Refrigerant compositions

Abstract

Refrigerant compositions are disclosed which comprise: (a) pentafluoroethane, octafluoropropane, trifluoromethoxydifluoromethane or hexafluoro-cyclopropane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of at least about 35% based on the weight of the composition, (b) 1,1,1,2- or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, trifluoromethoxypentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of at least about 30% by weight based on the weight of the composition and (c) n-butane, in an amount from about 2.3 to about 4% by weight based on the weight of the composition.

1 . A refrigerant composition which comprises: 
 (a) pentafluoroethane, octafluoropropane, trifluoromethoxydifluoromethane or hexafluoro-cyclopropane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount from 5 to 60% based on the weight of the composition,    (b) pentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2- or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, trifluoromethoxypentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane or 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount from 30 to 94 % by weight based on the weight of the composition and    (c) an unsubstituted hydrocarbon of the formula C n H m  in which n is at least 4 and m is at least 2n-2, other than methyl propane, in an amount from 1 to 10% by weight based on the weight of the composition.    
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1  in which component (c) is present in an amount from 2 to 6% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 2  in which component (c) is present in an amount from 3 to 4% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims which contains one or more of pentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and octafluoropropane.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which component (a) and (b) are both pentafluoroethane which is present in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         6 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which component (a) comprises octafluoropropane and component (b) is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.  
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 6  in which the octafluoropropane is present in an amount from 5 to 15% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 7  in which the octafluoropropane is present in an amount from 7 to 12% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises from 5 to 20% by weight based on the weight of the composition of pentafluoroethane.  
     
     
         10 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which component (b) is present in an amount from 75% to 90% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         11 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in which component (c) possesses 4 or 5 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 11  in which component (c) is n-butane.  
     
     
         13 . A composition according to  claim 12  which comprises: 
 (a) pentafluoroethane, octafluoropropane, trifluoromethoxydifluoromethane or hexafluoro-cyclopropane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of at least about 35% based on the weight of the composition,  
 (b) 1,1,1,2- or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, trifluoromethoxypentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of at least about 30% by weight based on the weight of the composition and  
 (c) n-butane, in an amount from about 2.3 to about 4% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
 
     
     
         14 . A composition according to  claim 13  in which component (c) is present in an amount from about 2.3 to 3.5% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         15 . A composition according to  claim 13  in which component (a) is pentafluoroethane.  
     
     
         16 . A composition according to  claim 15  in which component (a) is present in an amount from 35 to 65% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         17 . A composition according to  claim 16  in which component (a) is present in an amount from 40 to 55% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         18 . A composition according to  claim 17  in which component (a) is present in an amount from 45 to 52% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 13  in which component (b) is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.  
     
     
         20 . A composition according to  claim 19  in which component (b) is present in an amount from 35 to 60% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         21 . A composition according to  claim 20  in which component (b) is present in an amount from 45 to 60% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         22 . A composition according to  claim 21  in which component (b) is present in an amount from 47.5 to 55% by weight based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         23 . A composition according to  claim 13  which comprises a further component.  
     
     
         24 . A composition according to  claim 13  which comprises (a) pentafluoroethane in an amount of about 46.5% by weight (b) 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane in an amount of about 50% by weight and (c) n-butane in an amount of about 3.5% by weight.  
     
     
         25 . Use of a composition as claimed in  claim 1  as a refrigerant in a refrigeration apparatus.  
     
     
         26 . The process for producing refrigeration which comprises condensing a composition as claimed in  claim 1  and thereafter evaporating the composition in the vicinity of a body to be cooled.  
     
     
         27 . A refrigeration apparatus containing, as refrigerant, a composition as claimed in  claim 1.