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802
CHAPTER 50
1965 Guide And Data Book
TEMPERATURE , 0E6REES FAHRENHEIT
NormaBy itftnd (ramfomr oJL RtdraM froa ftefaesce SI.
Fig. 41 .... Solubility of Water in Mineral Oil
white paraffin base oil'and a medium-refined naphthene base oil were heated for 30 days at 302 F in sealed tubes containing copper, steel and various refrigerants in addition to.the oil: The refrigerants employed were Refrigerants 12, 13, 22 and 23.' For:a' given oil/ the order-of decreasing plating was 12 >23 >22>13. However, some copper plating waaobserved in all teste, even in the absence of refrigerant. Also, more copper plating occurred with the'medium refined naphthenic oil than with the highly refined paraffinic oil, with the same refrigerant in both inktanceia
Other investigators have shown that mineral oils may differ in ability to withstand attack by refrigerants at the elevated
Fig;: 42 .... Effect of Air-Pressure on Solubility of Air
w.. !
. in Mineral Oil*
temperature (e.g., 347 F) of a refrigerant resistance test. Based
on an extensive laboratory testing program. Walker, Rosen,
and Levy47 have concluded that color darkening, corrosion,
wall deposits and copper plating are generally less in paraffin
base than in naphthene base oils. Type and severity of refining
is also important.40
Refrigerants also differ among themsieves in ability to
attack mineral oils. Carbon dioxide and the plain hydrocar
bons (ethane, propane, isobutane, etc.) are said to have no
significant chemical effect on petroleum oils.* Ammonia' has
no chemical effect on well refined, dry oils, but may form
soaps and emulsions with poorly refined oils, especially if
water happens to be present.**40 The halogensted refrigerants
show considerable variation; some (e.g., Refrigerant 14) are
practically inert and others (e.g,, Refrigerant 11) react with
oils quite readily in sealed tubes at 347 F.4**47
When the test is made with a reactive refrigerant, so far as
one can judge visually, the reaction seems to follow much the
name pattern with all mineral oils. However, the reaction rate
may be slow with one oil and comparatively fast with another.
Hence refrigerant resistance is usually evaluated on a time
basis. The reaction itself, assuming the oil is tested with one
of the more reactive halogenated refrigerants, is almost in
variably accompanied by a gradual destructive decomposition
of the oil hydrocarbons so that, in time, only a black char,
remains (see References 42-45, 47, 49-51). The blackening
and charring appears to be associated with the number and
kind of atoms in the halogenated refrigerant molecule. It has
been observed, in the case of a given mineral oil heated at 347
F with a number of different refrigerants and for time periods
up to five years, that the charring reaction occurred only with
those halogenated refrigerants which contain more than one
chlorine atom in the molecule, e.g.. Refrigerant 11, methylene
chloride, Refrigerants 12, 21, 113, etc. Moreover, Refrigerant
11 (CCljF) with three chlorine atoms in the molecule reacted
with the oil much more rapidly than Refrigerant 12 (CCUFi)
which contains only two chlorine atoms.41 Increasing the
number of fluorine atoms at the expense of the chlorine atoms
seems to decrease the reactivity; thus an arrangement of com
mon and potential refrigerants in order of increasing chemical
stability in oil mixtures at 347 F is as follows:
Refrigerant 11 <methylene chloride <Refrigerant 21
Refrigerant 12 <methyl chloride <Refrigerant 22 <Refriger
ant 13 <Refrigerant 115 <Refrigerant 14.
Owing to the widespread use of Refrigerants 12 and 22, the
chemical stability of systems containing these refrigerants
has been of greatest interest. So far as destructive attack on
the oil is concerned, Refrigerant 22 appears less reactive than
Refrigerant 12. This difference has been borne out in all com
parative studies, some of which were based on the rate of
darkening described in the previous paragraph41*47 and
others were actual quantitative measurements of the de-'
composition products of the reaction.10**1
.;
'Recent evidence obtained by Spauschus and Doderer^
shows that the oil-Refrigerant 12 reaction, catalyzed by iron
at 347 F or 400 F, produces substantial quantities of Refriger
ant 22 as a primary reaction product. Lagging behind this pri
mary decomposition is a complex effect by which acidic de
composition products and carbonized sludges are formed. '
Oil-refrigerant reactions are not yet well understood. The
lack of understanding stems in large part from the fact that a
mineral oil itself is a complex mixture of many different
substances. Differences in base types, differences in viscosity
grades, differences in refinement, and the catalytic effects of
metals, additives, and possible contaminants all are influen
tial in altering the reaction possibilities. Other system com
ponents (e.g., hermetic motor insulation, etc.) introduce
Lubnconfs in Refrigerant Systems
farter< complications (see Chapter 60),- and the results of laboratory tests are not always indicative of actual behavior uoder'service conditions. At the present time it is virtually jmppmible and certainly inadvisable to assess the chemical stability of different oil types, or even different oil brands, on ganpjal considerations. After screening by laboratory tests, toe recommended practice for the ultimate selection of a new oil'is ^evaluate the stability on the basis of accelerated life tats inthe system, or in a similar type of system, in which the ml is to be used.
