1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-Nonafluoro-4-methoxybutane refrigerant compositions comprising hydrocarbon and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems comprising 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-nonafluoro-4-methoxybutane and at least one hydrocarbon. Further, the present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems employing a centrifugal compressor comprising 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-nonafluoro-4-methoxybutane at least one hydrocarbon. The compositions of the present invention may be azeotropic or near-azeotropic and are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat or as heat transfer fluids.

1 . A refrigerant or heat transfer fluid composition comprising C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of: 
 cyclohexane;    cyclopentane;    2,2-dimethylbutane;    2,3-dimethylbutane;    2,3-dimethylpentane;    3-ethylpentane;    n-heptane;    2-methylbutane;    methylcyclopentane;    2-methylhexane;    3-methylhexane;    2-methylpentane;    3-methylpentane; and    n-pentane.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerant or heat transfer fluid composition of  claim 1 , comprising a composition selected from the group consisting of: 
 C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and cyclohexane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and cyclopentane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 2,2-dimethylbutane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 2,3-dimethylbutane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 2,3-dimethylpentane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 3-ethylpentane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and n-heptane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 2-methylbutane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and methylcyclopentane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 2-methylhexane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 3-methylhexane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 2-methylpentane;    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 3-methylpentane; and    C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and n-pentane.    
   
   
       3 . The refrigerant or heat transfer fluid composition of  claim 1 , comprising an azeotropic or near-azeotropic composition selected from the group consisting of: 
 about 1 to about 87 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 99 to about 13 weight percent cyclopentane;    about 27 to about 82 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 73 to about 18 weight percent 2,2-dimethylbutane;    about 39 to about 88 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 61 to about 12 weight percent 2,3-dimethylbutane;    about 65 to about 99 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 35 to about 1 weight percent 2,3-dimethylpentane;    about 68 to about 99 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 32 to about 1 weight percent 3-ethylpentane;    about 1 to about 70 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 99 to about 30 weight percent 2-methylbutane;    about 51 to about 99 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 49 to about 1 weight percent methylcyclopentane;    about 65 to about 99 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 35 to about 1 weight percent 2-methylhexane;    about 66 to about 99 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 34 to about 1 weight percent 3-methylhexane;    about 42 to about 91 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 58 to about 9 weight percent 2-methylpentane;    about 45 to about 99 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 55 to about 1 weight percent 3-methylpentane; and    about 1 to about 73 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and about 99 to about 27 weight percent n-pentane.    
   
   
       4 . The refrigerant or heat transfer fluid composition of  claim 1 , comprising an azeotropic or near-azeotropic composition selected from the group consisting of: 
 51.3 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 48.7 weight percent cyclopentane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 45.3° C.;    57.7 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 42.3 weight percent 2,2-dimethylbutane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 42.5° C.;    66.7 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 33.3 weight percent 2,3-dimethylbutane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 47.5° C.;    91.8 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 8.2 weight percent 2,3-dimethylpentane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 58.7° C.;    94.5 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 5.5 weight percent 3-ethylpentane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 59.4° C.;    34.7 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 65.3 weight percent 2-methylbutane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 25.8° C.;    80.1 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 19.9 weight percent methylcyclopentane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 54.7° C.;    91.9 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 8.1 weight percent 2-methylhexane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 58.5° C.;    92.4 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 7.6 weight percent 3-methylhexane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 58.8° C.;    69.2 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 30.8 weight percent 2-methylpentane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 48.8° C.;    72.3 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 27.7 weight percent 3-methylpentane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 50.5° C.; and    40.4 weight percent C 4 F 9 OCH 3  and 59.6 weight percent n-pentane having a vapor pressure of about 14.7 psia (101 kPa) at a temperature of about 32.4° C.    
   
   
       5 . A process for producing cooling, said process comprising evaporating the composition of  claim 1  in the vicinity of a body to be cooled, and thereafter condensing said composition.  
   
   
       6 . A process for producing heat, said process comprising condensing the composition of  claim 1  in the vicinity of a body to be heated, and thereafter evaporating said composition.  
   
