Hydrocarbon based refrigerant

Abstract

An environmentally friendly hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture may be used as a substitute for existing refrigerant in a refrigerant system. The hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture offers greater operating efficiency and effectively replaces chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. The refrigerant mixture for the refrigeration system includes from about 85% to about 89% by weight propane and from about 11% to about 15% by weight propene.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerant mixture for a refrigeration system comprising from about 85% to about 89% by weight propane and from about 11% to about 15% by weight propene. 
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant mixture according to  claim 1  wherein said mixture comprises from about 86% to about 88% propane by weight, and from about 12% to about 14% propene by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant mixture according to  claim 1  wherein said mixture comprises about 87% propane by weight and about 13% propene by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant mixture according to  claim 1 , wherein said mixture used in air conditioning system provides increased moisture reduction in a target environment of about 20% as compared to standard R22 refrigerant mixtures. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant mixture of  claim 4 , wherein said moisture reduction is about 25% greater as compared to standard R22 refrigerant mixtures. 
     
     
         6 . A method of retrofitting a refrigeration system with a drop-in replacement refrigeration mixture comprising replacing at least a portion of a halocarbon refrigerant with an all hydrocarbon mixture comprising from about 85% to about 89% by weight propane and from about 11% to about 15% by weight propene. 
     
     
         7 . The method of retrofitting according to  claim 6 , wherein 25% less by weight of said hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture replaces said halocarbon refrigerant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of retrofitting according to  claim 6 , wherein 40% less by weight of said hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture replaces said halocarbon refrigerant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of retrofitting according to  claim 6  which further comprises providing a system wide exhaust sufficient to substantially instantaneously remove hydrocarbon escape. 
     
     
         10 . The method of retrofitting, comprising according to  claim 6 , wherein said refrigeration system is purged of halocarbon refrigerant and said hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture is charged into said refrigeration system. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said halocarbon is selected from the group consisting of dichlorodifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, and a mixture of chlorodifluoromethane and chloropentafluoroethane. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerant mixture for a refrigeration system comprising from about 45% to about 55% by weight propane, from about 5% to about 11% by weight propene, and greater than about 36% butane by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant mixture according to  claim 12  wherein said mixture comprises from about 48% to about 53% propane by weight, from about 7% to about 10% propene by weight, and from about 37% to about 45% butane by weight. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerant mixture according to  claim 12  wherein said mixture comprises about 51% propane by weight, about 8% propene by weight, and about 41% butane by weight. 
     
     
         15 . A method of recharging a refrigeration system with a drop-in replacement refrigeration mixture comprising from about 45% to about 55% by weight propane, from about 5% to about 11% by weight propene, and greater than 36% butane. 
     
     
         16 . The method of recharging according to  claim 15  wherein said refrigeration system is designed to operate with chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of recharging according to  claim 16  wherein said refrigeration system is purged of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant and said drop-in replacement refrigerant mixture is inserted into said refrigeration system. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said chlorofluorocarbons are selected from the group consisting of dichlorodifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, and a mixture of chlorodifluoromethane and chloropentafluoroethane.