Refrigerants

Abstract

A refrigerant comprising (1) dichlorotrifluoroethane and (2) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of chlorotetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,1-trifluoroethane and 1,1-difluoroethane.

Description

This invention relates to a working fluid for a refrigerator, namely a refrigerant.

Refrigerants heretofore known include chlorofluoroalkanes, fluoroalkanes, azeotropic compositions thereof and like compositions which are generally called CFCs. In recent years, however, it has been suggested that fully halogenated CFCs, i.e. fully halogen-substituted alkanes, released into the atmosphere would deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, thereby inflicting a serious adverse influence on the ecosystem including humans on the earth. A worldwide agreement, "The Montreal Protocol," signed in September 1987, calls for a restriction of consumption and production of the major ozone-depleting CFCs. Among the CFCs to be controlled for the restriction is trichlorofluoromethane (hereinafter referred to as "R-11"). With the spread of refrigerators and air-conditioning systems, the control over the use and production of CFCs enjoying an annually increasing demand greatly affects our residential environment and the current social framework as a whole. In consequence, there is an urgent demand for development of novel refrigerants with a high refrigerating performance, particularly a high coefficient of performance, which can be substituted for R-11. Dichlorotrifluoroethane is a promising candidate substitute for R-11 to minimize ozone depletion, but has a low refrigerating performance in comparison with R-11.

We conducted extensive research to develop novel refrigerants which have a high coefficient of performance and which, if released into the atmosphere, would exert little influence on the ozone layer. Our research revealed that when a certain class of CFC compound is mixed with dichlorotrifluoroethane, a refrigerant can be obtained which can exhibit a higher coefficient of performance than trichlorofluoroethane.

The present invention provides a refrigerant comprising (1) dichlorotrifluoroethane and (2) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of chlorotetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,1-trifluoroethane and 1,1-difluoroethane.

The present invention will be described blow in more detail with reference to, when required, the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show graphs indicative of the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerants according to the invention.

A preferred class of refrigerant composition according to the invention comprises (1) about 10 to about 97% by weight of dichlorotrifluoroethane and (2) about 90 to about 3% by weight of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of chlorotetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane (R-125), tetrafluoroethane, 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (R-142b), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a). The refrigerants containing the CFC compounds (1) and (2) in said range of ratio exhibit a higher coefficient of performance than dichlorofluoroethane singly used. Of refrigerants composed of dichlorotrifluoroethane and chlorotetrafluoroethane or 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane, a preferred one comprises about 40 to about 90% by weight of the former and about 60 to about 10% by weight of the latter. Of refrigerants composed of dichlorotrifluoroethane and pentafluoroethane, a preferred one comprises about 20 to about 97% by weight of the former and about 80 to about 3% by weight of the latter. Of refrigerants composed of dichlorotrifluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane, a preferred one comprises about 25 to about 97% by weight of the former and about 75 to about 3% by weight of the latter. Of refrigerants composed of dichlorotrifluoroethane and 1,1,1-trifluoroethane, a preferred one comprises about 30 to about 97% by weight of the former and about 70 to about 3% by weight of the latter. Of refrigerants composed of dichlorotrifluoroethane and 1,1-difluoroethane, a preferred one comprises about 40 to about 97% by weight of the former and about 60 to about 3% by weight of the latter. The refrigerants having these preferred compositions can display a higher coefficient of performance than R-11.

Examples of dichlorotrifluoroethane to be used in the invention are 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (R-123), 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (R-123a) and 1,1-dichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (R-123b). Examples of chlorotetrafluoroethane for use herein are 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-124) and 1-chloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-124a). Examples of tetrafluoroethane for use herein are 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134). Among these examples, R-123 and R-123a or R-123b can achieve an equivalent effect in the composition of the invention and thus can be replaced by each other or mixed with each other in use. Similar use can be made of R-124 and R-124a and also R-134a and R-134.

The refrigerants of the invention are smaller in the ratio of specific heat and lower in the temperature of gas discharged from the compressor than chlorodifluoromethane (R-22) and are therefore suitable for use as a cooling medium for a refrigeration cycle using a relatively high temperature as in an air-conditioning equipment of the heat pump type.

The composition of the invention can utilize the feature of non-azeotropic mixture. Generally a single compound or an azeotrope is vaporized at a constant temperature in an evaporator because of its evaporation under constant pressure, whereas a non-azeotropic mixture has a low temperature at the inlet of the evaporator and a high temperature at the outlet thereof. On the other hand, a fluid to be cooled is caused to flow in countercurrent to the refrigerant in the evaporator to undergo heat exchange and thus has a temperature gradient along the flow direction even if the refrigerant is vaporized at a constant temperature. In other words, a temperature difference between the refrigerant and the fluid to be cooled diminishes in the evaporator as the fluid flows forwardly. In use, the composition of the invention can be rendered close in temperature to the temperature gradient of the fluid to be cooled in the evaporator, so that the refrigeration efficiency, namely the coefficient of performance, can be enhanced.

