Environmentally safer replacement refrigerant for FREON 12-based refrigeration systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method wherein ozone layer-damaging dichlorodifluoromethane is substituted with a mix of less environmentally damaging refrigerants chlorodifluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane in dichlorodifluoromethane-based air-cooling systems. While less environmentally damaging than dichlorodifluoromethane, the substitute refrigerant has a temperature-pressure relationship similar to that of dichlorodifluoromethane, making the substitute refrigerant suitable for use with dichlorodifluoromethane-based air-cooling systems. The substitute refrigerant can be used alone or in combination with dichlorodifluoromethane. In either event, it is mixed with a relatively small percentage of a hydrophobic lubricating oil which is compatible with both the substitute refrigerant and with dichlorodifluoromethane.

1 . A refrigerant comprising: 
 (a) a mixture of refrigerant gases comprising: 
 (a1) a first refrigerant gas;  
 (a2) a second refrigerant gas;  
   (b) about 0.5% to about 2% by weight of the refrigerant of a hydrophobic lubricating oil that is miscible with the mixture of the refrigerant gases, wherein no more than 5% by weight of the hydrophobic lubricating oil is hydrophilic lubricant.    
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the amount by weight of the first refrigerant gas is about 15% to about 40%; and  
 the amount by weight of the second refrigerant gas is about 85% to about 60%.  
 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first refrigerant gas is chlorodifluoroethane, and the amount by weight of chlorodifluoroethane is about 5% to about 20%; and  
 the second refrigerant gas is tetrafluoroethane, and the amount by weight of tetrafluoroethane is about 95% to about 80%.  
 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant of  claim 3  wherein: 
 the amount by weight of chlorodifluoroethane is about 5% to about 15%; and  
 the amount by weight of tetrafluoroethane is about 95% to about 85%.  
 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil is also miscible with dichlorodifluoromethane.  
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , consisting essentially of the mixture of refrigerant gases and the hydrophobic lubricating oil.  
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , consisting of the mixture of refrigerant gases and the hydrophobic lubricating oil.  
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic lubricating oil is present in an amount of 1.50-1.75% by weight of the refrigerant.  
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is a naphthenic lubricant.  
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant has a viscosity of 5-500 centistokes.  
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant has a viscosity of 5-10 centistokes.  
     
     
         12 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , further comprising a corrosion inhibitor for anhydrous systems.  
     
     
         13 . In an apparatus for refrigerating that is designed for use with ozone layer-damaging dichlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the improvement comprising substituting at least a part of the dichlorodifluoromethane with the refrigerant of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A method for refilling an apparatus for refrigeration that is designed for use with ozone layer-damaging dichlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the method comprising: 
 (1) supplying the refrigerant of  claim 1  under pressure, in an aerosol can fitted with an outlet compatible with a dichlorodifluoromethane recharging manifold of the apparatus; and    (2) adding to said apparatus via the manifold the refrigerant of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         15 . In an apparatus for automobile air-conditioning designed for use with ozone layer-damaging dichlorodifluoromethane refrigerant the improvement comprising substituting at least a portion of the dichlorodifluoromethane with the refrigerant of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A method for refilling an apparatus for automobile air-conditioning that is designed for use with ozone layer-damaging dichlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the method comprising: 
 (1) supplying the refrigerant of  claim 1  under pressure in an aerosol can fitted with an outlet compatible with a dichlorodifluoromethane recharging manifold of the apparatus; and    (2) adding to said apparatus via the manifold the refrigerant of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein no more than 2% by weight of the hydrophobic lubricating oil is hydrophilic lubricant.  
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic lubricating oil contains no hydrophilic lubricant.  
     
     
         19 . A refrigerant comprising: 
 (a) a refrigerant gas;    (b) about 0.5% to about 2% by weight of the refrigerant of a naphthenic/paraffinic hydrophobic lubricating oil that is miscible with the refrigerant gas, wherein no more than 5% by weight of the hydrophobic lubricating oil is hydrophilic lubricant.    
     
     
         20 . The refrigerant of  claim 19 , wherein: the lubricating oil is also miscible with dichlorodifluoromethane.  
     
     
         21 . The refrigerant of  claim 19 , consisting essentially of the mixture of the refrigerant gas and the hydrophobic lubricating oil.  
     
     
         22 . The refrigerant of  claim 19 , consisting of the mixture of the refrigerant gas and the hydrophobic lubricating oil.  
     
     
         23 . The refrigerant of  claim 19 , wherein the hydrophobic lubricating oil is present in an amount of 1.50-1.75% by weight of the refrigerant.  
     
     
         24 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is a naphthenic lubricant.  
     
     
         25 . A method for filling an apparatus for refrigeration, the method comprising: 
 (a) supplying a refrigerant under pressure, in an aerosol can; and    (b) adding to said apparatus the refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant comprises a refrigerant gas and a lubricant.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus is for automobile air-conditioning.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the refrigerant consists essentially of the refrigerant gas and the lubricant.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the refrigerant consists of the refrigerant gas and the lubricant.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the lubricant consists essentially of hydrophobic lubricating oil.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the hydrophobic lubricating oil is present in an amount of 1.50-1.75% by weight of the refrigerant.  
     
     
         31 . Apparatus to be used for charging a refrigerating device with refrigerant, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a container;    (b) a refrigerant in the container comprising: 
 (1) a refrigerant gas;  
 (2) about 0.5% to about 2% by weight of the refrigerant of a lubricant which is miscible with the refrigerant gas.  
   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the lubricant is miscible with R-12 and an R-12 lubricant  
     
     
         33 . The refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic lubricating oil is miscible with R-12 and an R-12 lubricant  
     
     
         34 . The refrigerant of  claim 19 , wherein the hydrophobic lubricating oil is miscible with R-12 and an R-12 lubricant  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the lubricant is miscible with R-12 and an R-12 lubricant.