of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 1 to 75.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a heat pump including the above-described mixed refrigerant composition.
The mixed refrigerant composition according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include carbon dioxide (R-744), trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a).
Accordingly, the refrigerant included in the mixed refrigerant composition may not contain chlorine atoms (Cl), thus environmental pollution such as ozone layer destruction can be suppressed.
The boiling point of the mixed refrigerant composition may be −30° C. or lower. Accordingly, the mixed refrigerant composition may effectively decrease the ambient temperature during vaporization from liquid to gas even at a low temperature.
In addition, the mixed refrigerant composition may have a critical temperature of 105° C. or higher. Thereby, while a cooler such as an air conditioner is operated, the mixed refrigerant composition may not become a supercritical state, such that the condensation pressure of the compressor may not be reduced. Accordingly, the coefficient of performance of a heat pump including the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved.
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the embodiments of present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
According to embodiments of the preset disclosure, a mixed refrigerant composition which includes carbon dioxide (R-744), trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), and a heat pump including the mixed refrigerant composition are provided.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to specific experimental examples. However, the experimental examples attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure which serve to further the understanding of the technical ideas and the contents of the above-described embodiments. Hence, the embodiments of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the specific experimental examples.
According to various embodiments, the mixed refrigerant composition may be a mixture of refrigerants which do not contain chlorine atoms (Cl). Examples of refrigerants which do not contain chlorine atoms (Cl) may include natural refrigerants, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerants, and hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerants.
The natural refrigerant is a substance that exists naturally on earth rather than as an artificial compound. For example, the natural refrigerant may include at least one of ammonia (R-717), carbon dioxide (R-744), propane (R-290), propylene (R-1270) and butane (R-600a).
The hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant is a refrigerant composed of hydrogen atoms (H), fluorine atoms (F), and carbon atoms (C). The hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant may include, for example, at least one of difluoromethane (R-32), trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), trifluoromethane (R-23), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R-227ea), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236ea), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245fa) and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R-365mfc).
The hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant is a refrigerant composed of hydrogen atoms (H), fluorine atoms (F) and carbon atoms (C), and has at least one double bond between the carbon atoms. The hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant may include, for example, at least one of 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene (R-1123), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 1,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ye), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R-1243zf), 1,1-difluoroethylene (R-1132a) and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye).
In some embodiments, the mixed refrigerant composition may include carbon dioxide (R-744), trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a). The carbon dioxide (R-744), the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), and the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) included in the mixed refrigerant composition do not contain chlorine atoms (Cl).
The carbon dioxide (R-744) is a type of natural refrigerant and has an ozone depleting potential (ODP) of 0 and a global warming potential (GWP) of 1. In addition, the carbon dioxide (R-744) may not be corrosive, toxic, or explosive. Due to the carbon dioxide (R-744) included in the mixed refrigerant composition, the environmental friendliness and stability of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved.
The trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) is a type of the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant, and has an ozone depleting potential (ODP) of 0 and a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 5. In addition, the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) may have high thermal and chemical stabilities. Due to the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) included in the mixed refrigerant composition, the stability of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved.
The 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) is a type of the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant, and has an ozone depleting potential (ODP) of 0 and a global warming potential (GWP) of 150 or less. The 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) may have a low molecular mass and a low saturated density. Due to the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) included in the mixed refrigerant composition, the environmental friendliness of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved. In addition, a discharge pressure from a compressor may be low due to the low saturation density. Therefore, a change in the enthalpy at the same pressure may be increased. Accordingly, freezing ability of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved.
According to an embodiment, the mixed refrigerant composition may not be mixed with any refrigerant other than the carbon dioxide (R-744), trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a). For example, the mixed refrigerant composition may consist only of carbon dioxide (R-744), trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the thermal and chemical stabilities of the mixed refrigerant composition from being reduced due to the refrigerant having a low thermal or chemical stability mixed therewith. In addition, itis possible to prevent the condensation temperature of the mixed refrigerant composition from being increased due to the refrigerant having a low evaporating pressure mixed therewith.
