EFFECT OF APPLYING FLUSHING FLUID ON LUBRICITY PROPERTIES OF REFRIGERANT COMPRESSOR OILS

Abstract

There has currently been a dynamic return to applying natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons. They are substances containing neither fluorine nor chlorine, which contribute to the enlargement of the ozone hole and the greenhouse effect. However, hydrocarbons are the substances from the A3 safety group (flammable) and, at present, are mainly used in appliances of low efficiency. The most widely used refrigerant in this category of appliances is R600a (isobutene). While repairing refrigeration appliances, there is often the need to remove the refrigerant and compressor oil from the system. Any impurities in the system are also removed. Should incorrect removal of the used oil from the installation occur, there is the risk that a certain amount of the oil and flushing fluid shall remain in the refrigeration system. The article presents an evaluation of the effect of a flushing fluid for refrigeration systems on lubricity properties of compressor oils. The article also describes the research on the use of R600a, a mineral oil of VG ISO 32 and commercially available FF1 flushing fluid, for refrigeration systems. The evaluation was made on the basis of the sample wear volume in the block-on-ring node under the conditions similar to compressor exploitation following a longer shut-off period. Three different lubricants were compared: a mixture of mineral oil with FF1 flushing fluid for refrigeration systems in the amount 20% by volume, a mixture of mineral oil with FF1 flushing fluid for refrigeration systems in the amount 50% by volume, and a mixture of mineral oil with FF1 flushing fluid for refrigeration systems in the amount 50% by volume with R600a.