Effects of Oil Wettability on the Performance of a Cyclone-Type Oil Separator

• Published in: International journal of air-conditioning and refrigeration Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 1850010 - 9
• Main Authors: Ahn, Joon, Jang, Seongil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: World Scientific Publishing Company 01.03.2018; 대한설비공학회
• Subjects: 기계공학; Oil separator; oil wettability; lubrication; compressor
• ISSN: 2010-1325; 2010-1333
• DOI: 10.1142/S2010132518500104

The effects of oil wettability on the performance of a cyclone-type oil separator was studied through in situ experimentation and in a real refrigeration system. Based on previous research, the geometry of the oil separator in the present study was designed with an oil recovery device installed at its bottom to mount it on the actual refrigerator. The performance of the oil separator without surface treatment was predicted by applying design correlations proposed in the open literature, which were then compared with the experimental data. Through surface treatment, oleophilic or oleophobic properties were given to the inner wall and helix of the oil separator, and its performance was measured in a real refrigeration system. Oil wettability had a great effect on the performance of the oil separator, and in order to obtain high separation efficiency, oleophilic properties were found to be advantageous not only in the inner wall but also in the helix.