Oil for freon R-12 and how to replace it with an analogue

Refrigerant R12 in the west is prohibited for use in refrigeration equipment, so its production is limited, and the price continues to rise. The substance destroys the ozone layer, so it becomes more and more unprofitable to use it. The question is what can replace R-12 freon and how much it is possible. On the other hand, new types of freons place higher demands on equipment - for the quality of pipes, brazing. This is due to the fact that the pressure in the system rises when a modern type of coolant is used, and outdated systems may not withstand and leak. It is necessary to replace the liquid with one that has similar physical and chemical characteristics.

Refrigerant characteristics R12

It is a colorless gas with a specific odor. Safe in operation, does not explode. Decomposes at temperatures over 330 degrees. In this case, the release of gas - phosgene is possible. When the concentration in the room is more than 30%, suffocation develops.

It does not chemically bind to any metals, therefore it does not damage the parts of air conditioners from the inside. Leaks occur due to increased fluidity, in which the substance penetrates through the smallest gaps and inconsistencies. Capable of seeping through natural pores in cast iron. This property has a downside: the oil that is added to the refrigerant, due to its fluidity, penetrates between all parts, reducing the coefficient of friction and extending the service life.

The boiling point of R12 freon is 29.74 degrees.

When to change the refrigerant

Leaks in air conditioners always occur, no matter how tightly the structure is sealed. The question is how much and what needs to be added if the substance evaporates or leaks out. The R12 liquid has a great advantage - it consists only of difluorodichloromethane molecules. If the substance evaporates, then you only need to top up it. There are refrigerants that vaporize any one chemical element in the composition. You have to calculate how much and what to refuel in percentage terms.

If the air conditioner starts to junk, does not produce the amount of cold that is stated, then it's time to refuel. But at the available prices for the R12 substance, it is worth considering whether it would be easier to bleed it off and buy a substitute for R12 freon. There are more than a hundred of them, so there is a choice. It remains to find out which is better, cheaper, evaporates less, gives more cold.

Analogues and substitutes for R12 freon

In refrigeration equipment operating on R12 freon, only mineral solvent is used. Chlorine dissolves only in this form of oil. The substitute will contain either a small amount of chlorine, or flammable gases must be used, which can also be dissolved in the mineral. Here you need to decide which is more important:

• safety;
• practicality and well-functioning device.

If, for example, propane is poured into the refrigerator instead of R12, then it works. But the presence of more than 1 kg of such a substance makes the device an explosive device. Under certain conditions, it is capable of igniting:

• improperly mixed substances;
• pouring more than it should be;
• heating and expansion of the volume of the mixture.

This prospect is not encouraging, so you need to look further. Chlorine-containing R22 is not suitable, as its pressure is higher. There was more than one way out. Various substances began to be added to R22, which reduce the gas pressure and do not prevent it from dissolving. All analogs of R12 freon differ in additives to R22.

Here is some of them:

1. R21 is used only in Russia. Its boiling point is higher: +8.7 degrees. Over time, the compressor may stall and damage the valve.
2. R142B is an inexpensive supplement. The optimal ratio of R22 and R142B is selected for different equipment. If there are more connecting nodes, then 22 will evaporate faster and there should be more of it in percentage. If there are fewer potential leak points, then the percentage of substances will be different - less R22 will be required. To fill the conditioner with such a mixture, you need no more than 80% of the amount of R12.
3. R406A - the optimal ratio of price and quality, as well as good equipment performance on such a mixture. Substances under the code 22 and 142B are mixed in proportions of 55% and 41%, respectively.
4. R401 and 409 are the most expensive but good substitutes. Their cost is comparable to the R12 freon itself. There is no sense in overpaying for the environment so far - the regulatory authorities in Russia do not go from door to door and do not check what kind of refrigerant is circulating in the system.

Any analogue of products will still not be able to compete with the original, so the owner of the air conditioner should decide what to fill instead of R12 freon.

How to choose mineral oil for freon

Oil for R12 freon is necessary. It ensures the work of the rubbing parts. The reduced friction extends the life of the compressor, which is expensive to replace. Lubricants remove some of the heat as the oil takes longer to heat up. The degree of miscibility (solubility) of freon and oil is of great importance.

For R12 freon, only petroleum-based mineral lubricants are used - naphthenic and paraffinic. When choosing an oil, it is important to know that the pour point and pour point were below the boiling point of the refrigerant.

When working in refrigeration equipment, the purpose of lubrication is to create a strong film on rubbing parts. When the temperature rises above the set value, the surface tension of the oil decreases, and the viscosity increases, which prevents the normal dissolution of the refrigerant and its circulation.

Minerals are more temperature sensitive. If the equipment overheats for any reason, the mixing process is disrupted, acidity increases and the oil darkens. After the repair, the liquid is drained and a new one is pumped in. An increase in acidity leads to combustion of the motor winding.

Lubricants for refueling refrigeration equipment are bought from reliable suppliers, since poor-quality composition and the presence of water in it lead to chemical processes inside the air conditioner, which adversely affects its operation.

Refueling is performed having all the necessary tools, namely, a device for evacuating the system. The presence of air residues in the system before refueling affects the stability of the chemical composition of the freon-oil mixture.

Mineral and synthetic oils must not be mixed.

The lubricant brand Mobil Gargoyle Arctic Oil 300 or 155 offers high quality air conditioning components. Due to dewaxing (cleaning), the substance has good fluidity even at the lowest temperatures. Oil cloudiness is rare - at very high temperatures. The grease is free from moisture and sealed in its original packaging. During operation, care should be taken to prevent water from entering the oil.

When working with original oils, no special precautions are required. The substance does not have a negative impact on human health.