Experimental investigation of Al2O3-water nanofluid as a secondary fluid in a refrigeration system

Abstract

In the present study, a new technique of utilizing nanofluid as a secondary fluid in a secondary loop of refrigeration system is examined. This secondary loop serves for providing cooling in specific applications such as walk-in coolers and freezers. The secondary loop is obtained across the evaporator section wherein the refrigerant R134a extracted heat from the nanofluid. The evaporator here is classified as shell and coil heat exchanger where nanofluid flowed in the shell side and refrigerant flowed in the coil. A compressor, expansion valve and water cooled condenser are the major integral parts of the system. Experiments were conducted for various volume concentrations of Al2O3 nanofluid (0-15%), mass flow rates (40-80 g/s) and nanofluid inlet temperatures (30-40 °C). The modified system exhibited superior performance when Al2O3 nanofluid was employed in the secondary loop as compared to base fluid (distilled water) while operating at the same mass flow rate and inlet temperature. A maximum COP of 6.5 was achieved for nanofluid inlet temperature 40 C at mass flow rate 80 g/s and volume concentration 15%. The enhancement in refrigeration effect and coefficient of performance is attributed to micro conduction effect due to the rise in thermal conductivity of nanofluid as compared to distilled water.