Compositions comprising refrigerant and lubricant and methods for replacing CFC and HCFC refrigerants without flushing
View Patent ↗A composition comprising a refrigerant and a lubricant is disclosed, wherein the refrigerant comprises (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R32, R152a, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; the lubricant comprises (iii) a hydrocarbon-based lubricant component; and (iv) a synthetic lubricant component; and the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total lubricant. Also disclosed are methods of replacing refrigerants in refrigeration or air conditioning systems containing a refrigerant comprising a CFC or HCFC and a lubricant. The methods involve adding to the system (a) a replacement refrigerant comprising (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R152a, R32, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; and (b) a synthetic lubricant component; wherein after refrigerant replacement the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total amount of lubricant in the system.
1. A composition comprising:
(a) a refrigerant comprising R125, R134a, R32, n-butane and isopentane; and
(b) a lubricant comprising
(iii) a hydrocarbon-based lubricant component; and
(iv) a synthetic lubricant component; wherein the synthetic lubricant component is 20% to 30% by weight of the lubricant.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based lubricant is mineral oil and the synthetic lubricant is polyol ester (POE).
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant has a Kauri-butanol value of less than 35.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the lubricant composition has an aniline point temperature of at least 60° C.
5. A method of replacing a refrigerant in a refrigeration or air conditioning system containing a refrigerant comprising a CFC or HCFC and a hydrocarbon-based lubricant, said method comprising the steps of:
(1) removing the CFC or HCFC refrigerant from the refrigeration system while leaving a substantial portion of the hydrocarbon-based lubricant in the system, and
(2) adding to the system
(a) a replacement refrigerant comprising R125, R134a, R32, n-butane and isopentane;
(b) a synthetic lubricant component; wherein after refrigerant replacement the synthetic lubricant component is 20% to 30% by weight of the total amount of lubricant in the system.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based lubricant is mineral oil and the synthetic lubricant is polyol ester (POE).
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the combination of hydrocarbon-based lubricant and synthetic lubricant resulting after refrigerant replacement has a Kauri-butanol value of less than 35.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the combination of hydrocarbon-based lubricant and synthetic lubricant resulting after refrigerant replacement has an aniline point temperature of at least 60° C.
9. A method of replacing a refrigerant in a refrigeration or air conditioning system containing a first refrigerant comprising a CFC or HCFC and a first lubricant, comprising the steps of:
(1) removing the first refrigerant from the refrigeration system while leaving a substantial portion of the first lubricant in the system; and
(2) adding
(a) a second refrigerant wherein the second refrigerant is different from the first refrigerant and comprises R125, R134a, R32, n-butane and isopentane; and
(b) a synthetic lubricant component; wherein after refrigerant replacement the synthetic lubricant component is 20% to 30% by weight of the total amount of lubricant in the system.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the combination of hydrocarbon-based lubricant and synthetic lubricant resulting after refrigerant replacement has a Kauri-butanol value of less than 35.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the combination of hydrocarbon-based lubricant and synthetic lubricant resulting after refrigerant replacement has an aniline point temperature of at least 60° C.