Special Issue Published in International Journal of Trend in Research and Development (IJTRD),

ISSN: 2394-9333, www.ijtrd.com

Refrigeration System Using Nano Fluid: A Review
Article
1
V Mahanandi Reddy, 2G Siva Prasad, 3G Nagaraju
1
Sr.Assistant Professor, 2Assistant Professor, 3P G student
1,2,3
Department of Mechanical Engineering
1,3
G.Pulla Reddy Engineering college (AUTONOMOUS), Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India
2
G.Pullaiah college of Engineering and Technology, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract— Refrigeration is a process of removing heat from cost, high volume production of stable green nanofluids
one place to another place.The refrigeration process is done by suitable for refrigeration application is one of the most
using a special device is known as refrigerator. Researchers are challenging objectives.
trying to use new generation heat transfer fluids called nano
II. NANO FLUIDS
fluids in refrigeration systems. This research mainly focuses on
cuO-nano lubricant in the refrigeration systems. cuO nano Nanofluids are engineered colloidal suspensions of
particles introduced into the system through lubricant to nanoparticles in base fluids at modest concentrations showing
improve its heat transfer performance. A concentration of 0.05 significant enhancement of their properties. Compared to
to 1% of cuo polyester oil was tested along with suitability and normal solid liquid suspensions nanofluids have 1) higher heat
environmental friendly refrigerant R134a. Results show that transfer between particles & fluids due to high nanoparticles
cuO nano particles concentration of 0.05 to1% is optimal and surface area 2) better dispersion stability with predominant
gives highest heat transfer enhancement and improve the Brownian motion 3) reduced particle clogging & 4) reduced
coefficient of performace (cop), reduce the power consumption pumping power compared to base fluid. Nanoparticles can be
and comparing thermal conductivity, dynamic viscosity. added to the lubricant (compressor oil) and the lubricant
nanoparticles mixture is known as nanolubricant. Similarly
Keywords— Nano lubricant, Refrigeration ,Cop, cuO,
nanoparticles can be added to the refrigerant and the refrigerant
Polyester oil
nanoparticles mixture is known as nanorefrigerant.
I. INTRODUCTION Nanolubricant-refrigerant can be prepared by mixing pure
refrigerant with nanolubricant. Nanolubricant, nanorefrigerant
The most common refrigerant in current time is R134a in all
& nanolubricant-refrigerant are type of nanofluids. In
the refrigeration systems like vapour compression refrigeration
refrigeration systems, nanolubricant improves tribological
system, domestic refrigerators and air conditioners. But the
characteristics improving compressor performance;
only problem with this type of refrigerant is they need the large
nanorefrigerant improves thermo-physical properties,
amount of electric power. Now for the time demand we need
improving refrigerating effect. Presence of nanoparticles
something new that will be able to replace alternative
enhances solubility between oil & refrigerant and returns more
refrigerant with some advanced thermo-physical properties like
oil back to the compressor.
high heat transfer, low power consumption in order to make
the refrigeration process more effective and efficient so that we III. PREPARATION OF NANOFLUIDS
will have a chance to save the environment. The new
Cuo nanoparticles are added to refrigerant by dispersing in the
technology is being introduced in present time that is,
host lubricant POE (Poly Ester) in the compressor of the air-
nanotechnology by the help of technology nano refrigerants are
condition unit. POE is widely used in the industry for
form.
refrigeration and air-condition. Cuo Nanoparticles with
Since refrigeration deals completely with the transfer of heat, concentration of 0.01wt%, 0.05wt% and 0.1wt% were
to better understand how the refrigeration process works, these measured by digital weight balance. Each mass fraction of
necessary to first understand the nature of heat. Then we can nanoparticles is mixed with base lubricant and the amount of
control the transfer and removal of heat reduce and maintain each sample of nanolubricant prepared was 700 grams.
the temperature of a space or material below its natural Resultant nanolubricant was homogenized for 15 minutes
surrounding temperature. While evaluating performance of followed by sonication for up to 4 hours using a water bath
refrigeration system, effect of nanofluid preparation method, sonicator.
effect of various types of nanoparticle materials, variation of
Refer Table 1 below, CNT has highest thermal conductivity.
sizes of nanoparticles, variation of concentration of
Aligned CNTs are easier to disperse. However it is most
nanoparticles, variation of suspension concentration in
expensive option. Natural Diamond has second highest thermal
refrigerant needs to be investigated. Available nanoparticle
conductivity with no significant health risks but is second most
materials are limited, however there are too many
expensive option. CuO & ZnO can be dangerous for health.
combinations of base fluid (refrigerants & oils) with
Al2O3 reacts with water & heat is generated. Oil has low
nanoparticles and too many variables (sizes, concentration) &
thermal conductivity whereas refrigerant has very low thermal
alternatives to explore & research. Development of
conductivity. For other nanoparticles study is limited.
nanoparticle production & dispersion technique will further
enhance nanofluid research possibilities. Any new Table 1: Thermal conductivity of different materials
development of nanoparticle material shall also go through all
production, research, & experimentation steps. Public concern
about nanoparticles safety both in production and in use shall
also be required to be considered. Possibility of using non-
toxic or biodegradable nanoparticles can also be explored. Low

