Absorption refrigeration cycles using a lgwp refrigerant

Abstract

An absorptive refrigeration method and refrigerant/absorbant pairs comprising fluorinated organic compounds, such as fluorinated organic compounds having from one to eight carbon atoms (C1-C8), including hydrofluoroolefin and/or hydrochlorofluoroolefin compounds. In certain embodiments, a fluorinated organic compound, including certain hydrofluoroolefin and/or hydrochlorofluoroolefin compounds (e.g. C2-C4 hydrofluoroolefin and/or hydrochlorofluoroolefin compounds) is/are utilized as the refrigerant, with the absorbant portion either being a fluorinated organic compound or a non-fluorinated oil.

1 . A method for providing refrigeration, comprising:
 a. evaporating a first liquid-phase refrigerant stream comprising one or more fluorinated organic compounds having from one to eight carbon atoms, to produce a low-pressure vapor-phase refrigerant stream, wherein said evaporating transfers heat from a system to be cooled;   b. contacting said low-pressure vapor-phase refrigerant stream with a first liquid-phase solvent stream comprising one or more organic compounds having an aggregate number of carbon/oxygen atoms that is at least two (2) greater than an aggregate number of carbon/oxygen atoms in the refrigerant under conditions effective to dissolve substantially all of the refrigerant of the vapor-phase refrigerant stream into the solvent of the first liquid-phase solvent stream to produce a refrigerant-solvent solution stream;   c. increasing the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant-solvent solution stream;   d. thermodynamically separating said refrigerant-solvent solution stream into a high-pressure vapor-phase refrigerant stream and a second liquid-phase solvent stream;   e. recycling said second liquid-phase solvent stream to step (b) to produce said first liquid-phase solvent stream;   f. condensing said high-pressure vapor-phase refrigerant stream to produce a second liquid phase refrigerant stream; and   g. recycling said second liquid-phase refrigerant stream to step (a) to produce said first liquid-phase refrigerant stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said one or more organic compounds in said first liquid-phase solvent stream has a boiling point that is at least 40° C. higher than the boiling point of the one or more organic compounds in said first liquid-phase refrigerant stream. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein one or more organic compounds in said first liquid-phase refrigerant stream are selected from the group consisting of HFCs, HFOs, HFCOs, CO2, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said one or more organic compounds in said first liquid-phase refrigerant stream are selected from one or more of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene, difluoromethane, trans-1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene, cis-1,1,1,3-tertafluoropropene, 3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said one or more organic compounds in said first liquid-phase solvent stream are selected from the group consisting of fluoroethers, fluoroketones, HFC, HFOs, HFCOs, and combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the organic compounds in said first liquid-phase solvent stream are selected from the group consisting of nonafluorobutyl ether, perfluoro(2-methyl-3-pentanone), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said one or more organic compounds in said first liquid-phase refrigerant stream are selected from one or more of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene, difluoromethane, trans-1,1,1,3-tertafluoropropene, cis-1,1,1,3-tertafluoropropene, 3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and combinations thereof and said organic compounds in said first liquid-phase solvent stream are selected from the group consisting of nonafluorobutyl ether, perfluoro(2-methyl-3-pentanone), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said one or more organic compounds in said first liquid-phase refrigerant stream comprises at least one compound having the formula C w H x F y Cl z  where w is an integer from 3 to 5, x is an integer from 1 to 3, z is an integer from 0 to 1, and y=2w−x−z. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of poly-ethylene glycol oils, polyol ester oils, polypropylene glycol dimethyl ether-based and mineral oil. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said increasing the temperature of said solution in step (c) involves the transfer of heat from a source of industrial waste heat to said solution. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said increasing the temperature of said solution in step (c) involves the transfer of geothermal heat to said solution. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said increasing the temperature of said solution in step (c) involves the transfer of solar heat to said solution. 
     
     
         13 . An absorption refrigeration system comprising:
 a. a refrigerant selected from the group consisting of one or more fluorinated organic compounds   b. an absorbent comprising one or more fluorinated organic compounds having from one to eight carbon atoms (C1-C8) having a boiling point that is at least 40° C. higher than the boiling point of the refrigerant;   c. an evaporator suitable for evaporating said refrigerant;   d. a mixer suitable for mixing said refrigerant with said absorbent, wherein said mixer is fluidly connected to said evaporator;   e. an absorber suitable for dissolving at least a portion of said refrigerant into said absorbent to produce a solution, wherein said absorber is fluidly connect to said mixer;   f. a pump fluidly connected to said absorber;   g. a heat exchanger fluidly connected to said pump;   h. a separator suitable for thermodynamically separating said solution into a vapor refrigerant component and a liquid absorbent component, wherein said separator is fluidly connected to said heat exchanger;   i. an oil return line fluidly connected to said separator and said mixer, and   j. a condenser suitable for condensing said vapor refrigerant component, wherein said condenser is fluidly connected to said separator and said evaporator.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of HFCs, HFOs, HFCOs, CO2, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the refrigerant is selected from one or more of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene, difluoromethane, trans-1,1,1,3-tertafluoropropene, cis-1,1,1,3-tertafluoropropene, 3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the absorbent is selected from the group consisting of fluoroethers, fluoroketones, HFC, HFOs, HFCOs, and combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the absorbent is selected from the group consisting of nonafluorobutyl ether, perfluoro(2-methyl-3-pentanone), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said refrigerant comprises at least one compound having the formula C w H x F y Cl z  where w is an integer from 3 to 5, x is an integer from 0 to 3, z is an integer from 0 to 1, and y=2w−x−z, provided that x and z are not both zero.