The features of the invention will be clarified below with reference to the following Examples and Comparison Example.

EXAMPLES 1 TO 6 AND COMPARISON EXAMPLE 1

Refrigerants were prepared by mixing together R-123 and R-124 in the various proportions shown below in Table 1 (weight ratio).

A refrigerator was operated with an output of 1 hp. using the refrigerants of the composition shown below in Table 1. Each refrigerant started condensation at 50.degree. C. in a condenser and had a temperature of -50.degree. C. in the inlet of the evaporator with a superheat degree of 5.degree. C. Table 1 shows the maximum evaporating temperature (.degree. C.), refrigerating capacity (kcal/m.sup.3), coefficient of performance and discharge temperature (.degree. C.) at the compressor.

Table 1 also shows the results achieved by using R-123 alone (Comparison Example 1).

FIG. 1 indicates graphs each illustrating the relationship between the proportions of R-123 and R-124 and the coefficient of performance (curve A) and the relationship between the proportions thereof and the refrigerating capacity (curve A'), respectively.

Table 1 and FIG. 1 reveal that the refrigerants of the present invention have outstanding properties.

TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________ Composition of Maximum Discharge refrigerant evaporating Refrigerating Coefficient temperature (wt. %) temperature capacity of at compressorRefrigerant R-123 R-124 (.degree.C.) (kcal/m.sup.3) performance (.degree.C.)__________________________________________________________________________Comparison 100 0 -50.0 3.89 1.47 74.9Example 1Example 1 97 3 -48.9 4.36 1.51 73.7Example 2 80 20 -45.1 6.81 1.65 69.2Example 3 60 40 -43.5 9.41 1.68 65.9Example 4 40 60 -43.8 11.7 1.60 63.6Example 5 20 80 -45.7 14.0 1.43 61.2Example 6 10 90 -47.5 15.5 1.32 59.2__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES 7 TO 12

The properties of refrigerants were investigated in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 6 with the exception of using the refrigerants prepared by mixing together R-123 and R-125 in the various proportions (weight ratio) shown below in Table 2.

Table 2 shows the maximum evaporating temperature (.degree. C.), refrigerating capacity (kcal/m.sup.3), coefficient of performance and discharge temperature (.degree. C.) at the compressor in respect of the refrigerants.

FIG. 2 indicates graphs each illustrating the relationship between the proportions of R-123 and R-125 and the coefficient of performance (curve B) and the relationship between the proportions thereof and the refrigerating capacity (curve B'), respectively.

TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________ Composition of Maximum Discharge refrigerant evaporating Refrigerating Coefficient temperature (wt. %) temperature capacity of at compressorRefrigerant R-123 R-125 (.degree.C.) (kcal/m.sup.3) performance (.degree.C.)__________________________________________________________________________Example 7 97 3 -41.7 7.69 1.84 70.0Example 8 80 20 -25.2 29.5 2.88 64.4Example 9 60 40 -20.3 51.2 3.06 65.0Example 10 40 60 -22.8 61.2 2.61 68.9Example 11 20 80 -31.5 58.1 1.79 76.7Example 12 10 90 -38.9 53.1 1.28 82.0__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES 13 TO 18

The properties of refrigerants were investigated in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 6 with the exception of using the refrigerants prepared by mixing together R-123 and R-134a in the various proportions (weight ratio) shown below in Table 3.

Table 3 shows the maximum evaporating temperature (.degree. C.), refrigerating capacity (kcal/m.sup.3), coefficient of performance and discharge temperature (.degree. C.) at the compressor in respect of the refrigerants.

FIG. 3 indicates graphs each illustrating the relationship between the proportions of R-123 and R-134a and the coefficient of performance (curve C) and the relationship between the proportions thereof and the refrigerating capacity (curve C'), respectively.

TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________ Composition of Maximum Discharge refrigerant evaporating Refrigerating Coefficient temperature (wt. %) temperature capacity of at compressorRefrigerant R-123 R-134a (.degree.C.) (kcal/m.sup.3) performance (.degree.C.)__________________________________________________________________________Example 13 97 3 -46.5 5.39 1.62 73.3Example 14 80 20 -38.3 12.7 2.02 72.5Example 15 60 40 -36.3 19.3 2.04 75.4Example 16 40 60 -37.9 24.1 1.85 79.8Example 17 20 80 -42.2 28.4 1.56 84.3Example 18 10 90 -45.4 31.8 1.40 85.3__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES 19 TO 24

The properties of refrigerants were investigated in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 6 with the exception of using the refrigerants prepared by mixing together R-123 and R-142b in the various proportions (weight ratio) shown below in Table 4.

