Experimental evaluation of SWCNT-water nanofluid as a secondary fluid in a refrigeration system

Abstract

SWCNT-water (single walled carbon nanotube) nanofluid was tested as a secondary fluid for a 4–9kW indirect vapor compression refrigeration system. The evaporator, with boiling refrigerant HCFC-22 extracting heat from the nanofluid, was of the brazed plate counter-flow type. A semi-hermetic compressor, an electronic expansion valve (EEV) and an air-cooled condenser were the other main components of the refrigeration cycle. Tests were carried out with the experimental apparatus operating over a range of different volumetric fractions of nanoparticles (0–0.21%) as well as nanofluid inlet temperatures (30–40°C) and mass flow rates (40–80g/s). Overall, the performance of the system working with nanofluid as a secondary fluid was superior to that where just the base fluid (i.e., pure water) circulated in the secondary fluid loop, at the same mass flow rate and inlet temperature. The enhanced thermal conductivity of the nanofluid is believed to be the main reason why the refrigeration system with the nanofluid loop, if compared to that with pure water, presented a higher refrigerating capacity.