In some embodiments, a sum of a content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) and a content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on a total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 60 or more and less than 100% by weight (“wt. %”).
If the sum of the content of trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) and the content of 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) is less than 60 wt. %, thermal and chemical stabilities may be decreased to cause a reduction in the freezing ability. If the sum of the content of trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) and the content of 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) is 100 wt. %, the global warming potential may be excessively increased to cause a reduction in the environmental friendliness. Within the above content range, the freezing ability and environmental friendliness of the mixed refrigerant composition may be both improved.
According to an embodiment, the sum of the content of trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) and the content of 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 60 to 98 wt. %, 80 to 98 wt. %, or 85 to 98 wt. %. Within the above content range, the thermal and chemical stabilities of the mixed refrigerant composition may be further improved, thereby further improving the refrigeration ability, as well as improving the environmental friendliness.
According to an embodiment, the content of carbon dioxide (R-744) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be greater than 0 wt. % and less than 40 wt. %, 0.5 wt. % or more and less than 40 wt. %, and 0.5 to 20 wt. %, 0.5 to 10 wt. %, 0.5 to 5 wt. %, or 4 to 5 wt. %.
Within the above content range of carbon dioxide (R-744), an average global warming potential (GWP) of the mixed refrigerant composition may be decreased. Accordingly, the environmental friendliness of the mixed refrigerant composition may be further improved. In addition, within the above range, heating performance may be improved when an outside air temperature is low due to a low boiling point of the carbon dioxide (R-744).
According to an embodiment, the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be greater than 0 wt. % and 99 wt. % or less, greater than 0 wt. % and 94.5 wt. % or less, 20 to 89.5 wt. %, 30 to 84.5 wt. %, 35 to 80 wt. %, or 35 to 79.5 wt. %.
Within the above range, the environmental friendliness of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved due to the low global warming potential of trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1).
According to an embodiment, the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 20 to 80 wt. %, 20 to 74.5 wt. %, 45 to 74.5 wt. %, 55 to 71.5 wt. %, or 63 to 71.5 wt. %.
Within the above content range of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), the thermal and chemical stabilities of the mixed refrigerant composition may be further improved.
According to an embodiment, the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be greater than 0 wt. % and 60 wt. % or less, greater than 0 wt. % and 54.5 wt. % or less, 25 to 54.5 wt. %, 35 to 51.5 wt. %, or 43 to 51.5 wt. %. Within the above range, the content of 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) may be increased, thereby improving the cooling performance.
According to an embodiment, the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 1 to 60 wt. %, 5 to 60 wt. %, 10 to 60 wt. %, 15 to 60 wt. %, 20 to 60 wt. % or 30 to 50 wt %.
According to an embodiment, the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 20 to 40 wt. %, 25 to 40 wt. %, or 28 to 40 wt. %. Within the above range, the content of trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) may be increased, thereby reducing the global warming potential, as well as suppressing an excessive deterioration of the cooling performance. Accordingly, the environmental friendliness and the cooling efficiency of the mixed refrigerant may be both improved.
According to an embodiment, the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 40 to 60 wt. %, 45 to 60 wt. %, 45 wt. % to 55 wt. %, 48 to 55 wt. %, or 48 to 52 wt. %. Within the above range, the cooling performance of the mixed refrigerant may be improved through the high latent heat of 1,1-difluoromethane (R-152a), as well as excessive increase in the low global warming potential may be suppressed. Accordingly, the cooling performance and the environmental friendliness of the mixed refrigerant may be both improved.
Within the content range of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), the freezing ability of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved. Accordingly, the temperature may be controlled even with a small amount of the mixed refrigerant composition, such that the efficiency of the air conditioner including the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved.
According to an embodiment, a ratio of the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) to the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 5 to 80, 8 to 80, or 9 to 79.
According to an embodiment, the ratio of the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) to the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 10 to 79, 13 to 79, or 14 to 79.
