New refrigerants require new lubricants
The Think Global Green (1) has reported that since the end of the 1980s HFC refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbons) have been commonly used to replace CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons).
These refrigerants were found to be harmful to the ozone layer and made illegal. On the contrary, HFC refrigerants do not affect negatively on the ozone layer, but they contribute significantly to the global warming.
In order to identify refrigerants with less impact on the global warming, it is necessary to find alternatives with no climate-altering substances. For this reason, the amount of research and studies in this field has increased.
(2) The Italian Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea has signed a technical collaboration agreement with ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) which has designed a study on alternatives to HFCs in Italy (https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files2019/pubblicazioni/documenti-tecnici/first-national-census-on-hfc-italian-alternative-technologies).
HFO refrigerants have been identified as substitutes for HFCs because they have a lower GWP (Global Warming Potential) and therefore dissolve in the atmosphere faster with less impact on the ozone layer.
However, HFOs are more volatile and this means that are more unstable within AC/R system. This instability generates an accumulation of fluorine and moisture which leads to the formation of acidity on the system’s materials. Acidity causes a series of problems, including refrigerant leaks, which are harmful to the environment and the air conditioning system. In fact, without the correct amount of refrigerant the system works constantly under stress and doesn’t reach the desired temperature.
Therefore, with low GWP refrigerants a more performing and accurate addition is required inside the system to guarantee the longevity of the system itself.
Errecom’s experience in the field of additives has brought its products forefront of cold technology leading the development of lubricants for AC/R and A/C systems.
POE for AC/R systems are synthetic lubricants with high chemical and thermal stability and good miscibility with HFC refrigerants such as R134a, R404A and R407C, but also with new generation HFOs such as R1234yf and R1234ze – both low GWP gases – and even their mixtures.
Errecom’s POE lubricants, in all their viscosity indexes, are composed of a mixture of Polyol Esters and Additives specially formulated to ensure better lubricity, chemical and thermal stability and excellent wear protection of all the AC/R system components.
PAG and Premium PAG are the lubricants for automotive A/C systems with R134a, R1234yf and electric compressors developed by Errecom to achieve better lubricity, chemical and thermal stability, as well as excellent wear protection of system components. All Errecom’s PAGs have been studied pursuing different objectives: high compatibility with the materials of different systems (with a continuous attention to the evolutions), low toxicity and high biodegradability, in compliance with Errecom’s environmental policy, and high solubility performance with refrigerants.
Errecom has a particular attention for natural gases too. Specific lubricants for CO2 have been improved, both on PAG and POE basis, in order to meet the requests of different systems’ types.
A special series of PAGs has been developed also for AC/R systems that work with refrigerants based on HC (hydrocarbon) such R290 and R60.
Control of the solubility’s degree, maintenance of the lubricating power and chemical stability are the essential elements for the progress of the new systems.
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