System and method for retrofitting a refrigeration systems from HCFC to HFC refrigerant
AssigneeHudson Technologies, Inc.
InventorCharles Harkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for retrofitting a refrigeration system containing an HCFC refrigerant and a compatible lubricant, with an HFC refrigerant, comprising providing a transport container containing a mixture of a miscible lubricant and the HFC refrigerant, removing the HCFC refrigerant from the refrigeration system while maintaining at least a portion of a lubricant immiscible with the HFC refrigerant, and charging the refrigeration system with the mixture. The polyol ester lubricant may be present in a range exceeding about 5-15% by weight, e.g., 8%.
Claims21
A kit for retrofitting a refrigeration system operating with an HCFC refrigerant and a mineral oil lubricant, for operation with an HFC refrigerant and a polyol ester lubricant, comprising:
- a U.S. Department of Transportation regulation compliant container for common carrier transport;
- an HFC refrigerant selected from the group consisting of R-134a, R-404A, R-407A, R-407C, R-407F, R-410A, R-417A, R-417B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-424A, R-427A, R-428A, R-434A, R-438A, R-442A, and RS07A;
- and
- a polyol ester lubricant in an amount of at least 5% by weight, and less than about 20% by weight.
A method for retrofitting a hermetically sealed refrigeration system from an HCFC refrigerant compatible with a mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant to a HFC refrigerant compatible with polyol ester lubricant, comprising:
- providing a kit, comprising a U.S. Department of Transportation regulation compliant container for common carrier transport;
- an HFC refrigerant;
- and a polyol ester lubricant in an amount of at least 5% by weight, and less than about 20% by weight;
- withdrawing the HCFC from within the refrigeration system through a charge-discharge port, leaving at least a portion of the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant;
- and
- charging the refrigeration system from the HFC mixed with the polyol ester lubricant from the U.S. Department of Transportation regulation compliant container for common carrier transport.
A method for retrofitting a refrigeration system from an HCFC refrigerant mixed with a mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant to an HFC refrigerant, comprising:
- evacuating the HCFC from the system, leaving at least a portion of the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant, the mineral oil or alkyl benzene lubricant being immiscible with the HFC refrigerant and comprising at least 5% by weight of a refrigerant charge capacity of the refrigeration system;
- providing at least one U.S. Department of Transportation regulation compliant container for common carrier transport containing the HFC refrigerant premixed with at least a polyol ester lubricant in an amount of at least 5% by weight of the HFC refrigerant;
- and
- charging the refrigeration system with the HFC refrigerant premixed with the polyol ester lubricant from the U.S. Department of Transportation regulation compliant container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.