Compositions and methods for reducing fire hazard of flammable refrigerants
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to compositions comprising flammable refrigerant, fire hazard-reducing agent, and optionally a lubricant suitable for use in a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus. Further, the present invention relates to compositions comprising lubricant and fire hazard-reducing agent and methods for reducing flammability of flammable refrigerant, for delivering a fire hazard-reducing agent to a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus, and for replacing a non-flammable refrigerant with a flammable refrigerant.
1. A composition comprising:
(i) at least one flammable refrigerant; and
(ii) a fire hazard-reducing agent comprising a at least one perfluoropolyether lubricant and at least one additional fire hazard-reducing agent selected from the group consisting of a fluoroketone, a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt and an antimony oxide.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said flammable refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons, fluoroethers, hydrocarbon ethers, hydrocarbons, ammonia and mixtures thereof.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said flammable refrigerant is a mixture, said mixture comprising at least one non-flammable refrigerant.
4. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one lubricant selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, paraffins, naphthenes, synthetic paraffins, alkylbenzenes, poly-alpha-olefins, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl ethers, polyol esters and mixtures thereof.
5. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of anticorrosion, anti-wear, stabilizer and lubricity additives.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said fire hazard-reducing agent comprises at least one perfluoropolyether lubricant and a fluoroketone.
7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein said fluoroketone comprises at least one compounds selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone; 1,1,1,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-2-butanone; 1,1,1,2,4,5,5,5-octafluoro-2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3 pentanone; 1,1,1,2,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone; 1,1,1,2,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-undecafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-3-hexanone; and 1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-octafluoro-1-(trifluoromethoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone.
8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said fire hazard-reducing agent comprises at least one perfluoropolyether lubricant and a carbonate salt or bicarbonate salt.
9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein said carbonate salt comprises iron (II) carbonate.
10. The composition of claim 8 , wherein said bicarbonate salt comprises sodium bicarbonate.
11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said fire hazard-reducing agent comprises at least one perfluoropolyether lubricant and an antimony oxide.
12. A composition comprising:
(i) a fire hazard-reducing agent suitable for use with a flammable refrigerant comprising at least one perfluoropolyether lubricant and at least one additional fire hazard-reducing agent selected from the group consisting of a fluoroketone, a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt and an antimony oxide; and
(ii) a lubricant selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, paraffins, naphthenes, synthetic paraffins, alkylbenzenes, poly-alpha-olefins, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl ethers, polyol esters and mixtures thereof.
13. A method for reducing fire hazard in or in the vicinity of a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus comprising:
(i) combining a fire hazard-reducing agent with a flammable refrigerant; or
(ii) combining a fire hazard-reducing agent with a lubricant selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, paraffins, naphthenes, synthetic paraffins, alkylbenzenes, poly-alpha-olefins, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl ethers, polyol esters and mixtures thereof; and
introducing the combination of fire hazard-reducing agent with flammable refrigerant or lubricant into the refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus;
wherein the fire hazard-reducing agent comprises at least one perfluoropolyether lubricant and at least one additional fire hazard-reducing agent selected from the group consisting of a fluoroketone, a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt and an antimony oxide.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus comprises an automotive air conditioner.
15. A method for replacing a non-flammable refrigerant with a flammable refrigerant in a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus, said method comprising adding a fire hazard-reducing agent to said flammable refrigerant;
wherein the fire hazard-reducing agent comprises at least one perfluoropolyether lubricant and at least one additional fire hazard-reducing agent selected from the group consisting of a fluoroketone, a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt and an antimony oxide.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said non-flammable refrigerant comprises R-134a.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said non-flammable refrigerant comprises R-410A.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said flammable refrigerant comprises R-152a.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said flammable refrigerant comprises R-32.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein said refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus comprises an automotive air conditioner.