Compositions comprising e-1,2-difluoroethylene and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises E-1,2-difluoroethylene. 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 power cycle working fluids.

1 . A composition comprising E-1,2-difluoroethylene and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Z-1,2-difluoroethylene, Z-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene, E-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene, E-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 3,3,3-trifluoropropene, difluoromethane, pentafluoroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1-trifluoroethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, fluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, propane, cyclopropane, propylene, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethylether, trifluoroiodomethane, CF 3 SCF 3  and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising an azeotropic or azeotrope-like combination of:
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and Z-1,2-difluoroethylene; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and Z-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and E-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and E-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and 3,3,3-trifluoropropene; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and difluoromethane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and pentafluoroethane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and 1,1,1-trifluoroethane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and 1,1-difluoroethane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and propane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and dimethyl ether; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and CF 3 I; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and fluoroethane; 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and CF 3 SCF 3 : 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and cyclopropane; or 
 E-1,2-difluoroethylene and propylene. 
 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  comprising:
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent Z-1,2-difluoroethylene; 
 about 34 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 66 weight percent to about 1 weight percent Z-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene; 
 about 52 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 48 weight percent to about 1 weight percent E-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene; 
 about 40 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 60 weight percent to about 1 weight percent E-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 16 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 84 weight percent to about 1 weight percent 3,3,3-trifluoropropene; 
 about 33 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 67 weight percent to about 1 weight percent 3,3,3-trifluoropropene; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 77 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 23 weight percent difluoromethane; 
 about 85 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 15 weight percent to about 1 weight percent difluoromethane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent pentafluoroethane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 24 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 76 weight percent to about 1 weight percent 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane; 
 about 35 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 65 weight percent to about 1 weight percent 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent 1,1,1-trifluoroethane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent 1,1-difluoroethane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent fluoroethane; 
 about 35 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 65 weight percent to about 1 weight percent 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent propane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent cyclopropane; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent propylene; 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent dimethylether; 
 about 24 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 76 weight percent to about 1 weight percent trifluoroiodomethane; or 
 about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 99 weight percent to about 1 weight percent CF 3 SCF 3 . 
 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2  comprising:
 about 11.1 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 89.9 weight percent difluoromethane that forms an azeotrope at about 0° C. and about 119.2 psia (822 kPa); 
 about 7.8 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 92.2 weight percent pentafluoroethane that forms an azeotrope at about 0° C. and about 96.9 psia (668 kPa); 
 about 11 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 89 weight percent 1,1,1-trifluoroethane that forms an azeotrope at about 0° C. and about 90.8 psia (626 kPa); 
 about 65.2 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 34.8 weight percent propane that forms an azeotrope at about ° C. and about 75.7 psia (522 kPa); or 
 about 79.4 weight percent E-1,2-difluoroethylene and about 80.6 weight percent CF 3 SCF 3  that forms an azeotrope at about 0° C. and about 70.5 psia (493 kPa). 
 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one lubricant suitable for use in a heat transfer system. 
     
     
         6 . The compositions of  claim 1  further comprising at least one flammability reducing additive. 
     
     
         7 . The compositions of  claim 1  further comprising at least one stabilizer. 
     
     
         8 . A method for replacing a refrigerant selected from the group consisting of R134a, R22, R12, R404A, R410A, R407A, R407C, R413A, R417A, R422A, R422B, R422C, R422D, R423A, R424A, R426A, R428A, R430A, R434A, R437A, R438A, R507A, and R502 in a system that uses, used or was designed to use said refrigerant, comprising adding to said system a composition comprising E-1,2-difluoroethylene and optionally, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Z-1,2-difluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, Z-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene, E-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene, E-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 3,3,3-trifluoropropene, difluoromethane, pentafluoroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1-trifluoroethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, fluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, propane, cyclopropane, propylene, dimethylether, trifluoroiodomethane, CF 3 SCF 3 , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the system uses, used or was designed to use R22 or R407C. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerant composition comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method of refrigeration, air-conditioning or heating comprising the steps of evaporating and condensing a composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition functions as a refrigerant. 
     
     
         12 . A foam blowing agent comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a foam comprising:
 (a) adding to a foamable composition the composition of  claim 1 ; and   (b) reacting the foamable composition under conditions effective to form a foam.   
     
     
         14 . A sprayable composition comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A process for producing aerosol products comprising the step of adding the composition of  claim 1  to active ingredients in an aerosol container, wherein said composition functions as a propellant. 
     
     
         16 . A process for recovering heat comprising evaporating a liquid phase working fluid comprising a composition of  claim 1  in a heat exchanger in contact with a system that produces heat thus producing a vapor phase working fluid and passing said vapor phase working fluid to an expander wherein mechanical energy is produced. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  further comprising condensing said vapor phase working fluid thus forming a liquid phase working fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17  further comprising recycling said liquid phase working fluid to be evaporated again. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump or power cycle system apparatus containing the composition of  claim 1 .