Refrigerant with lubricating oil for replacement of R22 refrigerant

Abstract

An apparatus and method wherein potential ozone layer-damaging chlorodifluoromethane (Refrigerant R-22) is substituted with a mix of less environmentally damaging refrigerants pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane in chlorodifluoromethane-based air-cooling systems mainly in residential cooling. While less environmentally damaging than chlorodifluoromethane, the substitute refrigerant has a temperature-pressure relationship similar to that of chlorodifluoromethane, making the substitute refrigerant suitable for use with chlorodifluoromethane-based air-cooling systems. In this event, it is mixed with a relatively small percentage of a lubricating oil which is compatible with both the unit refrigerant and typical R-22 system design.

1 . In an apparatus designed for use with chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the improvement comprising substituting the chlorodifluoromethane with a substitute blend refrigerant containing a lubricant, 
 said substitute refrigerant consisting of:    about 40% to about 45% by weight pentafluoroethane;    about 55% to about 60% by weight tetrafluoroethane; and    said substitute refrigerant packaged with about 0% to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant with a lubricating oil that is soluble in chlorodifluoromethane, pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane.    
     
     
         2 . The invention according to  claim 1 , the lubricating oil having the following components: 
 65-88% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and    10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum.    
     
     
         3 . The invention according to  claim 1  wherein in the substitute refrigerant said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 40% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 60% by weight.  
     
     
         4 . The invention according to  claim 1  wherein in the substitute refrigerant said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 42% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 58% by weight.  
     
     
         5 . The invention according to  claim 1  wherein in the substitute refrigerant said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 45% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 55% by weight.  
     
     
         6 . A method for refilling an apparatus designed for use with chlorodifluoromethane refrigerant, the method comprising: 
 (1) supplying a substitute refrigerant under pressure, in a cylinder can fitted with an outlet compatible with a chlorodifluoromethane recharging manifold of the apparatus; and    (2) adding to said apparatus via the manifold a substitute refrigerant for chlorodifluoromethane, said substitute refrigerant consisting of: 
 about 40% to about 45% by weight pentafluoroethane;  
 about 55% to about 60% by weight tetrafluoroethane; and  
 said substitute refrigerant packaged with about 0% to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant of a lubricating oil that is soluble in chlorodifluoromethane, pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane.  
   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , the lubricating oil having the following components: 
 65-85% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and    10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein in the substitute refrigerant said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 40% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 60% by weight.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein in the substitute refrigerant said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 42% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 58% by weight.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein in the substitute refrigerant said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 45% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 55% by weight.  
     
     
         11 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A refrigerant consisting of: 
 about 40% to about 45% by weight pentafluoroethane;    about 55% to about 60% by weight tetrafluoroethane;    said refrigerant packaged with about 0% to about 20% by weight of the refrigerant of a lubricating oil that is soluble in chlorodifluoromethane, pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane.    
     
     
         22 . The invention according to  claim 21 , the lubricating oil having the following components: 
 65-85% hydrotreated light napthenic distillate, and    10-20% solvent refined light napthenic distillate petroleum.    
     
     
         23 . A refrigerant according to  claim 21  wherein said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 40% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 60% by weight.  
     
     
         24 . A refrigerant according to  claim 21  wherein said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 45% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 55% by weight with a napthenic lubricant.  
     
     
         25 . A refrigerant according to  claim 21  wherein said pentafluoroethane is present in the ratio of about 40% by weight to said tetrafluoroethane present in an amount of about 60% by weight with a napthenic lubricant.  
     
     
         26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . The refrigerant according to  claim 21 , wherein the lubricating oil further includes an acrylic polymer or a corrosion inhibitor or both.  
     
     
         28 . The refrigerant according to  claim 21 , wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants, paraffinic based lubricants and mixtures thereof, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with mineral oil, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with polyol ester, mineral oil, and polyol ester.  
     
     
         29 . The refrigerant according to  claim 21 , wherein the lubricating oil is an alkylbenzene-based lubricating oil.  
     
     
         30 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning equipment, and HVAC equipment.  
     
     
         31 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil includes an additive selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymer, a corrosion inhibitor and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         32 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants, paraffinic based lubricants and mixtures thereof, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with mineral oil, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with polyol ester, mineral oil, and polyol ester.  
     
     
         33 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil is an alkylbenzene-based lubricating oil.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning equipment, and HVAC equipment.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the lubricating oil includes an additive selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymer, a corrosion inhibitor and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the lubricating oil is selected from the group consisting of napthenic based lubricants, paraffinic based lubricants and mixtures thereof, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with mineral oil, synthetic alkyl aromatic lubricants mixed with polyol ester, mineral oil, and polyol ester.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the lubricating oil is an alkylbenzene-based lubricating oil.