According to an embodiment, the ratio of the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) to the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 9 to 70, 9 to 60, or 9 to 54.
Within the above content ratio range, a high-temperature stability of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved, while preventing the global warming potential (GWP) value of the mixed refrigerant composition from being increased.
According to an embodiment, the ratio of the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) to the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 0.01 to 0.3, 0.015 to 0.3, or 0.015 to 0.2.
According to an embodiment, the ratio of the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) to the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 0.02 to 0.2, 0.023 to 0.2, or 0.025 to 0.2.
According to an embodiment, the ratio of the content of the carbon dioxide (R-744) to the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 0.015 to 0.15, 0.015 to 0.1, or 0.015 to 0.09.
Within the above content ratio range, the refrigeration ability of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved, while preventing the global warming potential (GWP) value of the mixed refrigerant composition from being increased.
According to an embodiment, the ratio of the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) to the content of the 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 0.5 to 4, 0.55 to 4, or 0.55 to 3.95.
According to an embodiment, the ratio of the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) to the content of the 1,1-difluoromethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 1 to 3.95, 1.2 to 3.95, or 1.4 to 3.95.
According to an embodiment, the ratio of the content of the trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) to the content of the 1,1-difluoromethane (R-152a) based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 0.55 to 3, 0.55 to 2, or 0.55 to 1.2.
Within the above content ratio range, the stability of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved, as well as the global warming potential (GWP) value may be prevented from being increased.
According to an embodiment, the boiling point of the mixed refrigerant composition at 1 atm may be −70 to −30° C., −65 to −30° C., or −60 to −30° C.
When the boiling point of the mixed refrigerant composition is less than −70° C., the condensation pressure of the mixed refrigerant composition at the condensation temperature may be increased. Therefore, an energy consumed in a refrigeration cycle may be increased to cause a reduction in the efficiency of the refrigerant.
When the boiling point of the mixed refrigerant composition exceeds −30° C., a specific volume of the mixed refrigerant composition at the condensation temperature may be increased. Accordingly, a volume of the air conditioner for satisfying the amount of the mixed refrigerant composition required to improve the refrigeration capacity may be increased.
According to an embodiment, the boiling point of the mixed refrigerant composition at 1 atm may be −60 to −34° C., or −57.4 to −34.7° C.
According to an embodiment, the boiling point of the mixed refrigerant composition at 1 atm may be −50 to −33° C., or −49.6 to −32.7° C.
Within the above boiling point range of the mixed refrigerant composition, the specific volume may be reduced, thereby decreasing the volume of the air conditioner and improving the refrigeration ability of the refrigerant.
According to an embodiment, a critical temperature of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 105 to 120° C., 105 to 115° C., 105 to 113° C., or 106 to 112° C. The critical temperature refers to a maximum temperature at which a specific substance may exist in a liquid state. If the critical temperature of the refrigerant is low, it may be difficult to liquefy the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle.
Within the above critical temperature range, the mixed refrigerant composition may not become a supercritical fluid state in the refrigeration cycle. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a portion of the mixed refrigerant composition from not being liquefied, and thus the refrigeration ability may be improved.
According to an embodiment, the critical pressure of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 40 to 50 bar, 42 to 50 bar, or 42.5 to 48.5 bar. The critical pressure refers to a maximum pressure at which a specific substance may exist in a liquid state. If the critical pressure of the refrigerant is high, it may be difficult to liquefy the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle.
Within the above critical pressure range, the mixed refrigerant composition may not become the supercritical fluid state in the refrigeration cycle. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a portion of the mixed refrigerant composition from not being liquefied, and thus the refrigeration ability may be improved.
According to an embodiment, a temperature glide (temperature gradient) of the mixed refrigerant composition at a pressure of 1.5 bar may be 5 to 40° C., 5 to 35° C., 5 to 30° C., or 5 to 28° C.
According to an embodiment, the temperature glide of the mixed refrigerant composition at a pressure of 15 bar may be 3 to 30° C., 3 to 25° C., or 3 to 20° C.
