Good oil selection is critical in any refrigeration system to ensure proper long-term compressor protection and that the equipment operates at optimal efficiency. The severe circumstances of CO2 applications necessitate the use of wax-free synthetic lubricants, and while there are various synthetic base oil options available, each has its own set of oil management issues.
Polyol ester (POE) base oil products are frequently used as a solution because of their greater CO2 miscibility, which simplifies oil return management. The main issue with POE-based lubricants is that they are highly hygroscopic, meaning they seek moisture from their environment to absorb.
Any amount of water can harm a closed loop CO2 system, as ice development can destroy valves and other components. Hydrolysis, a chemical reaction that breaks down the POE oil and results in the creation of highly corrosive carbonic acid, is exacerbated by excessive water.
In an ideal world, a system would be completely free of all impurities, including moisture, but this is just not possible. The lubricant must be engineered to resist chemical reaction with the water it comes into contact with before, during, or after installation.
Summit’s RPE-744 Series of entirely synthetic POE lubricants are designed to provide long-term solutions that can survive the extreme conditions found in CO2 refrigerant applications.
The RPE-744 Series offers strong chemical, thermal, and hydrolytic stability to defend against product deterioration in the presence of pollutants, in addition to outstanding wear protection and high corrosion resistance.
Contact us today to find out more about Summit RPE-744 Series or to ask our experts how our high-quality lubricants can help solve your refrigeration compressor problems.
