Methods and containers for transporting, transferring, storing and using refrigerants

Abstract

A system and method for delivering a refrigerant to a refrigerant system. The system includes a distribution system comprising a distribution vessel, a transfer line, at least one pump, a distribution line and a distribution line branch arranged and disposed to transfer refrigerant from the distribution vessel to the refrigerant system. The system additionally includes a monitoring system comprising one or more sensors arranged and disposed to measure at least one distribution parameter within the distribution system and a recovery system arranged and disposed to selectively receive refrigerant based upon the refrigerant suitability for use in the refrigerant system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for delivering an olefinic refrigerant to a refrigerant system, the system comprising:
 a distribution system comprising a distribution vessel, a transfer line, at least one pump, a distribution line and a distribution line branch arranged and disposed to transfer the olefinic refrigerant from the distribution vessel to the refrigerant system;   a monitoring system comprising one or more sensors arranged and disposed to measure at least one distribution parameter of the olefinic refrigerant within the distribution system; and   a recovery system arranged and disposed to selectively receive refrigerant based upon the refrigerant suitability for use in the refrigerant system in response to a comparison of the at least one distribution parameter with respect to at least one threshold parameter,
 wherein the distribution system selectively directs the olefinic refrigerant to the recovery system when the at least one distribution parameter exceeds the at least one threshold parameter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one distribution parameter is selected from the group consisting of refrigerant temperature, refrigerant moisture concentration, refrigerant non-absorbable gas concentration, refrigerant acidity and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery system receives the olefinic refrigerant when one or more of the following threshold parameters are exceeded:
 a temperature measured with the one or more sensors exceeds a refrigerant temperature of 100° C.;   a refrigerant moisture concentration measured with the one or more sensors exceeds a refrigerant moisture concentration of 10 ppm by weight, per AHRI 700 (2016); or   a non-absorbable gas concentration measured with the one or more sensors exceeds a refrigerant non-absorbable gas concentration of 1.5 volume percent at 25° C., per AHRI 700 (2016).   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery system receives the olefinic refrigerant when a refrigerant temperature measured with the one or more sensors exceeds a threshold parameter of 100° C. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery system receives the olefinic refrigerant when a refrigerant moisture concentration measured with the one or more sensors exceeds a threshold parameter of 10 ppm by weight, per AHRI 700 (2016). 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery system receives the olefinic refrigerant when a non-absorbable gas concentration measured with the one or more sensors exceeds a threshold parameter gas concentration of 1.5 volume percent at 25° C., per AHRI 700 (2016). 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the non-absorbable gas comprises oxygen. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery system includes a recovery vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery system includes one or more of a recovery vessel, a dehydration module, an inert gas purge module, a non-absorbable gas reduction unit, and a filtration module. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution line is configured to mate with the refrigerant system and deliver the olefinic refrigerant to the refrigerant system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors are arranged to measure the at least one distribution parameter prior to delivering the olefinic refrigerant to the refrigerant system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the olefinic refrigerant comprises at least one fluoroolefin selected from the group consisting of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene, 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene and combinations thereof.