The lubricating base oil of the present invention comprises an ester synthesized from: a first component that is at least one selected from polyhydric alcohols having 2 to 4 hydroxyl groups; a second component that is at least one selected from polybasic acids having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; and a third component that is at least one selected from monohydric alcohols having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and monocarboxylic acids having 2 to 12 carbon atoms. In addition, the refrigerating machine oil and the working fluid composition for a refrigerating machine of the present invention each comprise the above lubricating base oil.

A lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines contains a base oil and an additive in a form of a naphthalimide compound. A refrigerant used in a refrigerating machine in which the composition is used is unsaturated hydrofluorocarbon (unsaturated HFC) having a GWP of 1000 or less. When the present lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines is used in refrigerating equipment such as an open-type automobile air-conditioner, an electric automobile air-conditioner, a gas heat pump, other air-conditioning equipment, a refrigerating machine, a vending machine, a showcase, a water-heating system and a refrigerating/heating system, it is possible to detect the leakage of a refrigerant with a long-lasting stability. Therefore, when an unsaturated fron refrigerant with a poor stability is used in the above-listed equipment, the present lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines is significantly advantageous.

In accordance with the present invention refrigerant compositions are disclosed. The compositions comprise a refrigerant mixture consisting essentially of HFC-32, HFO-1234yf, and CO2. The compositions are useful in processes to produce cooling and heating, in methods for replacing refrigerant R-32, and in refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump systems. These inventive compositions are match cooling performance for R-32 with GWP less than 400 or less than 300.

A lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines contains a base oil and an additive in a form of a coumarin compound. When the present lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines is used in refrigerating equipment such as an open-type automobile air-conditioner, an electric automobile air-conditioner, a gas heat pump, other air-conditioning equipment, a refrigerating machine, a vending machine, a showcase, a water-heating system and a refrigerating/heating system, it is possible to detect the leakage of a refrigerant with a long-lasting stability. Therefore, when an unsaturated chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant with a poor stability is used in the above-listed equipment, the present lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines is significantly advantageous.

Provided herein are compositions comprising at least one estolide compound of formula: ##STR00001##
in which n is an integer equal to or greater than 0; m is an integer equal to or greater than 1; R.sub.1, independently for each occurrence, is selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; R.sub.2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, independently for each occurrence, are selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched. Also provided are uses of the compositions described herein.

A lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines contains a base oil and an additive in a form of a naphthalimide compound. A refrigerant used in a refrigerating machine in which the composition is used is unsaturated hydrofluorocarbon (unsaturated HFC) having a GWP of 1000 or less. When the present lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines is used in refrigerating equipment such as an open-type automobile air-conditioner, an electric automobile air-conditioner, a gas heat pump, other air-conditioning equipment, a refrigerating machine, a vending machine, a showcase, a water-heating system and a refrigerating/heating system, it is possible to detect the leakage of a refrigerant with a long-lasting stability. Therefore, when an unsaturated freon refrigerant with a poor stability is used in the above-listed equipment, the present lubricating oil composition for refrigerating machines is significantly advantageous.

The present invention provides methods for selecting refrigerant and lubricant combinations for use in heat transfer cycle systems and provides methods for operating said heat transfer system. More particularly, the invention provides methods to select lubricant and refrigerant combinations for a heat transfer cycle system wherein at the lower temperatures of the heat transfer cycle the refrigerant and lubricant are miscible and at the upper temperatures of the heat transfer cycle the refrigerant and lubricant are phase separated and such that the density phase inversion temperature of the combination is below the upper operating temperature of the heat transfer cycle.

Provided herein are compositions comprising at least one estolide compound of formula: ##STR00001##
in which n is an integer equal to or greater than 0; m is an integer equal to or greater than 1; R.sub.1, independently for each occurrence, is selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; R.sub.2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, independently for each occurrence, are selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched. Also provided are uses of the compositions described herein.

The present invention provides a working fluid composition for a refrigerating machine containing: a refrigerating machine oil containing, as a base oil, a mixed ester of (A) a complex ester synthesized from a polyhydric alcohol such as neopentyl glycol, a polybasic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, a monohydric alcohol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and the like, and (B) a polyol ester synthesized from a polyhydric alcohol such as neopentyl glycol and a monocarboxylic fatty acid having 4 to 18 carbon atoms, in a mass ratio of (A) the complex ester/(B) the polyol ester of 5/95 to 95/5; and a refrigerant such as carbon dioxide.