Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is now offering its innovative synthetic ester lubricant Everest ESR 220 for use in HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and refrigeration systems using R-1234ze. Everest ESR 220 is approved and used today by several leading global manufacturers of such systems.
As the industry transitions from high Global Warming Potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, such as R-134a, to low GWP sustainable alternatives, LANXESS remains at the forefront of synthetic lubricant innovation to support and enable this transformation. The patented Everest ESR 220, developed through a collaboration with a leading OEM and under a Department of Energy (DOE) grant, addresses the critical needs for a lubricant that works effectively with R-1234ze refrigerant (GWP = 1.37) in screw compressors, where traditional synthetic oils for HFCs fail to perform. Everest ESR 220 can also be used with R515B, a non-flammable low GWP refrigerant which consists of both R-1234ze and R-227ea.
“Refrigeration lubricants are unique in that they are always mixed with the refrigerant and must be mutually compatible for the system to work efficiently and reliably. In several instances, the commercial lubricants used with HFC refrigerants no longer worked with R-1234ze. LANXESS demonstrated its capability in developing and manufacturing Everest ESR 220 to enable customers to launch products for entirely new applications such as large scale district heat transfer”, said Ed Hessell, Technology Manager at LANXESS.
Screw compressors, known for their versatility, are used in numerous commercial and industrial applications such as HVAC systems for industrial and commercial buildings, process cooling in the manufacturing industry, and industrial refrigeration. They are also an ideal choice for industrial heat pumps – a market expected to grow at more than 15 percent per annum until 2030, according to a McKinsey report published in March 2024.
