Refrigerant compositions containing a compatibilizer

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions that are useful for compatabilizing a conventional, non-polar, compression refrigeration lubricant and a hydrofluorocarbon and/or hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant in a compression refrigeration apparatus. Additionally, these composition promote efficeint return of lubricant from the non-compressor zones to the compressor zones of the aforesaid refrigeration apparatus.

1 . A lubricant composition for use in compression refrigeration and air conditioning, comprising: 
 (a) at least one lubricant selected from the group consisting of paraffins, napthenes, aromatics and poly-α-olefins;    (b) at least one compatibilizer selected from polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , wherein: x is selected from integers from 1 to 3; y is selected from integers from 1 to 4; R 1  is selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and y bonding sites; R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R 3  is selected from hydrogen, and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; at least one of R 1  and R 3  is selected from said hydrocarbon radicals; and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 300 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.3 to about 5.0 wherein the weight ratio of said lubricant to said compatibilizer is from about 99:1 to about 1:1.    
     
     
         2 . A refrigerant composition for use in compression refrigeration and air conditioning, comprising: 
 (a) at least one halogenated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons;    (b) at least one lubricant selected from the group consisting of paraffins, napthenes, aromatics and poly-α-olefins; and    (c) at least one compatibilizer selected from the group consisting of: polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , wherein: x is selected from integers from 1 to 3; y is selected from integers from 1 to 4; R 1  is selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and y bonding sites; R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R 3  is selected from hydrogen, and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; at least one of R 1  and R 3  is selected from said hydrocarbon radicals; and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 300 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.3 to about 5.0 wherein the weight ratio of said lubricant to said compatibilizer is from about 99:1 to about 1:1.    
     
     
         3 . A refrigerant composition for use in compression refrigeration and air conditioning apparatus containing paraffinic, napthenic, aromatic and/or poly-α-olefinic lubricant, said refrigerant composition comprising: 
 (a) at least one halogenated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons; and  
 (b) at least one compatibilizer selected from the group consisting of: polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , wherein: x is selected from integers from 1 to 3; y is selected from integers from 1 to 4; R 1  is selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and y bonding sites; R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R 3  is selected from hydrogen, and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; at least one of R 1  and R 3  is selected from said hydrocarbon radicals; and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 300 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.3 to about 5.0.  
 
     
     
         4 . A process for returning lubricant from a non-compressor zone to a compressor zone in a compression refrigeration system comprising: 
 (a) contacting a lubricant selected from the group consisting of paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics, and polyalphaolefins, in said non-compressor zone with a halogenated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, in the presence of a compatibilizer to form a solution comprising said lubricant, said halogenated hydrocarbon, and said compatibilizer; and    (b) transferring said solution from said non-compressor zone to said compressor zone of said refrigeration system; wherein said compatibilizer is selected from polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , wherein: x is selected from integers from 1 to 3; y is selected from integers from 1 to 4; R 1  is selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and y bonding sites; R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R 3  is selected from hydrogen, and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; at least one of R 1  and R 3  is selected from said hydrocarbon radicals; and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 300 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.3 to about 5.0;    wherein the weight ratio of said lubricant to said compatibilizer is from about 99:1 to about 1:1.    
     
     
         5 . A method of—solubilizing a halogenated hydrocarbon refrigerant selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, in a lubricant selected from the group consisting of paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics, and polyalphaolefins, which comprises the steps of contacting said lubricant with said halogenated hydrocarbon refrigerant in the presence of an effective amount of a compatibilizer and forming a solution of said lubricant and said halogenated hydrocarbon refrigerant, wherein said compatibilizer is selected from polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] x , wherein: x is selected from integers from 1 to 3; y is selected from integers from 1 to 4; R 1  is selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and y bonding sites; R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R 3  is selected from hydrogen, and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; at least one of R 1  and R 3  is selected from said hydrocarbon radicals; and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 300 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.3 to about 5.0; wherein the weight ratio of said lubricant to said compatibilizer is from about 99:1 to about 1:1.  
     
     
         6 . A method of lubricating a compressor in a compression refrigeration apparatus containing a halogenated hydrocarbon refrigerant selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, comprising the step of adding to said compressor a composition comprising: 
 (a) at least one lubricant selected from the group consisting of paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics, and polyalphaolefins; and    (b) at least one compatibilizer selected from the group consisting of: polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , wherein: x is selected from integers from 1 to 3; y is selected from integers from 1 to 4; R 1  is selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and y bonding sites; R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R 3  is selected from hydrogen, and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; at least one of R 1  and R 3  is selected from said hydrocarbon radicals; and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 300 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.3 to about 5.0; wherein the weight ratio of said lubricant to said compatibilizer is from about 99:1 to about 1:1.    
     
     
         7 . The composition of claims  1 ,  2  or  3 , wherein in the polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers are represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , x is selected from the integers 1 or 2, y is 1, R 1  and R 3  are independently selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 250 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.5 to about 4.0.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of claims  2  or  3 , wherein in the polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1  [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , x is selected from the integers 1 or 2, y is 1, R 1  and R 3  are independently selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having 3 carbon atoms, and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 125 to about 250 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.5 to 4.0 when said halogenated hydrocarbon consists of hydrofluorocarbons, and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 3.5 to 5.0 when said halogenated hydrocarbon comprises at least one hydrochlorofluorocarbon.  
     
     
         9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . A method for delivering a compatibilizer to a compression refrigeration apparatus, comprising the step of adding the composition of  claim 3  to said apparatus.  
     
     
         11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein in the polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y  x is selected from the integers 1 or 2, y is 1, R 1  and R 3  are independently selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 250 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.5 to about 4.0.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  or  6 , wherein in the polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1  [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y  x is selected from the integers  1  or  2 , y is 1, R 1  and R 3  are independently selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 250 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.5 to about 4.0.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein in the polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1  [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , x is selected from the integers 1 or 2, y is 1, R 1  and R 3  are independently selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having 3 carbon atoms, and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 125 to about 250 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.5 to 4.0 when said halogenated hydrocarbon consists of hydrofluorocarbons, and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 3.5 to 5.0 when said halogenated hydrocarbon comprises at least one hydrochlorofluorocarbon.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  or  6 , wherein in the polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1  [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , x is selected from the integers 1 or 2, y is 1, R 1  and R 3  are independently selected from hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having 3 carbon atoms, and wherein said polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers have a molecular weight of from about 125 to about 250 atomic mass units and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2.5 to 4.0 when said halogenated hydrocarbon consists of hydrofluorocarbons, and a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 3.5 to 5.0 when said halogenated hydrocarbon comprises at least one hydrochlorofluorocarbon.