Within the above temperature glide range, when using a heat pump with the same volume, capacity thereof may be improved. In addition, within the above temperature glide range, a heat transfer efficiency of the refrigerant may be improved.
According to an embodiment, a latent heat of the mixed refrigerant composition at −25° C. may be 100 to 250 kJ/kg, 120 to 250 kJ/kg, or 140 to 250 kJ/kg.
Within the above latent heat range, the heat released or absorbed during the phase change of the mixed refrigerant composition may be sufficient. Accordingly, the thermal efficiency of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved.
According to an embodiment, the latent heat of the mixed refrigerant composition at −25° C. may be 145 to 250 kJ/kg, 145 to 230 kJ/kg, or 145 to 200 kJ/kg.
Within the above latent heat range, the environmental friendliness of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved, while suppressing a reduction in the thermal efficiency of the mixed refrigerant composition.
According to an embodiment, the latent heat of the mixed refrigerant composition at −25° C. may be 150 to 250 kJ/kg 180 to 250 kJ/kg or 200 to 250 kJ/kg.
Within the above latent heat range, the thermal efficiency of the mixed refrigerant composition may be improved, while suppressing a reduction in the environmental friendliness of the mixed refrigerant composition.
According to an embodiment, the global warming potential (GWP) of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 1 to 75, 10 to 75, 15 to 75, or 20 to 75.
The global warming potential (GWP) is a value obtained by calculating a degree of effect on global warming using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a reference material over a certain period of time (for example, 100 years), when 1 kg of any chemical substance is released into the Earth's troposphere. For example, the global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide (R-744) may be 1. For example, the global warming potential (GWP) of trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1) may be 1. For example, the global warming potential (GWP) of 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) may be 124.
Within the above global warming potential range, environmental pollution caused by use and treatment of the mixed refrigerant composition may be suppressed.
According to an embodiment, the global warming potential of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 20 to 75, 20 to 65, or 20 to 55.
Within the above global warming potential range, the global warming potential may be reduced, while suppressing a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the mixed refrigerant composition.
According to an embodiment, the global warming potential of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 30 to 75, 40 to 75, or 50 to 75.
Within the above global warming potential range, the cooling efficiency may be improved, while suppressing an excessive increase in the global warming potential.
According to an embodiment, the ozone depleting potential (ODP) of the mixed refrigerant composition may be 0.
The ozone depleting potential (ODP) is a value obtained by calculating a degree of effect on ozone layer destruction by any chemical substance, when assuming that the effect of trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11) on the ozone layer destruction is 1.
As the ozone depleting potential (ODP) is 0, environmental pollution caused by use and treatment of the mixed refrigerant composition may be suppressed.
According to an embodiment, the mixed refrigerant composition may have low flammability. For example, the mixed refrigerant composition may have a flammability of Class A2L or lower in the refrigerant safety group classification of The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Accordingly, stability during operation and leakage of the heat pump may be improved.
According to some embodiments, the heat pump may include the mixed refrigerant composition. Accordingly, the refrigeration performance of the heat pump may be enhanced, while improving the environmental friendliness and stability.
The heat pump may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. In the compressor, the above-described mixed refrigerant composition may be compressed to a high temperature and high pressure state, and in the expansion valve, the above-described mixed refrigerant composition may be expanded to a low temperature and low pressure state.
For example, the above-mentioned mixed refrigerant composition may emit or absorb heat while circulating through the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve, and the evaporator inside the heat pump. The mixed refrigerant composition may be maintained in a gaseous state at high temperature and high pressure in the compressor. The mixed refrigerant composition may be liquefied into a liquid state by releasing the heat in the condenser. The mixed refrigerant composition may be maintained in a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid state, or a mixture state of liquid and gas in the expansion valve. The mixed refrigerant composition may absorb the heat to be vaporized into a gaseous state in the evaporator.
