Any air conditioning system that employs a compressor in its compression system requires compressor oil. The oil serves three primary functions. They are utilized for lubrication, heat removal, and sealing. As the piston compresses the refrigerant gas, lubrication cooling is required in reciprocating compressors. The sealing of the piston in the cylinder must also be cooled.
Similarly, lubrication is required for the contact between the cylinder and the motor’s rotor in a rotary compressor. During operation, the lubricant must remove superheat from the screw compressor.
Lubricants have numerous roles in a compressor system. They must, of course, be able to oil the machine. In some systems, the lubricant must both function as a cooling fluid and a sealant. This is why it’s critical to choose the right lubricant for your compressor. If in doubt, consult the manufacturer about the proper oil for the system.
Compressor lubricants are frequently a customized combination of additives and base oils that offer the necessary lubrication while being compatible with the refrigerant. Any conflict between the base oil and the refrigerant might be catastrophic for the device.
Mineral and synthetic oils are the two types of lubricants frequently utilized in compressors. Naphthenic mineral oil (MO) is a popular form of MO.
For a long time, synthetic oils such as glycols, esters, and alkylbenzenes (AB) have been utilized in refrigeration applications without incident.
Mineral oil or alkylbenzene is used as lubricants in CFC refrigerants such as R12, R13, R113, R114, and R115. These lubricants are also used in the design of HCFC refrigerants such as R22, R123, R401A, and R409A.
Because of their ozone-depleting qualities, CFC and HCFC refrigerants have been phased out in recent years. New HFC refrigerants such as R23, R32, R134a, R407A, R407C, and R410A are increasingly being used in HVAC equipment. Polyol esters or POE are used as lubricants in these novel refrigerants.