Lubricant for refrigeration compressors
ExxonMobil has developed a synthetic oil for carbon dioxide cooled industrial refrigeration applications.
Mobil SHC Gargoyle 80 POE has been designed for the lubrication of compressors and is particularly suitable for reciprocating compressors using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, which are found in applications ranging from food preparation and freezing operations to cold storage.
The new lubricant has been formulated using polyol esters (POE) to enhance lubricity, wear protection and chemical and thermal stability. Its three key qualities are excellent low temperature fluidity, in-service viscosity control and potential contribution toward system efficiency improvements, compared to mineral oils.
As part of its development, the lubricant was tested on four reciprocating compressors over 18 months in a major food preparation facility in northwestern France. The facility switched to Mobil SHC Gargoyle 80 POE from a conventional POE based oil and found the new product delivered lower oil carter and piston temperatures and lower energy consumption.
