Impact of refrigerant–oil solubility on an evaporator performances working with R-407C

Abstract

We propose in this study a simplified model of enthalpy calculation for a refrigerant–oil mixture, as well as a new presentation of the pressure–enthalpy–vapour quality diagram which is applied to refrigerant–oil mixtures with different oil circulating mass fractions. This presentation allows the calculation of the enthalpy change through an evaporator, with and without taking into account the effect of oil, and the prediction of the non evaporated quantity of refrigerant at the compressor suction. The results of the model for two pairs of R407C/POE oil of different solubilities show that under the same working conditions, the solubility of the refrigerant in oil can have a considerable effect on the evaporator performances. Indeed, for two oils presenting the same viscosity grade, the evaporator performances decrease when the refrigerant–oil solubility increases.