Refrigeration Systems

Abstract

Refrigeration systems are configured to utilize an operating fluid comprising an activated oil blend. The activated oil blend can comprise one or more precursor oils that are blended in a closed vessel containing a catalyst. Preferred operating fluids also comprise a polar heat transfer fluid such as r-134a, wherein at least some of the polar heat transfer molecules are complexed to a component of the activated oil blend.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 a compressor that moves an operating fluid between a condensor and an evaporator;   wherein the operating fluid comprises (a) an activated oil blend, and (b) a polar heat transfer fluid molecule complexed to a component of the oil blend via Van der Waals forces; and   wherein the activated oil blend comprises at least a first precursor oil blended in a closed vessel comprising a catalyst.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the polar heat transfer fluid molecule comprises a hydrohalocarbon. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the polar heat transfer fluid molecule comprises a hydrofluorocarbon. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first precursor oil is selected from the list consisting of walnut oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the hydrofluorocarbon comprises at least 90 wt % of the operating fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activated oil blend further comprises a second precursor oil, and wherein the second precursor oil is selected from the list consisting of walnut oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the polar heat transfer fluid molecule comprises r-134a, known chemically as, 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (CH 2 FCF 3 ). 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the r-134a is present in the operating fluid in at least 20 wt %. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressures and concentrations of the operating fluid are such that the oil blend is a liquid upon exiting the condenser and a gas when exiting the evaporator. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises copper. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises a polyamide. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activated oil blend comprises at least a first precursor oil blended in a closed vessel comprising a catalyst under a heat of at least 15 degrees Celsius and under a pressure of at least 1.25 atm. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activated oil blend comprises an oleic acid to linoleic acid ratio of between 70:30 and 50:50. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first precursor oil comprises canola oil, and the second precursor oil comprises sunflower oil. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the canola oil and the sunflower oil are present in a ratio of 3:1. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the component of the oil blend comprises a fatty acid molecule. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the component of the oil blend comprises a double carbon bond of the fatty acid molecule.