   
       7 . A method of using the compositions of  claim 1  for heat transfer, said method comprising transferring said composition from a heat source to a heat sink.  
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ultra-violet fluorescent dye selected from the group consisting of naphthalimides, perylenes, coumarins, anthracenes, phenanthracenes, xanthenes, thioxanthenes, naphthoxanthenes, fluoresceins, and derivatives thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, dimethylether, polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers, amides, ketones, nitriles, chlorocarbons, esters, lactones, aryl ethers, fluoroethers, and 1,1,1-trifluoroalkanes; and wherein the refrigerant or heat transfer fluid may not be the same compound as the solubilizing agent.  
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said solubilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers represented by the formula R 1 [(OR 2 ) x OR 3 ] y , wherein: x is an integer from 1 to 3; y is an integer 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;    b) amides represented by the formulae R 1 CONR 2 R 3  and cyclo-[R 4 CON(R 5 )—], wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 5 are independently selected from aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and at most one aromatic radical having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms; R 4  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbylene radicals having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms; and wherein said amides have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 300 atomic mass units;    c) ketones represented by the formula R 1 COR 2 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently selected from aliphatic, alicyclic and aryl hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein said ketones have a molecular weight of from about 70 to about 300 atomic mass units;    d) nitriles represented by the formula R 1 CN, wherein R 1  is selected from aliphatic, alicyclic or aryl hydrocarbon radicals having from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein said nitriles have a molecular weight of from about 90 to about 200 atomic mass units;    e) chlorocarbons represented by the formula RCl x  wherein; x is selected from the integers 1 or 2; R is selected from aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and wherein said chlorocarbons have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 200 atomic mass units;    f) aryl ethers represented by the formula R 1 OR 2 , wherein: R 1  is selected from aryl hydrocarbon radicals having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms; R 2  is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and wherein said aryl ethers have a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 150 atomic mass units;    g) 1,1,1-trifluoroalkanes represented by the formula CF 3 R 1 , wherein R 1  is selected from aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from about 5 to about 15 carbon atoms;    h) fluoroethers represented by the formula R 1 OCF 2 CF 2 H, wherein R 1  is selected from aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from about 5 to about 15 carbon atoms; or wherein said fluoroethers are derived from fluoro-olefins and polyols, wherein said fluoro-olefins are of the type CF 2 ═CXY, wherein X is hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine, and Y is chlorine, fluorine, CF 3  or OR f , wherein R f  is CF 3 , C 2 F 5 , or C 3 F 7 ; and said polyols are linear or branched, wherein said linear polyols are of the type HOCH 2 (CHOH) x (CRR′) y CH 2 OH, wherein R and R′ are hydrogen, CH 3  or C 2 H 5 , x is an integer from 0-4, y is an integer from 0-3 and z is either zero or 1, and said branched polyols are of the type C(OH) t (R) u (CH 2 OH) v [(CH 2 ) m CH 2 OH] w , wherein R may be hydrogen, CH 3  or C 2 H 5 , m is an integer from 0 to 3, t and u are 0 or 1, v and w are integers from 0 to 4, and also wherein t+u+v+w=4;    i) lactones represented by structures [B], [C], and [D]:                        wherein, R 1  through R 8  are independently selected from hydrogen, linear, branched, cyclic, bicyclic, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbyl radicals; and the molecular weight is from about 100 to about 300 atomic mass units; and      j) esters represented by the general formula R 1 CO 2 R 2 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently selected from linear and cyclic, saturated and unsaturated, alkyl and aryl radicals; and wherein said esters have a molecular weight of from about 80 to about 550 atomic mass units.    
   
   
       11 . A method for using the composition of  claim 9  said method comprising: introducing the composition into a compression refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus by (i) dissolving the ultraviolet fluorescent dye in the refrigerant composition of heat transfer fluid in the presence of the solubilizing agent, and introducing the combination into said compression refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus or (ii), combining solubilizing agent and UV fluorescent dye and introducing said combination into refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus containing refrigerant and/or heat transfer fluid.  
   
   
       12 . A method for using the composition of  claim 8  in a compression refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus, said method comprising providing said composition to said apparatus, and providing a suitable means for detecting said composition at a leak point or in the vicinity of said apparatus.  
   
   
       13 . A method for detecting leaks, said method comprising providing a compression refrigeration apparatus or air-conditioning apparatus, introducing the composition of  claim 8  into said apparatus, and providing a suitable means for detecting said composition in the vicinity of said apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the said refrigerant or heat transfer composition further comprises at least one ultra-violet fluorescent dye selected from the group consisting of naphthalimides, perylenes, coumarins, anthracenes, phenanthracenes, xanthenes, thioxanthenes, naphthoxanthenes, fluoresceins, derivatives of said dyes and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the said refrigerant or heat transfer composition further comprises at least one ultra-violet fluorescent dye selected from the group consisting of naphthalimides, perylenes, coumarins, anthracenes, phenanthracenes, xanthenes, thioxanthenes, naphthoxanthenes, fluoresceins, derivatives of said dyes and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the said refrigerant or heat transfer composition further comprises at least one solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, dimethylether, polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers, amides, ketones, nitrites, chlorocarbons, esters, lactones, aryl ethers, fluoroethers, and 1,1,1-trifluoroalkanes; and wherein the refrigerant or heat transfer fluid may not be the same compound as the solubilizing agent.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the said refrigerant or heat transfer composition further comprises at least one solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, dimethylether, polyoxyalkylene glycol ethers, amides, ketones, nitrites, chlorocarbons, esters, lactones, aryl ethers, fluoroethers, and 1,1,1-trifluoroalkanes; and wherein the refrigerant or heat transfer fluid may not be the same compound as the solubilizing agent.  
   
   
       18 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a stabilizer, water scavenger, or odor masking agent.  
   
   
       19 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein said stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of nitromethane, hindered phenols, hydroxylamines, thiols, phosphites and lactones.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said method comprises producing cooling in a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus employing a multi-stage centrifugal compressor.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said multi-stage centrifugal compressor is a two-stage centrifugal compressor.  
   
   
       22 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein said water scavenger is an ortho ester.  
   
   
       23 . A process to produce cooling comprising compressing a composition of  claim 1  in a mini-centrifugal compressor powered by an engine exhaust gas driven turbine; condensing said composition; and thereafter evaporating said composition in the vicinity of a body to be cooled.  
   
   
       24 . A process to produce cooling comprising compressing a composition of  claim 1  in a mini-centrifugal compressor powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly with a ratioed belt drive; condensing said composition; and thereafter evaporating said composition in the vicinity of a body to be cooled.  
   
   
       25 . A method for replacing CFC-113 in existing refrigeration apparatus or air-conditioning apparatus, said method comprising providing a composition of  claim 1  as the replacement.