Boston—Cambridge Viscosity compressor viscometers have become the refrigerant industry standard worldwide. Compressor manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve their products and enhance energy efficiency, while also using more environmentally friendly refrigerants. Viscosity is an important metric, as the ideal refrigerant blend allows for optimal output of the compressor.
Each time a company designs a new compressor, they must consider the refrigerant they will use, the lube oil that lubricates it, and the compressor design itself when trying to achieve proper energy efficiency. A change to any one of these requires the company to perform testing to ensure proper energy efficiency as well as the longevity of the compressor used. Too much lubricant could prevent the compressor from cooling properly, whereas too much refrigerant will cause more wear, resulting in a shorter compressor lifespan.
“The thicker the oil, the better the lubricity,” explains Cambridge Viscosity Asia Pacific Sales Manager Ken Mann. “But thicker oil means more power is needed to rotate the compressor. Ultimately users are looking for the perfect balance of lubricity and energy efficiency.”
Cambridge Viscosity miniature viscometers have long been the standard viscosity measurement solution in the compressor industry. Cambridge has hundreds of installations for various compressor and lubricant applications in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea and China.
CVI offers micro process viscometers that are small enough to be installed directly in the compressor sump.
Japan Controls Company (JCC) works with many of the world leaders in compressors in Japan for several years. JCC Operations Manager Mikio Yanagisawa says, “Viscosity is a critical parameter that is used by compressor companies to determine the health of their compressors. In testing, these companies must measure the oil/refrigerant mix while the system is running, as pulling samples and taking them to the lab will not give the same viscosity measurement as under operating conditions. Cambridge Viscosity’s miniature viscometer and lube oil viscometer have provided a great solution to many of our customers. The sensors are small, accurate, reliable and very rugged.”
About JCC
Japan Controls Company has been a Cambridge Viscosity agent for over 20 years. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, JCC specializes in selling viscometers to the compressor, coatings, inks, life sciences, automotive, paints and chemicals industries. In 2010, they were named Cambridge Viscosity Agent of the Year.
About Cambridge Viscosity
Cambridge Viscosity, a leader in small sample viscometer systems for laboratory and process environments. CVI viscometers are used worldwide for petroleum, exploration refining, coatings and life sciences. Cambridge Viscosity’s sensors and viscometer systems conform to ASTM, DIN, JIS and ISO standards, with a range of models designed to meet specific industry and application needs.
