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Performance analysis of R600a vapour compression refrigeration system using CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanolubricants

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Abstract

In this research the evaluation of performance of R600a vapour compression system was investigated using CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanolubricants. Three different hybrid nanolubricants concentrations of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/L was considered for this study with 70 g of R600a refrigerant. The experiment was conducted for the analysis of various important parameters such as coefficient of performance, refrigeration effect and compressor power consumption, pull down of refrigerator and transmittance of both mineral oil without nanoparticles and nanodoped mineral oil while using CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles with the lubricant. The study was done with R600a refrigeration system and can be employed as better replacement for pure mineral refrigeration system. Addition of CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles in to a compressor lubricating oil resulted in enhanced coefficient of performance up to 27% from 1.17 to 1.6 and increase in cooling capacity up to 20% from 160 to 200 W and reduction in power utilized by the compressor up to 24% from 158 to 120 W in comparison with the R600a system without nanolubricants. CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanolubricant refrigerator can be employed as better substitute for R134a refrigerator.

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Abbreviations

VCRS:

Vapour compression refrigeration system

COP:

Coefficient of performance

MO:

Mineral oil

POE:

Polyester oil

LPG:

Liquified petroleum gas

PAG:

Polyalkylene glycol

MWCNT:

Multiwall carbon nanotube

CNT:

Carbon nanotube

h:

Enthalpy (kJ/kg)

T:

Temperature (°C)

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

1:

Compressor inlet

2:

Compressor outlet

3:

Condenser outlet

4:

Evaporator outlet

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    A. Senthilkumar, A. Anderson & Manigandan Sekar

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  1. A. Senthilkumar
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  2. A. Anderson
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  3. Manigandan Sekar
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Correspondence to Manigandan Sekar.

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Senthilkumar, A., Anderson, A. & Sekar, M. Performance analysis of R600a vapour compression refrigeration system using CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanolubricants. Appl Nanosci 13, 899–915 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-021-01936-y

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