Refrigerant compositions for refrigerant compressor systems
Disclosed is a composition comprising difluoromethane (R-32), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), and isobutane (R-600a). A refrigeration system, including a hermetic compressor and a refrigerant composition. The refrigerant composition includes difluoromethane (R-32), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), and isobutane (R-600a).
1. A composition comprising a refrigerant consisting essentially of 15 to 22 weight percent difluoromethane, 70 to 84 weight percent 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and 1.0 to 10 weight percent isobutane.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant consists essentially of 15 to 19 weight percent difluoromethane, 76 to 84 weight percent 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and 1.0 to 6.0 weight percent isobutane.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant consists essentially of 20 to 22 weight percent difluoromethane, 73 to 76 weight percent 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and 4.0 to 5.0 weight percent isobutane.
4. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a non-refrigerant compound in an amount of 0.01 to 49 weight percent based on the weight of the refrigerant composition.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the non-refrigerant compound includes a lubricant selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, alkylbenzene, polyol esters, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl ethers, polycarbonates, perfluoropolyethers, silicones, silicate esters, phosphate esters, paraffins, naphthenes, polyalpha-olefins, and combinations thereof.
6. A refrigeration system, comprising:
a hermetic compressor;
and the composition of claim 1 .
7. The refrigeration system of claim 6 , wherein said hermetic compressor is a rotary, scroll, or reciprocating compressor.
8. The refrigeration system of claim 6 , further comprising a non-refrigerant compound in an amount of 0.01 to 49 weight percent based on the weight of the refrigerant composition.
9. The refrigeration system of claim 8 , wherein the non-refrigerant compound includes a lubricant selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, alkylbenzene, polyol esters, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl ethers, polycarbonates, perfluoropolyethers, silicones, silicate esters, phosphate esters, paraffins, naphthenes, polyalpha-olefins, and combinations thereof.
10. The refrigeration system of claim 6 :
wherein the compressor discharge temperature is below the compressor discharge temperature of R-457A or R-454C.
11. A method of operating a hermetic compressor as part of a refrigeration system, comprising the steps of:
receiving by the hermetic compressor the composition of claim 1 ;
compressing by the hermetic compressor the composition;
wherein the discharge temperature of the hermetic compressor is between 80.0° C. and 100.0° C.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hermetic compressor is a low back pressure hermetic reciprocating compressor and the low back pressure hermetic reciprocating compressor receives the composition of claim 1 from an evaporator having an average evaporator temperature between −40° C. and −5° C.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the discharge temperature of the compressor is between 81.0° C. and 99.0° C.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the hermetic compressor is a low back pressure hermetic reciprocating compressor; and
the method further comprises a step of receiving by the low back pressure hermetic reciprocating compressor the refrigerant composition from an evaporator;
wherein the average evaporator temperature is below −5° C.
15. A method of replacing a first refrigerant composition comprising R-404A, R-457A, R-290, or R-454C with a second refrigerant composition comprising 70 to 84 weight percent 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 15 to 22 weight percent difluoromethane, and 1.0 to 10 weight percent isobutane, wherein the replacing is performed in a refrigeration system including a hermetic compressor.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second refrigerant composition further comprises a non-refrigerant compound in an amount of 0.01 to 50 weight percent based on the weight of the refrigerant composition.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the non-refrigerant compound includes a lubricant selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, alkylbenzene, polyol esters, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl ethers, polycarbonates, perfluoropolyethers, silicones, silicate esters, phosphate esters, paraffins, naphthenes, polyalpha-olefins, and combinations thereof.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the compressor discharge temperature is below the compressor discharge temperature of R- 457 A.