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Mineral Oils
The BR and Scroll compressors use Sontex 200, a “white oil”.
This oil is not suitable for low temperature applications nor is
it available through the normal refrigeration wholesalers. For
field “top-off” the use of 3GS or equivalent, or Zerol 200TD
is permissible, as long as at least 50% of the total oil charge
remains Sontex 200.
Suniso 3GS, Texaco WF32 and Calumet R015 (yellow oils) are
available through normal refrigeration wholesalers. These oils
are compatible if mixed and can be used on both high and low
temperature systems.
Polyol Ester Lubricants
The Mobil EAL ARCTIC 22 CC is the preferred Polyol ester due to
unique additives included in this lubricant. ICI Emkarate RL 32S is
an acceptable Polyol ester lubricant approved for use when Mobil
is not available. These POEʼs
must be used if HFC refrigerants are
used in the system. They are also acceptable for use with any
of the traditional refrigerants or interim blends and are
compatible with mineral oils. They can therefore be mixed
with mineral oils when used in systems with CFC or HCFC
refrigerants. These lubricants are compatible with one another
and can be mixed.
Alkyl Benzenes
Zerol 200TD is an alkyl benzene (AB) lubricant. Copeland
recommends this lubricant for use as a mixture with mineral oil
(MO) when using the interim blends such as R-401A, R-401B
and R-402A (MP39, MP66 and HP80). A minimum of 50% AB is
required in these mixtures to assure proper oil return.
Shell MS 2212 is a 70/30 mixture of AB/MO. If this lubricant is
used in a retrofit situation virtually all of the existing MO must be
drained prior to refilling with the MS 2212 to assure a minimum
50% AB content.
Table 3. Refrigeration Oils
Refrigeration Oils*
With the changes that have taken place in our industry due to
the CFC issue, we have reevaluated our lubricants to ensure
compatibility with the new HFC refrigerants and HCFC interim
blends offered by several chemical producers. As a secondary
criteria, it is also desirable that any new lubricant be compatible
with the traditional refrigerants such as CFC-12, HCFC-22 or
R502. This “backward compatibility” has been achieved with the
introduction of the Polyol ester lubricants.
Table 3 below summarizes which oils/lubricants are approved
for use in Copeland compressors:
Polyol Ester Lubricants
Hygroscopicity
Ester lubricants (POE) have the characteristic of quickly
absorbing moisture from the ambient surroundings. This is
shown graphically in Figure 3 where it can be seen that such
lubricants absorb moisture faster and in greater quantity than
conventional mineral oils. Since moisture levels greater than
100 ppm will results in system corrosion and ultimate failure, it
is imperative that compressors, components, containers and the
entire system be kept sealed as much as possible. Lubricants
will be packaged in specially designed, sealed containers.
After opening, all the lubricant in a container should be used at
once since it will readily absorb moisture if left exposed to the
ambient. Any unused lubricant should be properly disposed of.
Similarly, work on systems and compressors must be carried
out with the open time as short as possible. Leaving the system
or compressor open during breaks or overnight MUST BE
AVOIDED!
Color
As received, the POE lubricant will be clear or straw colored.
After use, it may acquire a darker color. This does not indicate
a problem as the darker color merely reflects the activity of the
lubricantʼ s protective additive.
Oil Level
During Copelandʼ s testing of Polyol ester oil, it was found that
this lubricant exhibits a greater tendency to introduce oil into the
cylinder during flooded start conditions. If allowed to continue,
this condition will cause mechanical failure of the compressor.
A crankcase heater is required with condensing units and it
must be turned on several hours before start-up.
Oil level must not exceed 1/4 sight glass.
Mineral Oil
Figure 3.
Interims HFCʼs
Traditional Refrigerants R401A, R401B, R402A HFC-134a,
Refrigeration Oils HCFC-22 (MP-39, MP-66, HP-80) R404A, R507
POEʼs Mobil EAL ARCTIC 22 CC A A P
ICI (Virginia KMP) EMKARATE RL 32CF A A P
Suniso 3GS P PM
Mineral Texaco WF32 P PM NOT
Oils Calumet RO15 (Witco) P PM ACCEPTABLE
Sontex 200-LT (White Oil) (BR & Scroll Only)
Witco LP-200 P
A/B Zerol 200TD AM PM NOT
Soltex Type AB-200 PM ACCEPTABLE
P = Preferred Lubricant Choice A = Acceptable Alternative M = Mixture of Mineral Oil and Alkyl Benzene (AB) with minimum 50% AB.
* (Reprinted with permission from Copeland)