REFRIGERANT ANALYSIS

1) LITERATURE SURVEY
Binit Kumar Jha, et.al. [1] conducted an experimental investigation to compare the
COP of VCR system using various refrigerants like R134a and R600a under condition -50C
evaporator temperature. The results showed that the alternative refrigerant investigated in the
analysis R600a has higher coefficient of performance. Refrigerant property parameter shows
that R600a has minimum leakage, minimum global warming potential and low power
consumption when compared with R134a.
Pawel et al. [2] conducted studies on nanofluids and found that there is the significant
increase in the thermal conductivity of nanofluid compared to the base fluid. They also found
that addition of nanoparticles results in significant increase in the critical heat flux.
Bi et al. [3] conducted studies on a domestic refrigerator using nanorefrigerants. In
their studies R134a was used the refrigerant, and a mixture of mineral oil TiO2 was used as
the lubricant. They found that the refrigeration system with the nanorefrigerant worked
normally and efficiently and the energy consumption reduces by 21.2%. When compared
with R134a/POE oil system.
It is seen that by using R134a- TiO2 refrigerant, the heat transfer coefficient increases
by 30.2% when particle concentration is 1.5%. [4]
The results show that by using R600a- TiO2 nanorefrigerant, the energy consumed is
9.6% lesser when used with 0.5g/L nanorefrigerant. It can be used in normal refrigerator
without any system reconstruction. [5]

2) PROPOSE
To experimentally analyse the COP, thermophysical characteristics and heat transfer
characteristics of R600a - Al2O3 nanorefrigerant at various concentrations in a vapour
compression refrigerator.

3) BASIC LAYOUT
4) METHODOLOGY

● Preparation of Nanofluid:
We are taking two lubricants either Mineral oil and for PAG oil. Starting with
Mineral oil, we have to mix the mineral oil with even distribution of nanoparticles for
stable suspension. Agglomeration and chemical change of the mixture is strictly
restricted. The mixture is prepared as per the following procedure :

The Al2O3 nanoparticles used in this work have the properties like size less
than 50 nm, colour white, density 0.26g/cc, melting point 20400C and molecular
weight 101.96 . Then required amount of nanoparticles are added with the mineral oil
and for uniform distribution of the nanoparticles in the oil, the mixture (Mineral oil
and nanoparticles) is placed in an ultrasonic vibrator for 6-7 hours. The nanofluid
prepared is of the mass fraction of 0.2% & 0.5% respectively.

● Experimental Setup
The domestic refrigerating system comprises of a hermetic compressor, air
cooled condenser, capillary tubes and an evaporator. The temperatures are measured
with the help of copper constantan T type thermocouple and the pressure is measured
by using pressure gauges fitted at inlet and outlet in the various parts (compressor,
condenser & evaporator) of the refrigerator. The temperature and pressure at each
point are necessary to obtain in order to calculate the performance of the system.

● Evacuation of the system

Evacuation of the system is needed before charging as that removes the non
condensable materials and water vapour. It is done by using a vacuum pump, pressure
gauge and hoses. Hoses are connected with service port to remove the moisture from
the system.

● Leakage Test
Here the system is pressurised by nitrogen gas upto (80-90)psi and then the
system is checked by soap solution (i.e. prepared by mixing detergent in water). It is
the simplest method used and it is also least expensive. If any leakage is present in the
system then the nitrogen gas rush out from the leakage portion and burst the soap
bubbles, which indicates the presence of leakage. Then the confirmation of the
leakage is done from the leakage part.

● Charging of the system

The mixture of Al2O3 nanoparticles and oil is inserted into the compressor and
after that the refrigerant R600a is charged into the system while the system is kept in
running condition so that the refrigerant flows through all the parts of the system.
5) OUTCOMES
● The nanofluid which we have used in this work need to be safe and also it doesn’t
affect the machinery parts of the refrigerator.
● The energy consumption need to be lesser when using nano refrigerants than ordinary
refrigerants.
● The most important performance parameter of a refrigerator is its refrigerating effect.
The more the refrigerating effect more will be the COP of the refrigerator. With the
increase in the percentage of mass fractions of the nanoparticles, there is a chance for
the refrigerating effect to increase.
● In an energy efficient model it has been an important factor to reduce the energy
consumption which not only makes it energy efficient but also cost effective. With the
increase in the percentage of the mass fractions of nanoparticles the compressor, there
is a chance for the work to reduce.
● The coefficient of performance of a refrigerator is depended on the refrigerating effect
and the compressor work. So the sole purpose of this work is to enhance the COP
which is obtained by increasing the refrigerating effect and decreasing the compressor
work. The percentage increase in the mass fraction of the nanoparticles may results in
our desired effect i.e enhanced COP.

6) REFERENCES
[1] Binit Kumar Jha, “Performance of Refrigerator Using R-600a as
Refrigerant”,2015.
[2] Pawel K. P., Jeffrey A.E. and David G.C.,“Nanofluids for thermal
transport”,2005.
[3] Bi S., Shi L. and Zhang L.,”Performance study of a domestic refrigerator using
R134a/mineral oil/nano-TiO2 as working fluid”,2007.
[4] S.S Sanukrishna, Nabeel Ajmal, M Jose Prakash,”Thermophysical and heat
transfer of R134a- TiO2 nanorefrigerant: A Numerical Investigation”, 2018.
[5] Shengshan Bi, Kai Gao, Zhigang Liu, Jiangtno Wu,”Performance of a domestic
refrigerator using TiO2 - R600a nano refrigerator as working fluid”, 2011.