Alkylbenzene/polyol ester blends for use in air conditioning systems

Abstract

Alkylbenzene/polyol ester blends and alkylbenzene/polyalkylene glycol blends with a high proportion of alkylbenzene that offer a reduced cost alternative to polyol esters and polyalkylene glycol are disclosed. The alkylbenzene/polyol ester blends and alkylbenzene/polyalkylene glycol blends have sufficient HFC refrigerant solvency to operate satisfactorily. By mixing 60-80 wt % alkylbenzene with 20-40 wt % polyol ester or 20-40 wt % polyalkylene glycol, a product with beneficial properties from each component at a reduced cost is achieved.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A refrigerator lubricant composition comprising about 60-80 wt % alkylbenzene and 2040 wt % polyol esters wherein the alkylbenzene and the polyol ester have similar viscosities.  
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator lubricant composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition contains 70 wt % alkylbenzene and 30 wt % polyol ester.  
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator lubricant composition of  claim 1  wherein the polyol of the polyol ester is selected from the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, trimethylol propane, pentaerythritol, di-trimethylol propane, di-pentaerythritol.  
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator lubricant composition of  claim 1  wherein the carboxylic acids of the polyol ester are selected from the group consisting of from pentanoic acid, heptanoic acid, 2-ethyl-hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, hexanoic acid, nonanoic acid, 2-methylpropionic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, isopentanoic acid, isononanoic acid, 3,5,5, trimethylhexanoic acid.  
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator lubricant composition of  claim 1  wherein the viscosity of the polyol ester and the alkylbenzene are preferably within +/−30% of each other.  
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator lubricant composition of  claim 1  wherein the viscosity of the polyol ester and the alkylbenzene are preferably within +/−10% of each other.  
     
     
         7 . A refrigerator fluid composition which comprises: a) an HFC refrigerant containing R32, R125 and R134a or mixtures thereof; and b) a refrigerator oil composition comprising about 60-80 wt % alkylbenzene and 20-40 wt % polyol esters  
     
     
         8 . A method of lubricating a compressors comprising operating a compressor and lubricating the compressor with a refrigerator oil composition as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the compressor is a centrifugal, reciprocating, scroll, rotary, or screw compressor.  
     
     
         10 . An air conditioning lubricant composition comprising about 60-80 wt % alkylbenzene and 20-40 wt % polyalkylene glycol wherein the alkylbenzene and the polyalkylene glycol have similar viscosities.