Refrigerant compositions

Abstract

Refrigerant compositions are provided which include: (a) pentafluoroethane or trifluoromethoxydifluoromethane or hexafluorocyclopropane or mixtures thereof, in an amount from about 60 to about 70% by weight based on the weight of the composition; (b) 1,1,1,2- or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane or trifluoromethoxypentafluoroethane or 1,1,1,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane or mixtures thereof, in an amount from about 26 to 36% by weight based on the weight of the composition; and (c) an ethylenically unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon, optionally containing one or more oxygen atoms, having a boiling point from −12° C. to +10° C., or a mixture thereof, or a mixture of one or more of the hydrocarbons with one or more other hydrocarbons or ethers, said mixture having a bubble point from −12° C. to +10° C., in an amount from about 1% to 4% by weight based on the weight of the composition. Also provided is a process of refrigeration using the refrigerant compositions and a refrigeration apparatus containing the refrigerant compositions.

1 . A refrigerant composition which comprises:
 (a) pentafluoroethane, trifluoromethoxydifluoromethane or hexafluorocyclopropane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of from about 60 to about 70% by weight based on the weight of the composition;   (b) 1,1,1,2- or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, trifluoromethoxypentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of from about 26 to about 36% by weight based on the weight of the composition; and   (c) an ethylenically unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon, optionally containing one or more oxygen atoms, with a boiling point from −12° C. to +10° C., or a mixture thereof, or a mixture of one or more said hydrocarbons with one or more other hydrocarbons, said mixture having a bubble point from −12° C. to +10° C., in an amount from about 1% to about 4% by weight based on the weight of the composition.   
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein component (c) is present in an amount from about 3 to about 4% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 2 , wherein component (c) is present in an amount of about 3.5% by weight based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein component (c) is n-butane and/or isobutane. 
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein component (c) is n-butane and/or isobutane. 
     
     
         6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein component (c) is a mixture of n-butane and/or isobutane with another hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein component (a) is pentafluoroethane. 
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein component (a) is present in an amount from about 62 to about 67% by weight based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 8 , wherein component (a) is present in an amount above 64 up to 66% weight based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein component (b) is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. 
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein component (b) is present in an amount from about 28 to about 32% by weight based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of component (a): component (b) is at least 1.5:1. 
     
     
         13 . A composition according to  claim 12 , wherein said weight ratio is 1.5:1 to 3:1. 
     
     
         14 . A composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises, as component (a) about 62 to 67% by weight based on the weight of the composition of pentafluoroethane, as component (b) about 3 to 35% by weight based on the weight of the composition of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and, as component (c), butane or a mixture of hydrocarbons comprising butane. 
     
     
         15 . A composition according to  claim 1 , which includes a further component. 
     
     
         16 . A composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the further component is a hydrofluorocarbon. 
     
     
         17 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the hydrofluorocarbon has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of at most −40° C. 
     
     
         18 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the F/H ratio in the hydrofluorocarbon is at least 1. 
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the hydrofluorocarbon is difluoromethane or trifluoromethane. 
     
     
         20 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the further component is present in an amount not exceeding about 5% by weight based on the weight of (a), (b) and (c). 
     
     
         21 . A composition according to  claim 20 , in which the further component is present in an amount not exceeding about 2% by weight based on the weight of (a), (b) and (c). 
     
     
         22 . A process for refrigeration which comprises condensing a composition as in  claim 1 , and thereafter evaporating the composition in the vicinity of a body to be cooled. 
     
     
         23 . A refrigeration apparatus containing, as refrigerant, a composition as in  claim 1 .