According to an embodiment, the heat pump may contain oil. For example, the oil may include polyester (POE), mineral oil, alkylbenzene (AB), polyalkylene glycol (PAG), polyvinyl ether (PVE) and the like.
According to an embodiment, a coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pump may be 1 to 10. The coefficient of performance (COP) refers to a ratio of an amount of heat effectively gained to an amount of work input when operating the heat pump.
A highly efficient heat pump having the coefficient of performance in the above range may be provided using the above-described refrigerant.
Hereinafter, experimental examples including specific examples and comparative examples are proposed to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, the following examples are only given for illustrating the embodiments and those skilled in the art will obviously understand that various alterations and modifications are possible within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Such alterations and modifications are duly included in the appended claims. Furthermore, the embodiments may be combined to from additional embodiments.
Mixed refrigerant compositions having the components and contents (wt. %) shown in Tables 1 to 5 below were prepared.
The boiling point, critical temperature, critical pressure, temperature glide at 1.5 bar and 15 bar, and latent heat at −25° C. of each of the prepared mixed refrigerant compositions were measured. The measured boiling points, critical temperatures, critical pressure, temperature glides at 1.5 bar and 15 bar, and latent heats at −25° C. of the mixed refrigerant compositions are shown in Tables 1 to 5 below.
The boiling point, critical temperature, critical pressure, temperature glide, and latent heat of the mixed refrigerant composition were measured using REFPROP (Ver 10, NIST).
The specific component described in Tables 1 to 5 are as follows.
Based on the global warming potential (GWP) according to the Intergovemmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of R-744, R-13I1 and R-152a included in the mixed refrigerant composition according to the embodiments, the global warming potentials (GWPs) of the mixed refrigerant compositions were calculated by calculating an arithmetic mean according to the weight ratio of each of R-744, R-13I1 and R-152a.
Specifically, the GWP was calculated with reference to IPCC AR4 and Wiebbles (1995), and the values of R-13I1 and R-744 were calculated as 1, and the value of R-152a was calculated as 124.
The global warming potential (GWP) according to the IPCC was based on the global warming potential (GWP) on the basis of 100 years.
The calculated global warming potentials (GWPs) are shown in Tables 6 to 10 below.
The flow of the mixed refrigerant is shown by using directions of the arrows in
Referring to
Referring to
Cooling evaluation and heating evaluation were performed using the refrigerant combinations of Examples 52, 62, 74, 76 and 83, and Comparative Example 1 through the above-described heat exchanger at different outside air temperatures. The cooling evaluation was performed by setting the outside air temperature to 45° C., and the heating evaluation was performed by setting the outside air temperature to −7° C. and −20° C., respectively. Heating evaluation conditions according to the above examples and comparative examples are described in Table 11 below.
Specifically, outside air temperature (° C.), outside air relative humidity (%), compressor rotation speed (RPM), outside air volume (m2/hr), ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) temperature (° C.), HVAC relative humidity (%), HVAC air volume (m2/hr), and refrigerant filling amount (g) are shown in Table 11 below.
The cooling evaluation was verified through GT-SUITE (Gamma Company) which is a 1D analysis program. Specifically, cooling performance (kW), power consumption (kW), and coefficient of performance were evaluated as the cooling evaluation (outside air temperature: 45° C.), and heating performance (kW), power consumption (kW), coefficient of performance, and/or discharge temperature (° C.) were evaluated as the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −7° C. and −20° C.).).
The coefficient of performance was calculated using Equation 1 below.
Evaluation results are shown in Tables 12 to 17 below.
Specifically, evaluation results of the cases, in which 130 g of polyester (POE) was used as the oil, are shown in Tables 12, 14 and 16, and evaluation results of the cases, in which 180 g of RB 100EV (ENEOS) was used as the oil, are shown in Table 13, 15 and 17.
In the experimental examples, in which R-744, R-13I1 and R-152a were used as the mixed refrigerants, a refrigerant combination according to the examples in which a sum of contents of R-13I1 and R-152a is 60 wt. % or more was used, and POE was used as the oil, the cooling performance in the cooling evaluation (outside air temperature: 45° C.) was 6.75 or higher.
