International Journal of Automobile Engineering Research and Development (IJAuERD) ISSN 2277-4785 Vol.

3, Issue 1, Mar 2013, 15-20 TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN AUTOMOBILE USING A CONSTANT SPEED BIOGAS ENGINE
SOMNATH R. KOLI1 & S. D. YADAV2
1 2

Scholar, Department of Automobile Engineering, R. I. T., Rajaramnagar, Islampur, Maharashtra, India

Professor, Department of Automobile Engineering, R. I. T., Rajaramnagar, Islampur, Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT
This study represents an approach in the field of air conditioning system to enhance the performance of the automobile by using biogas as an alternative fuel. It helps to reduce the power requirement of engine, emission, and global warming. The experimental approach to check the feasibility of vapour compression cycle for air conditioning system in which the compressor is coupled to an engine operated on biogas. The results are satisfactory for 1 ton of refrigeration which is equivalent to a cooling load of a passenger car (4+1). The minimum requirement of an air conditioning system in a vehicle is fulfilled with the close observations that, the evaporator coil temperature is reached to 110 C; cabinets temperature reaches to 220 C for consumption of biogas 0.20 m3.

KEYWORDS: Automobile Air Conditioning, Biogas, COP, Constant Speed Engine INTRODUCTION
Energy sector plays an important role in countrys economic development and it is going to be more significant in years to come. Managing this growing energy demand at reasonable cost therefore assumes national priority [1]. A multidimensional approach is required keeping in view the various economic options available with effective demand management. Development towards the advances in automobile space conditioning and climate control are most selective era to drop down the environmental protection cost. It is human nature to ask for more, the more you get the more you want. Today you can have an almost feel at home kind of feeling while you are driving your car that is because with technological advancement everything under the sun is possible. Owing to the popularity of air conditioners environmentalists are continuously raising questions for a ban on the luxury equipment due to the depletion of the ozone layer because of an excess emission of the poisonous gas called chlorofluorocarbon [11]. But technology has moved far too ahead and has come up with something called the environment friendly air conditioner which offers pollution less cooling keeping in mind the laws of emission. Most cars today use a new refrigerant called R-134A, which contains no chlorine. Since the invention of the car air conditioning system in the 1940's many things have undergone a change. The introduction of the air conditioner has literally raised the bars for luxury cars. Air conditioners only help to make the journey a smoother and better one. With the growth of technology today air conditioners have an Automatic Temperature Control set-up system which makes it more dependable than the older vacuum and thermostatic creations [4]. Computers ensure the comfort of the driver and the passenger's maintaining just about the right temperature inside a car.

DESIGN OF EXPERIMENT
Cooling Load Calculation For cooling load calculation from the applied psychometrics, major factors considered are heat transmission through body of car, heat radiate from engine, occupancy load and skin friction. Assuming vehicle facing north, for June

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Somnath R. Koli & S. D. Yadav

21st, Latitude 40 0 N and having five passengers. The cooling load for 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (8 hrs) operation is 7890 KJ/hr and capacity of air conditioning system is 0.62 Ton of refrigeration. Engine Specifications The engine used in this experiment is supplied by Champ Energy Ventures Pvt. Ltd. The specifications of engine are a single cylinder, four stroke gasoline engine having displacement of 196 cc, cylinder bore is 68 mm and piston stroke is 54 mm, TCI ignition system with recoiled starter. The combustion chamber is cylindrical with compression ratio of 11:1. The engine is naturally aspirated and air cooled and modified to accommodate the use of biogas. The venture mixer or the gas air mixer is used which is supplied by Vanaj Industries Pvt. Ltd. Change in airflow quantity and velocity causes a change in pressure at the channel contraction which in turn affects a change in flow of biogas to join and mix with the main airflow in the required proportion, prior to intake into the engine cylinder. Air Conditioning System This system consists of separate units as, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. The all units used were made from original components from a vapour- compression air- conditioning system of a compact automotive vehicle. The compressor used is coupled to engine by belt drive and it is of centrifugal type. The heat exchange from condenser and evaporator exchange is of cross flow air streams type. The expansion valve is of thermostatic type. In this experimental study, R-134a is used as refrigerant. The evaporator coil is placed in the cabinet where it absorbs the heat from the cabinet providing cool air. After compression the refrigerant passes through the condenser coil, placed outside the cabinet which rejects the heat from the refrigerant to the atmosphere. Experimental Setup The schematic arrangement is shown in figure 1.

Figure1: Schematic Representation of Experimental Setup

Experimental Investigation of Air Conditioning System in Automobile Using a Constant Speed Biogas Engine

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Experimental Procedure In the prior stage of experimental investigation, the venture is modified to give the air fuel ratio of 10:1 to suit the engine to work on biogas. Then the load of vapour compression air-conditioning system is given on the biogas engine and the performance of integrated unit is tested. The observations are taken by changing the speed of compressor and reported.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Air-Conditioning System Performance Test setup was run for a day, and it is been observed that the temperature was drastically reduced from atmospheric temperature to 10 0C at evaporator which is a requirement for the air conditioning system in automobile. With the designed air conditioning system for operation on biogas coupled constant speed engine the highest value of coefficent of performance is 3.5 at the speed of 1200 rpm. Figure2a, 2b and 2c illustrates the temperatures of the evaporator coil over a range of compressor speed at different time intervals during a day. It is been observed that the time required to reach the temperature of 10 0C is increased as compressor speed increases from 1200 rpm to 2400 rpm for all range of time from 10 am to 4 pm.

Figure 2a: Temperaures of Evaporator Over a Range of Compressor Speed at 10 to 11 am in Morning

Figure 2b: Temperaures of Evaporator Over a Range of Compressor Speed at 1 to 2 pm in Afternoon

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Somnath R. Koli & S. D. Yadav

Figure 2c: Temperaures of Evaporator over a Range of Compressor Speed at 3 to 4 pm in Afternoon Figure3 illustrates the variation of coefficient of performance of the designed air conditioning system and it is been observed that the coefficient of performance decreases with increase in compressor speed from 3.5 to 1.65. The increasing differences between the power required driving the compressor and the cooling capacity is the reason for decreasing the coefficient of performance at higher compressor speeds. For the cooling capacity of a passenger car (equivalent to 12,000 Btu/h or one ton of refrigeration), the compressor speeds around 1200 rpm was suitable which gives the highest value of coefficient of performance during the experiment of 3.5.

Figure 3: Effect of Coefficent of Performance with Compressor Speed Figure 4 illustrates the varition of consumption of biogas with compressor speed at different time span in a day. It is been observed that the biogas consumption is increased as the compressor speed incerases. At the speed of 1200 rpm minimum consumption of 0.20 m3 is observed which reaches a maximum value of 0.67 m3 for the speed of 2400 rpm.

Figure 4: Effect of Compressor Speed on Consumption of Biogas

Experimental Investigation of Air Conditioning System in Automobile Using a Constant Speed Biogas Engine

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CONCLUSIONS
An air conditioning system driven by biogas engine is tested. Experimental results of performance are carried out in terms of evaporator coil temperature, fuel consumed and coefficient of performance. The experimental results shows that for the cooling load of a passenger car which is equivalent to 1 ton of refrigeration was effectively taken by the designed system, coupled to a constant speed biogas engine. From the results the compressor speed should be maintained at speed of 1200 rpm to get the minimum consumption of biogas 0.20 m3 for highest coefficient of performance as 3.5. This system offers an alternating fuel for refrigeration and air conditioning applications and their uses at ruler areas.

REFERENCES
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