Refrigerant with lubricating oil for replacement of R22 refrigerant
AssigneeR421A LLC
InventorsKenneth M. Ponder, Steffan Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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, wherein in the substitute refrigerant said pentafluoroethane is present in an amount of 59% to 57% by weight and said tetrafluoroethane is present in an amount of 41% to 43% by weight on the basis of the combined weights of said pentafluoroethane and said tetrafluoroethane totaling 100%, and wherein said tetrafluoroethane is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.
A method for refilling an apparatus designed for use with a chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the method comprising:
- (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, wherein in the substitute refrigerant said pentafluoroethane is present in an amount of 59% to 57% by weight and said tetrafluoroethane is present in an amount of 41% to 43% by weight on the basis of the combined weights of said pentafluoroethane and said tetrafluoroethane totaling 100%, and wherein the tetrafluoroethane is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, and
- (2) supplying the substitute refrigerant composition under pressure, in a cylinder can fitted with an outlet compatible with a chlorodifluoromethane recharging manifold of the apparatus.
A refrigerant composition comprising a combination of refrigerant gases, the refrigerant gases consisting of a blend of tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane, wherein in the refrigerant composition said pentafluoroethane is present in an amount of 59% to 57% by weight and said tetrafluoroethane is present in an amount of 41% to 43% by weight on the basis of the combined weights of said pentafluoroethane, and said tetrafluoroethane totaling 100% and wherein said tetrafluoroethane is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.