초록 ▼

A refrigerant mixture. The mixture of propane and butane may be advantageously used as a substitute for R-12, thus eliminating the use of ozone depleting R-12 refrigerant. Ideally, the mixture is comprised of approximately 50% propane and 50% butane by liquid volume. Alternately, the mixture may con

A refrigerant mixture. The mixture of propane and butane may be advantageously used as a substitute for R-12, thus eliminating the use of ozone depleting R-12 refrigerant. Ideally, the mixture is comprised of approximately 50% propane and 50% butane by liquid volume. Alternately, the mixture may contain up to about 75% of either propane or butane. A refrigeration process utilizing the mixture is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In an existing refrigeration system mechanically designed for use with refrigerant R-12, said system utilizing a refrigeration circuit comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve means, an evaporator, and a refrigerant for transport of thermal energy between the evaporator and the co

1. In an existing refrigeration system mechanically designed for use with refrigerant R-12, said system utilizing a refrigeration circuit comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve means, an evaporator, and a refrigerant for transport of thermal energy between the evaporator and the condenser, wherein said refrigerant is evaporated in said evaporator to produce a gas which is compressed by said compressor and thence sent to the condenser to be condensed to produce a liquid for metering into said evaporator by said expansion valve means,the improvement comprising a method of substitution of said R-12 refrigerant with a hydrocarbon based refrigerant mixture, said method accomplished by substantially purging said R-12 refrigerant from said refrigeration circuit, and then inserting said hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture into said refrigeration circuit, wherein said substitute hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture comprises a mixture of propane and butane, and wherein the amounts of said propane and said butane in said mixture are sufficient to provide physical properties of said mixture which approximate the physical properties of R-12 with respect to evaporation and condensation temperatures when under pressure, so that said hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture is utilized in said existing refrigeration circuit.