US2013255302A1PendingUtilityA1

Cleaning composition and method for refrigeration system

43
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 30, 2012Filed: Mar 30, 2012Published: Oct 3, 2013
Est. expiryMar 30, 2032(~5.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James B. Tieken
F25B 9/002F25B 45/00F25B 47/00
43
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Claims

Abstract

A method and materials are disclosed for cleaning the internal parts of a refrigeration system while keeping the system on line and operational. The ability to clean the system may bring the energy efficiency of the existing equipment back to or above the original energy efficiency. The ability to also keep the system on line during the cleaning process may avoid extensive down time and may eliminate the need to disassemble and replace system components.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of cleaning a sealed refrigeration system comprising the steps of:
 removing a first refrigerant from the refrigeration system;   installing a second refrigerant blend in the refrigeration system;   contemporaneously cleaning the refrigeration system and operating the refrigeration system with the second refrigerant blend;   removing the second refrigerant blend from the refrigeration system; and   installing a third refrigerant in the refrigeration system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second refrigerant blend includes at least one cleaning material and at least one refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning material of the second refrigerant blend includes at least one of dichloroethylene, decafluoropentane, pentafluorobutane, and pentafluoropropane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the refrigerant of the second refrigerant blend is the same as the third refrigerant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the refrigerant of the second refrigerant blend comprises at least one of pentafluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, butane, and isobutane. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant contains chlorine and the third refrigerant lacks chlorine. 
     
     
         7 . A method of cleaning a sealed refrigeration system comprising the steps of:
 removing a first refrigerant from the refrigeration system;   installing a second refrigerant blend of at least one cleaning material and at least one refrigerant in the refrigeration system;   operating the refrigeration system with the second refrigerant blend;   removing the second refrigerant blend from the refrigeration system; and   installing a third refrigerant in the refrigeration system.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the operating step contemporaneously cleans the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the operating step comprises cycling the second refrigerant blend repeatedly through the refrigeration system to cool a supply of air. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the operating step is performed for at least one hour. 
     
     
         11 . A sealed refrigeration system comprising:
 a first heat exchanger;   a second heat exchanger in communication with the first heat exchanger; and   a cleaning refrigerant blend configured to cycle repeatedly through the first and second heat exchangers, the cleaning refrigerant blend being heated in the first heat exchanger and cooled in the second heat exchanger, the cleaning refrigerant blend comprising:
 at least one cleaning material; and 
 at least one refrigerant. 
   
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning refrigerant blend comprises:
 0.2 to 5 wt. % of the at least one cleaning material; and   95 to 99.8 wt. % of the at least one refrigerant.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning refrigerant blend includes:
 0 to 5 wt. % dichloroethylene,   0 to 5 wt. % decafluoropentane,   0 to 5 wt. % pentafluorobutane,   0 to 5 wt. % pentafluoropropane, and   a balance of the at least one refrigerant.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the at least one cleaning materials individually makes up 0.2 to 5 wt. % of the cleaning refrigerant blend. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning refrigerant blend comprises:
 17 to 84 wt. % pentafluoroethane,   8 to 82 wt. % tetrafluoroethane,   0.5 to 5 wt. % of at least one of butane and isobutane, and   a balance of the at least one cleaning material.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning refrigerant blend comprises:
 76 to 84 wt. % pentafluoroethane,   8 to 15 wt. % tetrafluoroethane,   0.5 to 5 wt. % of at least one of butane and isobutane, and   0.2 to 5 wt. % percent, measured individually or in combination, of at least one of decafluoropentane, dichloroethylene, pentafluorobutane, and pentafluoropropane.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning refrigerant blend comprises:
 54 to 58 wt. % pentafluoroethane,   40 to 45 wt. % tetrafluoroethane,   0.5 to 5 wt. % of at least one of butane and isobutane, and   0.2 to 5 wt. %, percent, measured individually or in combination, of at least one of decafluoropentane, dichloroethylene, pentafluorobutane, and pentafluoropropane.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning refrigerant blend comprises:
 17 to 22 wt. % pentafluoroethane,   75 to 82 wt. % tetrafluoroethane,   0.5 to 5 wt. % of at least one of butane and isobutane, and   0.2 to 5 wt. %, percent, measured individually or in combination, of at least one of decafluoropentane, dichloroethylene, pentafluorobutane, and pentafluoropropane.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , further comprising a final refrigerant that is configured to replace the cleaning refrigerant blend in the refrigeration system when the cleaning refrigerant blend is removed from the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration system of  claim 19 , wherein the final refrigerant is the same as the refrigerant of the cleaning refrigerant blend. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigeration system of  claim 19 , wherein the final refrigerant comprises:
 17 to 84 wt. % pentafluoroethane,   8 to 82 wt. % tetrafluoroethane, and   0.5 to 5 wt. % of at least one of butane and isobutane.

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