{"id":11009,"date":"2020-08-31T17:10:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T15:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.errecom.com\/?p=11009"},"modified":"2022-09-28T14:52:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T12:52:47","slug":"new-refrigerants-require-new-lubricants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.errecom.com\/en\/new-refrigerants-require-new-lubricants\/","title":{"rendered":"New refrigerants require new lubricants"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\tAs reported by Think Global Green (1), since the end of the 1980s HFC refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbons) have been commonly ...  \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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New refrigerants require new lubricants<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Think Global<\/span><\/span>\u00a0G<\/span><\/span>reen<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(1) has reported that<\/span><\/span>\u00a0since the end of the 1980s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>HFC<\/span><\/span>\u00a0refrigerants<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(hydrofluorocarbons) have be<\/span><\/span>en<\/span><\/span>\u00a0commonly used to replace CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons)<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Reading Time: <\/span>3 min<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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These refrigerants<\/span>\u00a0were<\/span>\u00a0found to be harmful to the ozone layer\u00a0<\/span>and <\/span>made<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>illegal. On the contrary, HFC<\/span>\u00a0refrigerants\u00a0<\/span>do not\u00a0<\/span>affect negatively<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0the ozone layer, but they contribute significantly to the global warming.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In order to identify refrigerants\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0less impact on the global warming, it i<\/span>s necessary to find alternatives with<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>no climate-altering\u00a0<\/span>substances<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>For this reason, the amount of research and studies<\/span>\u00a0in this field\u00a0<\/span>has increased.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

(2) T<\/span><\/span>he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Italian\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea has signed a technical collaboration agreement with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ISPRA<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(<\/span><\/span>Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0which has designed a study on alternatives to HFCs in Italy<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(<\/span><\/span>https:\/\/www.isprambiente.gov.it\/files2019\/pubblicazioni\/documenti-tecnici\/first-national-census-on-hfc-italian-alternative-technologies<\/span><\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

HFO<\/span>\u00a0refrigerants have been<\/span>\u00a0identified as substitutes for HFCs<\/span>\u00a0because they\u00a0<\/span>have a lower GWP<\/span>\u00a0(Global Warming Potential)<\/span>\u00a0and therefore dissolve in the atmosphere faster with less impact on the ozone layer.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

However, HFO<\/span>s are\u00a0<\/span>more volatile<\/span>\u00a0and this means that<\/span>\u00a0are more unstable within\u00a0<\/span>AC\/R<\/span>\u00a0system. This instability generates an accumulation of fluorine and moisture which leads to the formation of acidity\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>system\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>materials<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Acidity\u00a0<\/span>causes<\/span>\u00a0a series of problems, including refrigerant<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>leaks, which are harmful to the environment and the air conditioning system<\/span>. In fact,\u00a0<\/span>without the correct amount of refrigerant the system works constantly under stress\u00a0<\/span>and doesn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0reach the desired temperature.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Therefore, with low GWP refrigerants a more performing and accurate addition is required inside the system to guarantee the\u00a0<\/span>longevity<\/span>\u00a0of the system itself.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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.<\/p>

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<\/span>\u00a0–<\/span>\u00a0both low GWP gases<\/span>\u00a0–<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>their mixtures.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Errecom’s<\/span>\u00a0POE lubricants,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in all their viscosity indexes,<\/span>\u00a0are composed of a mixture of\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span>olyol\u00a0<\/span>E<\/span>sters and\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>dditives specially formulated to ensure better lubricity, chemical and<\/span>\u00a0thermal stability and excellent wear protection\u00a0<\/span>of all<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>AC\/R system\u00a0<\/span>components.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

PAG and Premium PAG<\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>All\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Errecom’s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0PAGs 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,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in compliance with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Errecom’s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0environmental policy,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and high solubility performance with refrigerants.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Errecom has a particular attention for<\/span>\u00a0natural gases too. Specific lubricants for CO2 have been\u00a0<\/span>improved<\/span>, both on PAG and POE basis, in order to meet the\u00a0<\/span>requests<\/span>\u00a0of different systems’ types.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Control of the solubility<\/span>\u2019s degree<\/span>, maintenance of the lubricating power and chemical stability are the essential elements for the progress of the new systems.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Sources:<\/u><\/p>