LUBRICITY OF OIL-REFRIGERANT MI XTURES WITH R600A UNDER STARVED LUBRICATION CONDITIONS

Abstract

In refrigeration nowadays, there is a dynamic return to the use of natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons. These substances do not contain fluorine and chlorine, which contribute to the enlargement of the ozone hole and the greenhouse effect. Hydrocarbons, however, are substances from the A3 safety group (flammable) and are currently mainly used in low-capacity devices. The most commonly used refrigerant in this group is R600a (isobutene). In refrigeration compressors, a situation may occur where the amount of oil in friction nodes is insufficient. In this case, there may be poor lubrication conditions. A situation may also arise in which the lubricant in the friction areas runs out, and the lubrication of the friction nodes will be performed exclusively by the refrigerant. The article presents a concept of a test method allowing an assessment of lubricity properties of oils for refrigeration compressors in the mixture with a refrigerant in the conditions of poor lubrication and in the absence of lubrication with a lubricant. It also contains the results of wear tests that enable an evaluation of the lubricity properties of oil-refrigerant mixtures in the conditions of poor lubrication. The results were obtained for ecological, and recommended for a wider future use, R600a refrigerant with mineral oils. It is also indicated that it is possible to compare various refrigerants in the absence of lubricant and to replicate lubricity properties of oil-refrigerant mixtures in the conditions of poor lubrication and to apply the proposed method for the evaluation of different lubricants in use with a selected refrigerant.