Fortum Oil & Gas Oy

Jari Koistinen

Salme Koskimies

Kari Rissanen

Essi Glad

H&aring;kan Rahkola

Virpi Saranpaa

Kjell Ankner

The invention concerns a refrigerant composition which comprises a chlorine-free hydrofluorocarbon based refrigerant and, mixed with the refrigerant, a lubricant comprising a polyol ester. According to the invention the polyol ester comprises an ester of 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propane diol, the carboxylic acid residue of which is derived from a linear or branched C . . . C -carboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof, or it is derived from a mixture of linear or branched C . . . C -carboxylic acids or anhydrides thereof. The present invention also concerns novel complex esters of 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, which contain residues of mono- or bivalent carboxylic acids. The novel esters exhibit good solubility in fluorinated hydrocarbons and excellent lubricating properties.

Polyol and complex esters for use with, in particular, fluorinated refrigerants

The invention concerns a process for manufacturing polyol complex esters. According to the method, a polyol, such as BEPD or NPG, is reacted with mono- and polyvalent acids in the presence of a catalyst to produce a reaction blend containing complex esters. According to the invention the acid components of the reaction blend are neutralized with a tertiary amine, and the complex esters are recovered from the thus treated reaction blend. The basic amines that are used form salt-like compounds with the carboxylic acids. The compounds enter the aqueous phase, from which they are easily separated, whereby the complex esters are recovered with high yield.

Process for preparing and purifying complex esters

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Jyväskylä, Finland

Jari Koistinen