REFERENCES -
> Oils and Lubricants (Chapter 17, ASRE Data Book, 1949,'
6th ed., p. 299). * L Stride: Kdttemasehinendle (Springei-Verlag, Berlin, Ger
many, 1950, d. 81).
* K. R. Baldwin and S. G. Daniel (Journal of the Institute of
Petroleum, VoL 39, 1953, p. 105).
A. Beerbower and D. F. Greene: The behavior of lubricating
oils in inert gas atmospheres (ASLE Transactions, VoL 4, No. 1,
1961, P- 87).
* Oua and Lubrication (Chapter 13, ASRE Data Book, 1942,
5th ed., p. 185).
* Private communication from E. S. Ross, Sun Oil Company.
* Unpublished data from Freon Products Division, E. I.
duPont deNemoura and Co., Inc.
* H. M. Parmelee: Viscosity of refrigerant-oil mixtures at
evaporator conditions (ASHRAE Tran&actions, VoL 70, 1964).
* H. J. Loffier: (a) Density of oil-refrigerant mixtures.
(Kdbetecknik, VoL 11, No. 3, 1959, p. 70). (b) Viscosity of oil-
refrigerant mixtures (ibid., Vol. 12, No. 3, I960, p. 71).
10G. Bambach: The behavior of mineral oO-F12 mixtures in
refrigerating machines (Abhandhtngen des Devtschen Kaltetech-
nischai Verms, No. 9, 1955. (Translated by Carl Demrick.) Also
see abridgment in (Kdltetechnik, Vol. 7, No. 7. 1955, p. 187).
u V. L. Shipp: Miscibility of Freon (Refrigerant F-12) with
mineral lubricating oil (Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., General
Laboratories Technical Memorandum, October 23, 1942).
" H. J. Lfiffler: Some properties of the binary system R12-R22
and the ternary system R12-R22-naphthenlc mineral oil
(Kdltetechnik. VoL 12, No. 9, 1960, p. 256).
---
" L. F. Albright and A. S. Mandelbaum: Solubility-and vis
cosity characteristics of mixtures of lubricating oils and "Freon-
13 or -115" (Refrigerating Engineering, October 1956, p. 37).
M L. F. Albright and J. D. Lawyer: Viscosity-solubility char
acteristics of mixtures of Refrigerant 13B1 and lubricating oils
(ASHRAE Journal, April 1959, p. 67).
UJ. L. Little: Viscosity of lubricating oiI-Freon-22 mixtures
(Retoiqerating Engineering, November 1952, p. 1191).
" Private communication from A. B. Culbertson, Shell Ofl Company.
17 0. M. Bosworth: Predicting the behavior of ofls in refrigera
tion systems (Refrigerating Engineering, June 1952, p. 617).
" H. O. Spauschus: Thermodynamic properties of refrigerant-
oil solutions (ASHRAE Journal, April 1963, p. 47; October 1963,
P- 63).
.
l* W. O. Walker. A. A. Sakhanovaky, and S. Rosen: Behavior of
refrigerant oOs and Genetron-141 (Refrigerating Engineering, March 1957, p. 38).
** H. J. Lomer: The effect of the physical properties of mineral
oils on their miscibility with the refrigerant Frigen 22 (CHFfCI),
Abhandhtngen des Deutschen Kdltetechnischen Veretns, No. 12
(C. F, Mailer Verlag, Karlsruhe, Germany, September 1956).
a H. J. Loffier: The miscibility of synthetic oils Fluisit S55K
and Polyran M-15 with Frigen 22, Frigen 13 or mixtures of
Frigen 22 and Frigen 13 (Kdlteteehnik, VoL 9, No. 5, 1957, p.
** Cloud and Pour Points. (Chapter 4, Physical Properties of Lubricants, The American Society of Lubrication Engineers. 1951, 2nd ed., p. 47).
C. R. Begeman and V. A. Williamitis: Refrigeration Appa ratus (U. S. Patent 3,092,981, June 11, 1963).
** W. O. Walker and W. R, Rinelli: The separation of wax from oil-refrigerant mixtures (Refrigerating Engineering, June 1941j*. 395).
* H. J. Loffier: Separation of Frigen-insolubles (paraffin) from mineral oil-Frigen 22 mixtures (Kdltetechnik, Vol. 9, No. 4, 1957, P- 103).
Privatecommunication from A. W. Jenkins, Humble Oil A Refining Co.
803
07 A. F. Brewer: Good compressor performance demands the
right lubricating oil (Refrigerating Engineering, October
1951, p.965).
v-
11 Private communication from B. Y. Carty, Texas Company.
** J. D. Bopp: Determination of moisture in refrigeration oils
(Refrigerating Engineering, September 1951, p. 891). See
also: F. M. Roberts and H. Levin (Analytical Chemistry, VoL 21,
No. 12, 1949, p. 1553); R. H. Prince (The Analyst, VoL 78,
October 1953, p. 607); R. Weber (Kailetechnik, VoL 6, No. 10,
1954, p. 267); H. Mandel (ibid., VoL 6, No. 10, 1954, p. 269);
Bulletin B-23 ("Kinetic" Chemicals Division, E. I. duPont
deNemoura and Co. Inc., 1956; J. D. Morton and L. K. Fuchs,
Determination of moisture in fluorocarbons (ASHRAE Journal,
May 1960, p. 62); H. G. Moale and W. Wolf (Kdllelechnik, VoL
13, No. 9, 1961, p. 304).