Table 4 shows the maximum evaporating temperature (.degree. C.), refrigerating capacity (kcal/m.sup.3), coefficient of performance and discharge temperature (.degree. C.) at the compressor in respect of the refrigerants.

FIG. 4 indicates graphs each illustrating the relationship between the proportions of R-123 and R-142b and the coefficient of performance (curve D) and the relationship between the proportions thereof and the refrigerating capacity (curve D'), respectively.

TABLE 4__________________________________________________________________________ Composition of Maximum Discharge refrigerant evaporating Refrigerating Coefficient temperature (wt. %) temperature capacity of at compressorRefrigerant R-123 R-142b (.degree.C.) (kcal/m.sup.3) performance (.degree.C.)__________________________________________________________________________Example 19 97 3 -48.7 4.49 1.52 74.7Example 20 80 20 -44.7 7.47 1.67 75.6Example 21 60 40 -43.6 10.4 1.68 77.9Example 22 40 60 -44.2 13.1 1.61 80.3Example 23 20 80 -46.3 16.0 1.50 81.6Example 24 10 90 -47.8 17.8 1.45 81.3__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES 25 TO 30

The properties of refrigerants were investigated in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 6 with the exception of using the refrigerants prepared by mixing together R-123 and R-143a in the various proportions (weight ratio) shown below in Table 5.

Table 5 shows the maximum evaporating temperature (.degree. C.), refrigerating capacity (kcal/m.sup.3), coefficient of performance and discharge temperature (.degree. C.) at the compressor in respect of the refrigerants.

FIG. 5 indicates graphs each illustrating the relationship between the proportions of R-123 and R-143a and the coefficient of performance (curve E) and the relationship between the proportions thereof and the refrigerating capacity (curve E'), respectively.

TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________ Composition of Maximum Discharge refrigerant evaporating Refrigerating Coefficient temperature (wt. %) temperature capacity of at compressorRefrigerant R-123 R-143a (.degree.C.) (kcal/m.sup.3) performance (.degree.C.)__________________________________________________________________________Example 25 97 3 -41.6 7.87 1.85 70.4Example 26 80 20 -26.7 30.0 2.71 67.8Example 27 60 40 -24.3 45.4 2.64 71.3Example 28 40 60 -28.2 50.9 2.14 77.7Example 29 20 80 -36.2 49.1 1.50 86.2Example 30 10 90 -41.8 49.2 1.18 88.8__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES 31 TO 36

The properties of refrigerants were investigated in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 6 with the exception of using the refrigerants prepared by mixing together R-123 and R-152a in the various proportions (weight ratio) shown below in Table 6.

Table 6 shows the maximum evaporating temperature (.degree. C.), refrigerating capacity (kcal/m.sup.3), coefficient of performance and discharge temperature (.degree. C.) at the compressor in respect of the refrigerants.

FIG. 6 indicates graphs each illustrating the relationship between the proportions of R-123 and R-152a and the coefficient of performance (curve F) and the relationship between the proportions thereof and the refrigerating capacity (curve F'), respectively.

TABLE 6__________________________________________________________________________ Composition of Maximum Discharge refrigerant evaporating Refrigerating Coefficient temperature (wt. %) temperature capacity of at compressorRefrigerant R-123 R-152a (.degree.C.) (kcal/m.sup.3) performance (.degree.C.)__________________________________________________________________________Example 31 97 3 -44.7 6.30 1.70 73.6Example 32 80 20 -36.3 16.2 2.07 78.7Example 33 60 40 -36.3 23.0 1.96 87.6Example 34 40 60 -39.2 27.7 1.74 96.0Example 35 20 80 -43.6 33.1 1.53 101.7Example 36 10 90 -46.5 37.4 1.45 102.2__________________________________________________________________________

Claims

1. In the development of heating or cooling conditions in a vapor-compression cycle using a liquid refrigerant, the improvement wherein the refrigerant comprises (1) about 10 to about 97% by weight of dichlorotrifluoroethane and (2) about 90 to about 3% by weight of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,1-trifluoroethane and 1,1-difluoroethane.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerant comprises about 40 to about 90% by weight of dichlorotrifluoroethane and about 60 to about 10% by weight of 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerant comprises about 25 to about 97% by weight of dichlorotrifluoroethane and about 75 to about 3% by weight of at least one of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane.

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerant comprises about 30 to about 97% by weight of dichlorotrifluoroethane and about 70 to about 3% by weight of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerant comprises about 40 to about 97% by weight of dichlorotrifluoroethane and about 60 to about 3% by weight of 1,1-difluoroethane.