375

日本冷凍空調学会論文集
Trans. of the JSRAE
Research Paper Vol.27, No. 4 (2010)
pp.375 ～381
原稿受付 : 平成 22 年 10 月 19 日

Effect of Oils on Kinematic Viscosity of R134a

†
Tomoaki SATO Yoshinori TAKAISHI Kosei OGUCHI

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kanagawa Institute of Technology

(1030 Shimo-ogino, Atsugi, 243-0292)

Summary
The kinematic viscosity defined as a ratio of viscosity to density is one of the key properties in producing
technically important dimensionless numbers such as Prandtl and Reynolds numbers. We measured both
viscosity and density of R134a/POE and R134a/PAG mixtures at saturation in the range of relatively low oil-
concentrations. The density measurements for oil-concentrations up to 50 mass% were conducted with a
densimeter making use of glass buoys within overall uncertainty of ±1.0%, and the viscosity measurements for
oil-concentrations up to 16 mass% were carried out with an oscillating-cup viscometer making use of polarizer
with overall uncertainty less than ±3.5%. The kinematic viscosities obtained from the experimental viscosity
and density data are presented for both R134a/POE and R134a/PAG mixtures in the range of temperatures
from 278 K to 288 K for oil-concentrations up to 15 mass%. The oil-concentration dependence of the
kinematic viscosity for both mixtures is also reported.

Key words: Kinematic viscosity, Viscosity, Density, Refrigerant, Refrigerating oil, R134a, POE, PAG

1. Introduction Although several studies on the viscosity for

R134a/oil mixtures such as Chang et al.1) and
In vapor-compression refrigerating and heat pump Cavestri et al.2) are available, there is few report for
systems the carry-over of lubricating oil from a kinematic viscosity. The present authors measured
compressor circulates with a refrigerant. Therefore, the saturated liquid density and viscosity for
it is important to reveal the thermophysical R134a/POE and R134a/PAG mixtures3-5). In this
properties of refrigerant and oil mixtures besides the paper, the kinematic viscosities for R134a/POE and
pure refrigerant. Among the thermophysical R134a/PAG mixtures obtained from the above
properties, the kinematic viscosity, which is defined mentioned experimental density and viscosity data
as a ratio of density to viscosity, is one of the key are reported. The oil-concentration dependence of
properties to obtain technically important the kinematic viscosity for the two different
dimensionless numbers such as Prandtl number and mixtures in the range of temperatures from 278 K to
Reynolds number. It is also an important property in 288 K and oil-concentrations up to 15 mass% is also
analyzing the boiling and condensation heat transfer reported. The effects of POE and PAG on the
behaviors in the evaporator and the condenser. kinematic viscosity of R134a are presented.
†
Fax: +81-46-242-8735 E-mail: satotomo@me.kanagawa-it.ac.jp
Paper presented at The 5th Asian Conference on Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, June 7-9, 2010, Tokyo,
Japan.

－73－
376
a: Thermostatic bath，b: Stirrer，c: Heater，
d: Transformer， e: Voltmeter， f: Motor， g: Cooler
unit， h: Glass vessel， i: Test liquid， j: Platinum
resistance thermometer， k: Thermometer display，
l: Buoys， m: Voltmeter for pressure measurements，
n: Pressure sensor， o: Magnet rotator， p: Magnet
stirrer
Fig. 1 Experimental setup for density measurement
with a densimeter making use of glass buoys.
2. Experimental
2.1 Density measurement
Fig. 1 shows the experimental setup for measuring
the saturated liquid density with a densimeter
3)
making use of glass buoys . Several spherical,
hollow glass buoys, whose densities are calibrated
with the density of water prior to the experiment, are
confined in the glass vessel together with a test
liquid. The oil-concentration of the test liquid is
determined by weighing both masses of oil and
R134a when they are filled into the glass vessel.
The temperature of bath fluid is controlled with an
electric heater and a cooler unit. The temperature of
test liquid is then controlled by the bath temperature
in the either way of going to higher or lower
temperature. A certain buoy moves downward as the
temperature increases, but the buoy moves upward
as the temperature decreases. When the bouy
levitates in the middle of test liquid, the density of
－74－
buoy becomes equal to that of test liquid. The
temperature of the test liquid is then measured with a
platinum resistance thermometer while the buoy is
levitating. Thus the relationship between the density
of test liquid and the temperature are determined.
The saturated liquid densities for R134a/POE and
R134a/PAG were measured for temperatures from
270 K to 300 K and oil-concentartions up to 50
mass%3). The overall experimental uncertainty in
density was estimated to be less than ±1% for both
mixtures.
2.2 Viscosity measurement
Fig. 2 shows the experimental setup for viscosity
measurements with an oscilating-cup viscometer
making use of polarizer4). The oscillating-cup
viscometer is mounted in the thermostatic bath
whose temperature is controlled with a fluctuation of
less than ±0.1 K.
The oscilating-cup with a rotary polarizer is
suspended by a tungsten wire from the top of
pressure vessel. The tungsten wire has a diameter of
0.1 mm and a length of 210 mm. An initial angular
displacement to the oscillating-cup is given by
rotating manually an outer rotator which
magnetically transfers tortional force to the top end
of the wire. Thus the initiation of torsional
oscillation to the oscillating-cup is achieved without
any disturbance to the equilibrium condition of the
test liquid in the pressure vessel.
The red light from a light emitter travels through a
mirror, a rotary polarizer, a fixed polarizer, and a
light receiver and arrives at a photo-sensor amplifier.
Thus the change in light intensity through two
polarizers is detected, and the decaying data given as
angular displacement is stored in a computer. Then
the decaying data are used for determing the
decerement of oscillating-cup in the test liquid.
Prior to the experiment, the caribration equation
which relates the decrement to the viscosity is
determined by using the appropriate reference
susbstances such as R134a and ethanol. For this
calibration, a simplified working equation proposed
by Newell6) was used.
 377

