• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.150-157
• /
• 2004

Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$, R-744) has become a very popular issue in application to refrigeration and air conditioning systems as a natural refrigerant. An experimental study has been carried out to investigate miscibility and the vapor pressure of refrigerant R-744 in the presence of lubricant oil. This is of particular interest in the selection of the lubricant oil for the compressor of a refrigeration system or an air conditioning system using the refrigerant R-744. The experimental set-up consists of the equilibrium cell, measuring devices, the vacuum pump, the constant temperature bath and relevant connecting pipes made of stainless steel. Five lubricant oils, such as mineral oil (Naphthenic), AB (Alkyl Benzene) oil, PAO (Poly Alpha Olefin) oil, PAG (Poly Alkylene Glycol) oil and POE (Polyol Ester) oil are considered in the present study. Test runs were conducted with the oil concentration range from 5 to 50 wt％, and the temperature range from -10 to 1$0^{\circ}C$ with 2$^{\circ}C$ intervals. The miscibility results are visualized and correlated with the vapor pressure for the individual test components.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.718-725
• /
• 2007

In the general vapor-compression refrigeration system, refrigeration lubricant circulates in refrigeration system with refrigerant. Knowledge of the amount of circulating lubricant is very important to exactly calculate capacity of the refrigeration system. An experimental study was conducted to estimate the oil concentration of a flowing $CO_2/Oil$ mixtures. POE and PAG oil are considered as test lubricants in this study. Performance tests were conducted under simulated liquid conditions for $CO_2/POE$ oil mixture in oil concentration of 0 to 10 weight-percent and $CO_2/PAG$ oil mixture in oil concentration of 0 to 6 weight-percent in the temperature ranges of $-5^{\circ}C\;to\;15^{\circ}C$. The results obtained indicate specific gravity of $CO_2/Oil$ mixture is increased as oil concentration is increased and as temperature of mixture is decreased. Oil concentration correlation of $CO_2/POE$ oil mixture and $CO_2/PAG$ oil mixture is suggested, based on the measurement of specific gravity and temperature. This correlation enable to predict the oil concentration without extraction of the mixture and can be applied for $CO_2/POE$ mixtures and $CO_2/PAG$ mixtures.