Tetrafluoropropene compositions and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a tetrafluoropropene and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.

1 . A composition selected from the group consisting of compositions comprising:
 HFO-1234yf, HFC-152a, and HFC-134a;   HFO-1234yf, HFC-125, and HFC-152a;   HFO-1234yf, HFC-125, and HFC-134a;   HFO-1234yf, HFC-32, and HFC-134a;   HFO-1234yf, HFC-32, HFC-125, and HFC-134a;   HFO-1234ze and HFC-32;   HFO-1234ze and HFC-125;   HFO-1234ze, HFC-125, and HFC-152a;   HFO-1234ze, HFC-125, and HFC-134a;   HFO-1234ze, HFC-32, and HFC-134a; and   HFO-1234ze, HFC-32, HFC-125, and HFC-134a.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising a composition selected from:
 about 20 weight percent to about 90 weight percent trans-HFO-1234ze and from about 80 weight percent to about 10 weight percent HFC-32; and   about 80 weight percent to about 99 weight percent trans-HFO-1234ze and from about 20 weight percent to about 1 weight percent HFC-125.   
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising a near-azeotropic composition comprising:
 about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFO-1234yf, about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFC-152a, and about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFC-134a;   about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFO-1234yf, about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFC-152a, and about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFC-125;   about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFO-1234yf, about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFC-125, and about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFC-134a;   about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFO-1234yf, about 1 weight percent to about 4 weight percent HFC-32, and about 1 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFC-134a;   about 1 weight percent to about 55 weight percent HFO-1234yf; about 45 weight percent to about 98 weight percent HFC-32, and about 1 weight percent to about 55 weight percent HFC-134a;   about 1 weight percent to about 97 weight percent HFO-1234yf, about 1 weight percent to about 97 weight percent HFC-134a, about 1 weight percent to about 97 weight percent HFC-125, and about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent HFC-32;   about 1 weight percent to about 35 weight percent HFO-1234yf, about 1 weight percent to about 40 weight percent HFC-134a, about 30-78 weight percent to about 97 weight percent HFC-125, and about 6 weight percent to about 39 weight percent HFC-32; or   about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent HFO-1234yf, about 1 weight percent to about 40 weight percent HFC-134a, about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent HFC-125, and about 40 weight percent to about 97 weight percent HFC-32.   
     
     
         4 . A non-flammable composition comprising no more than about 60 weight percent HFO-1234yf and at least about 40 weight percent HFC-134a at 60° C. 
     
     
         5 . A non-flammable composition comprising no more than about 53 weight percent HFO-1234yf and at least about 47 weight percent HFC-134a at 100° C. 
     
     
         6 . A composition comprising at least about 78 weight percent HFO-1234yf and up to about 22 weight percent HFC-32. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising at least about 85 weight percent HFO-1234yf and up to about 15 weight percent HFC-32. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one lubricant selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, alkylbenzenes, synthetic paraffins, synthetic naphthenes, poly alpha olefins, polyalkylene glycols, dibasic acid esters, polyesters, neopentyl esters, polyvinyl ethers, silicones, silicate esters, fluorinated compounds, phosphate esters and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A process to produce cooling comprising condensing a composition of  claim 1  and thereafter evaporating said composition in the vicinity of a body to be cooled. 
     
     
         10 . A process to produce heat comprising condensing the composition of  claim 1  in the vicinity of a body to be heated and thereafter evaporating said composition. 
     
     
         11 . A method for replacing R12, R134a, R22, R404A, R407A, R407C, R408A, R410A, R413A, R417A, R419A, R422A, R422B, R422C, R422D, R423A, R424A. R426A, R428A, R430A, R434A, R437A, R438A, R502, R507A, R507B, and R508, in a system that uses, used or was designed to use R12, R134a, R22, R404A, R407A, R407C, R408A, R410A, R413A, R417A, R419A, R422A, R422B, R422C, R422D, R423A, R424A. R426A, R428A, R430A, R434A, R437A, R438A, R502, R507A, R507B, and R508, wherein said method comprises providing the composition of  claim 1  to said system. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigeration, air-conditioning or heat pump apparatus containing the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A stationary air conditioning apparatus containing the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A stationary refrigeration system containing the composition of  claim 1 .