M R. T. Divers: Better standards are heeded for refrigeration
lubricants (Refrigerating Engineering, October 1958, p. 40).
a F. M. Clark: Water solution in high-voltage dielectric Liquids
(Electrical Engineering Transactions, VoL 59, No. 8, 1940, p.
433).
E. T. Neubauer: Compressor crankcase heaters reduce oil
foaming (Refrigerating Engineeering, June 1958, p. 52).
" P. Berliner: (a) Heating of crankcase housing in Frigen com
pressors. (Kdltetechnik, Vol. 11, No. 9, 1959, p. 289); (b) G. Stig:
Reduction of the oil concentration in the circulating refrigerant
(ibid., Vol. 13, No. 9, 1961, p. 302).
** A. Thelen: Lubrication of bearingB by means of oil-refrigerant
mixtures. (Kdltetechnik, Vol. II, No. 10, 1959, p. 341).
* R. W. Thorpe and R. G. lanes (Industrial and Engineering
Chemistry, Vol. 41, No. 5, 1949, p. 938).
* S. F. Murray, R. L. Johnson, and M. A. Swikert: Difluoro-
dichloromethane as a boundary lubricant for steel and other
metals {Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 78, No. 3, 1956,'p. 233).
07 G. R. Fox and R. C. EHwell: Radioactive determination of
bearing wear in refrigerator compressors (Lubrication Engineer
ing, Vol. 15, No. 4, 1959, p. 144).
" C. C. Gambill: Application of radioisotope wear study tech
niques (General Motors Engineering Journal, VoL 5, No. 2, 1958,
p. 21).
" E. W. McGovern: Copper plating in refrigerant compressors
(Refrigerating Engineering, July 1939, p. 31).
40 C. J. Rizxuti, G. D. Staffin, and A. W. Jenkins: Effects of ad
ditives and oil refining on refrigerant-refrigerator oil stability
(ASHRAE Journal, July 1962, p. 31).
41 U. S. Patents: F. L. Koethen, 2,186,028, Jan. 9, 1940;
Downing and Markwood, 2,212,826, Aug. 27, 1940; Cook and
Bishop, 2,523,863, Sept 26, 1950; Bishop and Cook, 2,552,084,
May 8, 1951; Davidson and Seits, 2,824,061, Feb. 18, 1958.
H. M. Elsey, L. C. Flowers, and J. B. Kelley: A method of
evaluating refrigerator oils (Refrigerating Engineering, July
1952, p. 737).
A. H. Shaw and A. O'B. Brandon (Proceedings of (he Insti
tute ofRefrigeration, Vol. 44, 1947-48, p. 93).
44 H. Steinlc: (a) Sulfur dioxide resistance and resin content
of refrigerator oils (Kailetechnik, VoL 1, No. 1, 1949, p. 14). (b)
Chemical reactions between refrigerants and oils in refrigerators
(ibid., Vol. 2, No. 7, 1950, p. 174). (c) Hie temperature resistance
of nonmetallic materials in refrigerators (Werkstoffe vnd Kor-
rosion, VoL 3, No. 11, p. 419). (d) Determination of refrigerant
resistance of refrigerator oils (Kdltetechnik, Vol. 6, No. 12, 1954,
p. 342). (e) Experiments on copper plating in refrigerators (ibid.,
Vol. 7, No. 4, 1955, p. 101). See also Reference 2, p. 46 and pp.
108-109.
41 H. Steiole and W. Sceman: (1) Copper plating in refriger
ating machines (Kdltetechnik, VoL 3, No. 8, 1951, p. 194). (b)
Cause of copper plating in refrigerators (ibid., VoL 5, No. 4,
1953, p. 90).
* H. O. Spauschus: Copper transfer in refrigerant-oil solutions
(ASHRAE Journal, June 1963, p. 89).
47 W. O. Walker, S. Rosen, and S. L. Levy: (a) A study of the
factors influencing the stability of the mixtures of Refrigerant 22
and refrigerating oils (ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 66, 1960,
p. 445); (b) Stability of mixtures of refrigerants and refrigerating
oils (ASHRAE Journal, June 1962, p. 66).
40 F. Musgrave (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning News, Vol.
6, No. 9, 1939, p. 19).
4t EL Steinle: Testing refrigeration oils (Refrigerating
Engineering, October 1953, p. 1065).
40 D. E. Kvalnes and H. M. Parmelee: Behavior of refrigerants
12 and 22 in sealed tubes (Refrigerating Engineering, No
vember 1957, p. 40).
u H. O. Spauschus and G. C. Doderer: Reaction of Refrigerant
12 with petroleum oils (ASHRAE Journal. February 1661, p.
65).