IP Library Granted Patent US 12,297,387
Granted Patent B2
US 12,297,387 · App. 17/282,426 · Granted May 13, 2025

Azeotropic compositions of HFO-1234YF and propylene

Inventors: Mary E Koban (Chadds Ford, PA); Luke David Simoni (Wilmington, DE)
Assignee: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
C09K5/045F25B45/00C09K2205/126C09K2205/24C09K2205/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,297,387
App. No.
17/282,426
Granted
May 13, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Refrigerant compositions including 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) and propylene (R-1270) which exhibit near-azeotropic or azeotrope-like behavior. The refrigerant compositions exhibit a low global warming potential (GWP) and are non-ozone depleting. The refrigerant compositions are useful as a heating or cooling fluids in a variety of heating or cooling systems including heat pumps and other heating and cooling loops, in for example the automotive industry.

Claims (37)

1. A composition comprising:

(a) a binary refrigerant component,

(b) an HFO-1234yf stabilizer component, and

(c) an optional lubricating component having a kinematic viscosity at 40° C., according to ASTM D445, between 75-110 cSt,

(d) said refrigerant component is a binary mixture of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) and propylene (R-1270), the R-1270 is present in an amount of up to 23.8 weight percent,

(e) said HFO-1234yf stabilizer component comprises from 0.01 up to 1 wt. % of one of d-limonene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and tocopherol, and

(f) said optional lubricating component comprises at least one polyol ester (POE),

wherein the composition is near-azeotropic over a temperature range between −30° C. to 40° C. with a glide of less than about 0.75 K at temperature of 40° C., soluble in a lubricant at temperatures over the range extending between about −35° C. and about 100° C.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the propylene (R-1270) is present in an amount of from 15 to 20 weight percent based on the total amount of the refrigerant component.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the heat capacity of the refrigerant component is between 2.9% and 27.5% greater than the heat capacity of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) alone.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the heat capacity of the refrigerant component is between 2% and 22% greater than the heat capacity of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) alone.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the GWP of the refrigerant composition is less than 10.

6. The composition of claim 1 :

wherein the heat capacity ratio of the refrigerant component and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) is between 1.05 and 1.50 at the same temperature and pressure.

7. A heating or cooling system comprising, in a serial arrangement:

a condenser;

an evaporator; and

a compressor, the system further comprising each of the condenser, evaporator and compressor operably connected, the refrigerant composition of claim 1 being circulated through each of the condenser, evaporator and compressor.

8. The heating or cooling system of claim 7 :

wherein the system is an air conditioner for an automotive system.

9. The heating or cooling system of claim 7 :

wherein the system is an air conditioner for a stationary cooling system.

10. The heating or cooling system of claim 7 :

further comprising a 4-way valve.

11. The heating or cooling system of claim 7 :

wherein the system is a heat pump for an automotive system.

12. The refrigeration system of claim 7 :

wherein the system is heat pump for a residential heating or cooling system.

13. A heat pump system comprising the refrigerant composition of claim 1 .

14. An HEV, MHEV, PHEV, or EV heat pump system comprising (a) a binary refrigerant component consisting essentially of HFO-1234yf and at most 23.8 wt. % R-1270, (b) a stabilizer component selected from of d-limonene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and tocopherol in an amount of from 0.01 up to 1 wt. %, and optionally, (c) a HFO-1234yf/R-1270 compatible lubricant, wherein the difference between the bubble point pressure (“BP”) and dew point pressure (“DP”) of the binary refrigerant component is defined as [(BP−DP)/BP]×100≤5 over the temperature range of −30° C. to 40° C., and wherein the binary refrigerant component has a temperature glide of less than 0.75 Kelvin (K) at a temperature of −30° C. up to 10° C.

15. An HEV, MHEV, PHEV, or EV heat pump system in combination with a vehicle electrical system comprising the composition of claim 1 .

16. A method of charging a refrigerant composition to an automotive system comprising: providing the composition of claim 1 to an automotive heating or cooling system.

17. A method comprising:

(a) providing refrigerant composition (i) a refrigerant component, (ii) an HFO-1234yf stabilizer component, and (iii) an optional lubricating component having a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. between 75 and 110 cSt,

(b) said refrigerant component consists essentially of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) and propylene (R-1270) in an amount of about 1 wt. % up to 23.8 weight percent,

(c) said HFO-1234yf stabilizer component comprises one of d-limonene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and tocopherol in an amount from 0.01 up to 1 wt. %, and

(d) charging one of an automotive system or a heat pump of an electrical vehicle system with the composition; and heating or cooling with the composition.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 059552/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: KOBAN, MARY E; SIMONI, LUKE DAVID
To: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
Reel/Frame 058245/0370 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62741261 · Oct 4, 2018
Related Publication 20210388251A1 · Dec 16, 2021
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