A METHOD OF DECISION SUPPORT FOR THE SELECTION
OF LUBRICANTS FOR REFRIGERATION COMPRESSORS
ON THE BASIS OF TRIBOLOGICAL TESTS
The article presents a simple and clear decision support method for use when selecting lubricants for refrigeration compressors on the basis of tribological tests. The Bellinger method has been chosen. Moreover, the article shows the process of decision support for the selection of lubricants for various mechanisms of the mixing lubricating oil with refrigerant. For the mixing mechanism of a simultaneous intermolecular diffusion and natural convection, the mixture of polyester oils and R134a was selected, whereas, for the mixing mechanism of intermolecular diffusion alone, it was the mixture of mineral oils with R290 that was selected. There were simulations of several decision-making situations due to the decision maker’s attitude, such as economic, qualitative, and balanced. In each variant, the importance of particular criteria was subjectively assigned trying to reflect the decision maker’s attitude. The presented analysis indicates that the lubricity properties of oils and refrigeration mixtures must be taken into account; otherwise, disregarding them can have serious operational consequences. The decision on the selection of the proper lubricant for refrigeration compressors should be preceded by tribological tests allowing one to assess lubricity properties of oils and their mixtures with a refrigerant.