In experimental examples, in which R-744, R-13I1 and R-152a were used as the mixed refrigerants, a refrigerant combination according to the examples in which a sum of contents of R-13I1 and R-152a is 60 wt. % or more was used, and RB 100EV (ENEOS) was used as the oil, the cooling performance and coefficient of performance in the cooling evaluation (outside air temperature: 45° C.) were 6.09 and 1.7 or more, respectively.
In the experimental example, in which the refrigerant according to Comparative Example 1 using R-1234yf alone was used as the mixed refrigerant, and POE was used as the oil, the cooling performance in the cooling evaluation (outside air temperature: 45° C.) was reduced.
In the experimental example, in which the refrigerant according to Comparative Example 1 using R-1234yf alone was used as the mixed refrigerant, and RB 100EV (ENEOS) was used as the oil, the cooling performance and coefficient of performance in the cooling evaluation (outside air temperature: 45° C.) were reduced.
In the experimental examples, in which R-744, R-13I1 and R-152a were used as the mixed refrigerants, a refrigerant combination according to the examples in which a sum of contents of R-13I1 and R-152a is 60 wt. % or more was used, and POE was used as the oil, the heating performance in the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −7° C.) was 3.15 kW or more, and the discharge temperature was 20.2° C. or higher.
In experimental examples, in which R-744, R-13I1 and R-152a were used as the mixed refrigerants, a refrigerant combination according to the examples in which a sum of contents of R-13I1 and R-152a is 60 wt. % or more was used, and RB 100EV (ENEOS) was used as the oil, the heating performance in the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −7° C.) was 4.01 kW or more, and the discharge temperature was 24.3° C. or higher.
In the experimental example, in which the refrigerant according to Comparative Example 1 using R-1234yf alone was used as the mixed refrigerant, and POE was used as the oil, the heating performance in the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −7° C.) was 2.97 kW, and the discharge temperature was 17.6° C.
In the experimental example, in which the refrigerant according to Comparative Example 1 using R-1234yf alone was used as the mixed refrigerant, and RB 100EV (ENEOS) was used as the oil, the heating performance in the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −7° C.) was 3.25 kW, and the discharge temperature was 20.1° C.
In the experimental examples, in which R-744, R-13I1 and R-152a were used as the mixed refrigerants, a refrigerant combination according to the examples in which a sum of contents of R-13I1 and R-152a is 60 wt. % or more was used, and POE was used as the oil, the heating performance in the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −20° C.) was 2.49 kW or more, and the discharge temperature was 3.6° C. or higher.
In Experimental Examples 2-6, 2-9 and 2-18 using a refrigerant combination of examples in which the content of R-744 based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant is increased to 4 wt. % or more, the heating performance was relatively increased compared to Experimental Example 2-3 using a refrigerant combination of examples in which the content of R-744 based on the total weight of the mixed refrigerant is included in 3 wt. %.
In the experimental examples, in which R-744, R-13I1 and R-152a were used as the mixed refrigerants, a refrigerant combination according to the examples in which a sum of contents of R-13I1 and R-152a is 60 wt. % or more was used, and RB 100EV (ENEOS Co., Ltd.) was used as the oil, the heating performance in the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −20° C.) was 2.57 kW or more, and the discharge temperature was −1° C. or higher.
In the experimental example, in which the refrigerant according to Comparative Example 1 using R-1234yf alone was used as the mixed refrigerant, and POE was used as the oil, the heating performance in the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −20° C.) was reduced, and the discharge temperature was decreased.
In the experimental example, in which the refrigerant according to Comparative Example 1 using R-1234yf alone was used as the mixed refrigerant, and RB 100EV (ENEOS) was used as the oil, the heating performance in the heating evaluation (outside air temperature: −20° C.) was reduced, and the discharge temperature was decreased.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0058372 | May 2023 | KR | national |
| 10-2024-0029329 | Feb 2024 | KR | national |