Table 1 Refrigerant and oils used

a: Thermostatic bath， b: Pressure vessel, Table 2 Density data for R134a/POE

c: Temperature controller， d: Oscillating cup,
e: Magnet rotator， f: Light emitter， g: Light T C ρ'
receiver， h: Mirror， i: Rotary polarizer， K mass% kg･m-3

j: Fixed polarizer， k: Photo-sensor amplifier， 278.15 0 1278

278.15 5 1263
l: Data logger， m: Computer， n: Platinum
278.15 10 1243
resistance thermometer， o: Pressure sensor, 278.15 15 1227
p: Magnet rotator，q: Magnet stirrer，r: Power supply 283.15 0 1261
283.15 5 1244
283.15 10 1230
Fig. 2 Experimental setup for viscosity 283.15 15 1215
measurement with an oscillating-cup viscometer.
288.15 0 1244
288.15 5 1230
The viscosity of saturated liquid for R134a/POE 288.15 10 1217
288.15 15 1202
and R134a/PAG was measured in the temperatures
from 278 K to 288 K and for oil-concentrations up
to 16 mass%4, 5)
. The overall experimental 3. Kinematic Viscosity
uncertainty in viscosity was estimated to be less than
±3.5% for both mixtures. 3.1 Density and viscosity data
Experimental data of density and viscosity for
2.3 Materials R134a/POE and R134a/PAG mentioned above were
The sample of R134a was provided by Du interpolated to generate the secondary data at the
Pont-Mitsui Fluorochemicals Co., Ltd., Tokyo, with same temperatures and oil concentrations from
a purity higher than 99.9%. The PAG and POE oils which one can determine the kinematic viscosity.
prepared on ISO VG32 were suplied by Nippon Oil The temperatures are chosen as 278.15, 283.15 and
Corporation, Tokyo. Characteristics of the 288.15 K, and the oil-concentrations as 0, 5, 10 and
refrigerant and oils are shown in Table 1, where the 15 mass%, including the pure R134a.
critical constants of R134a are taken from JSRAE Tables 2 and 3 show the interpolated density data,
Thermodynamic Tables7) and the densities of oils are ρ ’ in kg.m-3, for R134a/POE and R134a/PAG
cited from the literature by the present authors3). mixtures, respectively.

－75－
378

Table 3 Density data for R134a/PAG Tables 4 and 5, on the other hand, summarize the
interpolated viscosity data, η in mPa.s, for
T C ρ' R134a/POE and R134a/PAG mixtures, respectively.
K mass% kg･m-3
278.15 0 1278 3.2 Kinematic viscosity
278.15 5 1266
278.15 10 1249 The kinematic viscosity is defined as a ratio
278.15 15 1236 of viscosity to density. The kinematic viscosity,
283.15 0 1261 ν in mm2 ∙s-1, for R134a/POE is given in
283.15 5 1248 Table 6. The value at a temperature and an
283.15 10 1236
283.15 15 1224 oil-concentration is calculated from density
and viscosity data at the same temperature
288.15 0 1244
288.15 5 1233 and the same oil-concentration in Tables 2
288.15 10 1223 and 4. Similarly, the kinematic viscosity for
288.15 15 1211
R134a/PAG is given in Table 7.

Table 4 Viscosity data for R134a/POE Table 6 Kinematic viscosity for R134a/POE

T C η T C ν
K mass% mPa・s K mass% mm2・s-1
278.15 0 0.257 278.15 0 0.201
278.15 5 0.373 278.15 5 0.295
278.15 10 0.533 278.15 10 0.428
278.15 15 0.742 278.15 15 0.605

283.15 0 0.242 283.15 0 0.191

283.15 5 0.325 283.15 5 0.261
283.15 10 0.454 283.15 10 0.369
283.15 15 0.629 283.15 15 0.518

288.15 0 0.227 288.15 0 0.183

288.15 5 0.307 288.15 5 0.249
288.15 10 0.417 288.15 10 0.343
288.15 15 0.556 288.15 15 0.462

