Solid anti-friction devices – materials therefor – lubricant or se – Lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces and... – Organic nitrogen compound
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-02
2002-03-26
Howard, Jacqueline V. (Department: 1764)
Solid anti-friction devices, materials therefor, lubricant or se
Lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces and...
Organic nitrogen compound
C252S068000, C508S569000, C508S570000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06362139
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the improvement in the energy efficiency of air conditioning and refrigerant systems including refrigeration units, and air conditioning systems, which transfer energy from one location to another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since the early 1970's there has been a constant effort to improve the energy efficiency of cooling units which function on the air conditioning and refrigerant principle. As is well known, air conditioning and refrigerant systems function by relying upon the energy absorbed or released as a compressible fluid undergoes either pressure increase in a compressor or pressure decrease across a valve or other orifice. Typically, these systems rely upon phase changes from the gas to liquid state as a result of changes in pressure to effectuate energy transport. Such air conditioning and refrigerant units are utilized for large commercial installations either for refrigeration or freezing of perishable articles and the like as well as for climate control of large commercial buildings as well as individual dwellings. The energy efficiency of these units has been greatly increased through redesigned compressors, motors and other mechanical and design improvements. Improved methods for lubricating compressors have been developed so as to reduce the frictional energy, which must be overcome in the compressor while new compressor designs have also been developed in an attempt to increase the energy efficiency of the systems.
However, a need still exists for continued energy improvement in the field of air conditioning and refrigerant systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a composition, which is capable of greatly increasing the energy efficiency of air conditioning and refrigerant systems.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a composition, which will be useful both in air conditioning and refrigeration units to improve their energy efficiency. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the energy efficiency of air conditioning and refrigerant systems.
These and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent from the description, which follows, have been achieved by introducing into air conditioning and refrigerant systems a composition containing a compound containing polar sites such that there are portions of the molecule, which have low electron densities, and other portions, which have high electron densities into the system. The compound added is selected so as to remain liquid during all phases of the air conditioning and refrigerant cycle. The preferred compound is a sulfur containing polar compound.
Various additional components can be added to the invention including but not limited to metal conditioners, metal stabilizers, antioxidants and corrosion inhibitors, seal conditioners, tracer dyes, broad spectrum biocides, acid scavengers and water displacement additives.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Typical air conditioning and refrigerant systems in use today rely upon a compressible fluid to transfer the energy from one location to another. The most common energy transfer media are the members of the Freon family as well as ammonia. Ammonia finds particular application in large-scale refrigeration systems such as cold storage units and the like. In addition to these two classes of energy transfer media or compressible fluids, other compressible fluids may be utilized which undergo phase changes under reasonable changes of pressure. Such compressible fluids, which undergo the necessary change from liquid to gaseous states by the change in pressure, are well known in the art and include gases such as carbon dioxide. In general the selection of the energy transfer media is dependent upon a number of design criteria, which are well known. In general, for commercial installations the use of either Freon or ammonia is most preferred. However in special applications media such as carbon dioxide may be utilized.
The present invention relates to use of polyol ester refrigeration oil as the preferred lubrication for CFC, HCFC and HFC refrigerated applications. The present invention, in a preferred embodiment uses a synthetic hydrocarbon lubricant formulated with polyol ester base stocks and additives which provide lubricity stability and resistance to corrosion. As part of an environmental awareness, the present invention relates to lubricants specifically designed to lubricate refrigeration compressors and system components which are ozone friendly, and chlorine free. When the novel compound is used in a refrigeration system, the lubricant exhibits the desired miscibility at critical temperatures, a low viscosity loss, as well as stability for long system life in the air conditioning system.
The polar organic compound of the present invention contains sufficient polar groups so as to provide regions of the molecule, which have high electron densities, and other regions, which have low electron densities. The particular compound selected must obviously be compatible with the compressible fluid being utilized as the energy transfer media and with the materials of construction of the various components of the energy transfer system. Furthermore, the compounds must remain essentially liquid under the operating conditions encountered. That is, there must be only inconsequential solidification in the cold portion or expansion section of the air conditioning and refrigerant system and only minimal volatilization when exposed to the high temperatures on the high pressure side of the system that is, the polar compound is essentially non-compressible under operating conditions. In addition to being compatible with both the energy transfer medium and the materials of construction of the air conditioning and refrigerant system, polar compound must also be selected to be compatible with the lubricants typically encountered in air conditioning and refrigerant systems. As is well known, all air conditioning and refrigerant systems contain a lubricant, which is continuously circulating throughout the system to lubricate the moving parts of the compressor. Typically these lubricants are based upon naphthenic oils. The most common of the lubricants are designated 3GS and 4GS refrigeration oils. Essentially any polar compound meeting the foregoing criteria can be utilized in the practice of the present invention.
The most preferred group of polar compounds are sulfur containing compounds since they handle extreme pressure as a lubricant better than most compositions. This sulfur additive for the polar compound is incorporated to eliminate sulfur “drop-out.” It also assists the resulting composition by being anti-wear, and an antioxidant. At 1.0% wt in an appropriate base oil, it will achieve more than 12 load stages on the FZG test ring. In addition the sulfur additive to the polar compound will exhibit good demulsification properties and will not negatively influence AFNOR filtration test results.
The liquid sulfur containing polar compounds must remain liquid throughout the different operating phases of a air conditioning and refrigerant system. While the molecular weight and weight percent of sulfur contained in these materials is not particularly critical, care should be taken not to use materials which contain a high wax content which may solidify in the expansion portion of the air conditioning and refrigerant system. Such waxy materials can build up on valves and other aspects of the system causing malfunction or increase maintenance. Furthermore, the presence of these solid components may impair the achievement of the desired energy improvement. Typically, the liquid sulfur containing polar compounds will contain from about 6 to 24 carbon atoms and from 1 to 12 of a sulfur atoms. The amount of sulfur and the molecular weight of the resulting polar compound determine the relative volatility and solidification points of the compounds. Of the sulfur containing compound, parti
Barr Teresa Leigh
Sgarbi Tony Pio
Buskop Wendy
Howard Jacqueline V.
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