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 Special Issue Published in International Journal of Trend in Research and Development (IJTRD),
ISSN: 2394-9333, www.ijtrd.com
pressure and temperature. Some of the liquid refrigerant
evaporates as it passes through the expansion valve, but the
greater portion is vaporized in the evaporator at the low
pressure and temperature.
e. Evaporator
An evaporator usually consists of coils of copper pipe in which
the liquid-vapour refrigerant at low pressure and temperature is
evaporated and changed into vapour refrigerant at low pressure
and temperature. In evaporating, the liquid vapour refrigerant
absorbs its latent heat of vaporization from the medium (air,
water or brine) which is to be cooled.
f. Actual Test Setup

IV. XPERIMENTAL SET

Figure 2: Actual Test Setup of VCRS with Nano Refrigerant

Experiment was conducted using the above setup using R134a
pure refrigerant and the actual and theoretical COP of solenoid
valve and expansion valve expansion are calculated and the
following results are obtained.
Figure 1: Simple Vapour Compression Table2. Performance of VCRS using pure
R134a
A. Components of Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System
a. Compressor
The low pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant from
evaporator is drawn into the compressor through the inlet or
suction valve and it is compressed isentropically to a high
pressure and temperature and discharged into the condenser
through the delivery or discharge valve.
b. Condenser
V. LITERATURE SURVEY
The condenser consists of coils of thin copper pipe in which
the high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant is cooled Here are the applications of nano refrigerants. The researchers
and condensed by the process of forced convection. The have found the advantages by using nano refrigerant in place of
refrigerant, while passing through the condenser gives up its alternative refrigerant. They have proved that the nano
latent heat to the surrounding condensing medium which is refrigerant is more efficient as compared to refrigerant.
normally air or water. A. Nomenclature
c. Receiver NP Nanoparticles
The function of the receiver vessel is to store the condensed NPC Nanoparticles concentration
vapour-liquid mixture at high temperature and pressure and
supply pure liquid refrigerant to the expansion valve so as to CNP Carbon nanoparticles
get better throttling and controlling effect. MO Mineral oil
d. Expansion Valve CNT Carbon nanotubes
It is also called throttle valve and the function of this valve is MR Migration Ratio
to allow the liquid refrigerant under high pressure and
temperature to pass at a controlled rate after reducing its HTC Heat transfer coefficient

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POE Polyester oil NPVF Nanoparticle volume fraction (%)
SWCNH single wall carbon nanohorns COP Coefficient of performance
NPMFL Nanoparticle mass fraction in lubricant (%)

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VI. RESULT AND DISCUSSION b. Thermal conductivity

A. Analysis and comparison of thermo physical properties of
nano refrigerants
The thermo physical properties such as heat transfer
coefficient, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity and
dynamic viscosity of CuO–R134a nano refrigerant.and their
properties for optimized nano concentration are tabulated
below.
a. Heat transfer coefficient

Figure 4: Analysis and comparison of thermo physical

properties of nano refrigerants
The above graph shows the variation between the different
nanoparticles concentration and the thermal conductivity of
different nano refrigerant. It is found that the thermal
conductivity of the different nano refrigerants are increases
with the different nanoparticles concentration. Among these
CuO nano refrigerant gives the higher thermal conductivity
than the other nano refrigerants.
Figure 3: Analysis and comparison of thermo physical
c. Specific heat capacity
properties of nano refrigerants
The above graph shows the Variation of the evaporating heat
transfer coefficient for different values of nanoparticles
concentrations. It is noticed that the variation of the
evaporating heat transfer coefficient is increases with the
increase of nanoparticle concentration. Also the heat transfer
coefficient increases upto 42kw/m2 .

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compared to other nano particles. but its application is hindered
by many factors like poor long term stability, high pressure
drop, high pumping power, low specific heat and high
production cost.
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CONCLUSION
CuO nano particles with R134a refrigerant and polyester oil
can be used as an excellent refrigerant to improve the heat
transfer characteristics and performance in a refrigeration
system. A successful model has been designed and the basic
theoretical heat transfer analysis and performance analysis of
the refrigeration system has been done The obtained
evaporating heat transfer coefficient and coefficient of
performance result have been optimized at its maximum value
for the best CuO nano particles concentration in R134a
refrigerant. From the analysis it can be concluded that the heat
transfer and performance characteristics of the system is higher
with the usage of CuO nano particles with R134a refrigerant

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