• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.386-391
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• 2005

An experimental study was conducted to analyze the thermal stability and to estimate the lifetime of refrigerating lubricants. PAG and POE oil are considered as a test fluids in this study. The viscosity of PAG and POE oil was measured by the vibration type viscometer while temperature is varied periodically in the range of $0^{\circ}C{\sim}100^{\circ}C$. The results indicate that the reduction rates of viscosity of PAG and POE oil were less than 5% after 510 cycles. In order to estimate lifetime of PAG and POE oil with temperature, the viscosity was measured while the temperature of oils was maintained at 180, 200 and $220^{\circ}C$. It is found that the lifetimes of PAG oil were shown to be 244, 177 and 89 hours at the temperature of 180, 200 and $220^{\circ}C$, respectively. Also the lifetimes of POE oil were estimated to be 1,744, 1,007 and 334 hours at the temperature of 180, 200 and $220^{\circ}C$, respectively. The lifetime correlations of PAG and POE oil are suggested in this paper.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.518-527
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• 1999

The solubility and miscibility measurement apparatus has been developed and used to obtain data for refrigerant/oil mixture. The solubility and miscibility data for R-134a/46 ISO VG Polyalkylen Glycol(PAG) oil mixture are obtained over the temperature range from -20 to 6$0^{\circ}C$ with a 1$0^{\circ}C$ interval and the oil concentration range from 0 to 90wt%. Using the experimental data, an empirical model is developed to predict the solubility relations for R-134a/PAG oil mixture at equilibrium. The average root-mean-square deviation between measured data and calculated results from the empirical model is 4.2%. Raoult's rule and Flory-Noggins theory are also used to predict mixture behavior. Immiscibility is observed for R-134a/46 ISO VG PAG oil mixture at low oil concentrations of 4.6, 10.1, and 20.4wt%.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.646-651
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• 2007

This study has been conducted to select the suitable refrigeration oil for a $CO_2$ refrigeration system. The oil return is one of the most important characteristics for refrigeration oils. PAG and POE oils are considered as a test fluids in this study. An evaporator model is employed to simulate the evaporator of a $CO_2$ refrigeration system. Oil return characteristics has been investigated for $CO_2$/PAG and $CO_2$/POE mixtures in the range of oil concentration 0 to 5 weight-percent and the mixture temperature range of $0^{\circ}C$ to $15^{\circ}C$. The results obtained indicate that oil return is decreased with an increase in the oil concentration and mixture temperature for both POE and PAG oils. It is also found that POE oil is seen to be superior than PAG oil in terms of oil return in an evaporator of a $CO_2$ refrigeration system.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2007

An experimental study has been carried out to analyze the thermal stability and to estimate the lifetime of refrigerating lubricants. PAG and POE oil are considered as test oils in this study. The viscosity of PAG and POE oil was measured by the vibration type viscometer while temperature is varied periodically in the range of $0^{\circ}C{\sim}100^{\circ}C$. In order to estimate lifetime of PAG and POE oil with temperature, the viscosity was measured while the test temperature of oils was maintained continuously at $180,\;200\;and\;220^{\circ}C$. The lifetime of oils is estimated as the decrease in viscosity change by 15%. The results indicate that the reduction rates of viscosity of PAG and POE oil are less than 5% after 510 temperature variation cycles. However, when the oils are kept at high temperature, it is found that the lifetimes of PAG oil is seen to be 244, 177 and 89 hours at the test temperature of $180,\;200\;and\;220^{\circ}C$, respectively, where as the lifetimes of POE oil are estimated to be 1,744, 1,007 and 334 hours at the temperature of $180,\;200\;and\;220^{\circ}C$, respectively. Thus, the lifetime of POE oil is found to be much longer than that of PAG oil. The lifetime correlations of PAG and POE oil are also obtained by Arrhenius's equation method in this paper.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.271-276
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• 2008

The oil trap in oil separator is one of the most important characteristics for normal operation of compressor. In this study, oil separation characteristics has been investigated for $CO_2$/PAG mixture using a gravity type of oil separator. The experimental study has been carried out in the range of oil concentration 0 to 5 weight-percent and the mixture temperature range of $0^{\circ}C$ to $15^{\circ}C$. The results obtained indicate that oil separation ratio in oil separator is increased with an increase in the oil concentration and mixture temperature.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.388-393
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• 2008

This study has been conducted to select the suitable refrigeration oil for a $CO_2$ refrigeration system. Non-hygroscopic property of refrigeration oils is one of the most important properties for refrigeration oils. PAG and POE oils are considered as test oils in this study. Transient variation of water content of PAG and POE oils was measured for 3 different vessels in the environmental conditions, such as in the range of temperature $25^{\circ}C$ to $40^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity 40% to 85%. The results obtained that water content of both POE and PAG is increased with an increase in the contact area with ambient for 3 different vessels. It is also found that water content of both POE and PAG is increased as the ambient temperature and relative humidity is increased. Non-hygroscopic property of POE oil is found to be much superior than that of PAG oil.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.131-136
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• 2008

The oil separation in an oil separator is one of the most important characteristics for proper compressor operation. In this study, a gravity type of oil separator is used. Oil separation characteristics has been investigated for $CO_2$/PAG mixture in the range of oil concentration 0 to 5 weight-percent and the mixture temperature range of $5^{\circ}C$ to $15^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$ to $90^{\circ}C$. The results obtained indicate that the oil separation is increased with an increase in the oil concentration. It is also found that the oil separation in liquid state is increased with an increase in the mixture temperature while the oil separation in gas state is decreased.

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

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.117-123
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• 2008

The present study is directed at flow and heat transfer of $CO_2$ and oil mixtures in a circular tube. PAG and POE oils are considered in this study. Flow characteristics of $CO_2$ and oil mixtures have been investigated by flow visualization. Pressure drop has been measured in the range of operating mass flow rate from 0.1 to 0.4 kg/min in a circular tube. Heat transfer characteristics of $CO_2$/oil mixtures have been investigated using a counterflow heat exchanger. In case of pure liquid $CO_2$ as well as $CO_2$ and POE mixtures, flow are seen to be uniform so that $CO_2$ and POE oil are still miscible even at flowing state. However, it is found that $CO_2$ and PAG are not miscible. Pressure drop of $CO_2$/PAG mixtures are much higher than that of $CO_2$/POE mixtures as well as pure $CO_2$ at a fixed mass flow rate. As the concentration of POE oil is increased from 0 to 5 wt%, pressure drop is increased. However, heat transfer rate and heat transfer coefficient of $CO_2$/POE mixtures are much higher than that of $CO_2$/PAG mixtures. The f-factor correlation and Nusselt number correlation for $CO_2$/POE oil mixtures are suggested in this paper.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.357-363
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• 2008

In order to investigate $CO_2$ heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop by PAG oil concentration during $CO_2$ evaporation, the experiment on evaporation heat transfer characteristics in a horizontal micro-fin tube was performed. The experimental apparatus consisted of a test section, a DC power supply, a heater, a chiller, a mass flow meter, a pump and a measurement system. Experiment was conducted for various mass fluxes($400{\sim}1200\;kg/m^2s$), heat fluxes($10{\sim}30\;kW/m^2$) and saturation temperatures ($-5{\sim}5^{\circ}C$), and PAG oil concentration($0{\sim}5\;wt%$). The variation of the heat transfer coefficient was different in accordance with the oil concentration. With the increase of the oil concentration, the evaporation heat transfer coefficient decreased and the delay of dryout by oil addition was found. Pressure drop increased with the increase of the oil concentration and heat flux, and the decrease of saturation temperature.