Table 5 Viscosity data for R134a/PAG Table 7 Kinematic viscosity for R134a/PAG

T C η T C ν
K mass% mPa・s K mass% mm2・s-1

278.15 0 0.257 278.15 0 0.201

278.15 5 0.447 278.15 5 0.353
278.15 10 0.684 278.15 10 0.548
278.15 15 0.967 278.15 15 0.783

283.15 0 0.242 283.15 0 0.191

283.15 5 0.407 283.15 5 0.326
283.15 10 0.620 283.15 10 0.502
283.15 15 0.880 283.15 15 0.719
288.15 0 0.227 288.15 0 0.183
288.15 5 0.377 288.15 5 0.305
288.15 10 0.570 288.15 10 0.466
288.15 15 0.808 288.15 15 0.667

－76－
 379

Fig. 3 Kinematic viscosity versus oil-concentration Fig. 5 Effect of oil on the kinematic viscosity of
for R134a/POE. R134a saturated liquid at 283.15 K.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the kinematic viscosity versus

oil-concentration for different temperatures for
R134a/POE and R134a/PAG, respectively. For both
mixtures the kinematic viscosity increases
exponentially as the oil-concentration increases up
to 15 mass%.

4. Discussion

4.1 Effect of oil on kinematic viscosity

Fig. 5 shows the typical effects of dissolved POE
and PAG on the kinematic viscosity of R134a
saturated liquid at 283.15 K. The ratios of the
kinematic viscosity for mixtures to that of pure
R134a are plotted against oil-concentration. The
effect of oils is quite large for both mixtures, and the
effect of PAG seems slightly larger than that of POE.
Actually the kinematic viscosity increases by a
factor of about 3.8 when PAG is dissolved into

Fig. 4 Kinematic viscosity versus oil-concentration R134a up to 15 mass% at 283.15 K.

for R134a/PAG.

－77－
380

4.2 Correlation of kinematic viscosity 3

The following correlation was formulated to 2

interpolate the experimental kinematic viscosity data

Deviation / %
1

obtained in this study. 0

0 mass%
-1 5 mass%
ln v / vR134 a   AC 2  BC (1) -2
10 mass%
15 mass%
-3
273 278 283 288 293
where
T /K

Fig. 6 Deviation of kinematic viscosity from

vR134 a  T 2  T   (2)
Eq. (1) for R134a/POE.

and 3

2
A  a1T  a2 (3) 1

Deviation / %
0

B  b1T  b2 (4) -1 0 mass%

5 mass%
-2 10 mass%
15 mass%
Eq. (1) represents the kinematic viscosity ν -3
2. -1 273 278 283 288 293
[mm s ] as a function of temperature T [K] and
T/ K
mass fraction of oil C [-]. The coefficients in Eqs.
(2) to (4) were determined by least square fittings Fig. 7 Deviation of kinematic viscosity from
using the kinematic viscosity data obtained, and they Eq. (1) for R134a/PAG.
are listed in Tables 8 and 9. The present correlation
is valid only for the range of temperatures from The kinematic viscosity calculated from Eq. (1) is
278.15 K to 288.15 K and oil-concentrations from 0 plotted in Figs. 3 and 4. Deviations of kinematic
to 0.15 where the experimental data exist. viscosity from Eq. (1) are plotted in Figs. 6 and 7.
Eq. (1) represents the kinematic viscosity data
Table 8 Coefficients for Eq. (2) within a deviation of ±2.5% for R134a/POE and
±1.0% for R134a/PAG, respectively.
R134a
Acknowledgements
α 2.5164×10-5
β -1.6036×10-2
The authors are grateful to Du Pont-Mitsui
γ 2.7142
Fluorochemicals Co., Ltd., Tokyo, for furnishing
R134a sample and Nippon Oil Corporation, Tokyo,
Table 9 Coefficients in Eqs. (3) and (4) for supplying PAG and POE samples.

R134a/POE R134a/PAG References

-3 -1
a1 1.060×10 5.410×10
a2 -4.224×10-1 -1.712×102 1 ） N. Chang and A. Nagashima: Int. J.
Thermophysics, 14(5), 1007 (1993).
b1 -1.225×10-1 -1.250×10-1
2）R.C. Cavestri, J. Munk and M. Menning:
b2 4.143×10 4.692×10
ASHRAE Trans., 100(2), 220 (1994).

－78－
 381

3）T. Sato, Y. Takaishi and K. Oguchi: Trans.

JSRAE, 20(2), 215 (2003).
4） T. Sato, A. Odaira, Y. Takaishi and K.
Oguchi: Trans. JSRAE, 23(3), 105 (2006)
(in Japanese).
5）T. Sato, Y. Takaishi and K. Oguchi: Trans.
JSRAE, 24(4), 13 (2007) (in Japanese).
6) G. F. Newell: J. Applied Math. & Phys., 10, 160
(1959).
7 ） Japan Society of Refrigerating and Air
Conditioning Engineers: “HFCs and
HCFCs”, JSRAE Thermodynamic Tables,
Vol.1, Ver.2, JSRAE, Tokyo, 2004. (in
Japanese).

－79－