Experimental study on enhancement of ammonia–water falling film absorption by adding nano-particles

Abstract

Based on the preparation of Al 2O 3, Fe 2O 3 and ZnFe 2O 4 nanofluid, the comparative experiments on the falling film absorption between ammonia–water and ammonia–water with various kinds of nano-particles are carried out. Experimental results show that the sorts and mass fraction of nano-particles, the viscosity and stability of nanofluid, as well as the mass fraction of ammonia in the basefluid are considered as the key parameters. The absorption of ammonia is weakened by only adding surfactants or adding poorly dispersed nano-particles. The increase of mass fraction of nano-particles with matched surfactants can improve the absorption rate of ammonia under the condition that the viscosity of nanofluid does not increase remarkably, and there is an optimal mass fraction for each kind of nano-particles and surfactant. With the increase in ammonia mass fraction of initial nanofluid, the absorption potential capacity decline, but the enhancing effect induced by the nanofluid is more obvious compared to that without nano-particles. The effective absorption ratio can be increased by 70% and 50% with Fe 2O 3 and ZnFe 2O 4 nanofluid respectively when the initial ammonia mass fraction is 15%. The absorption enhancement by the nanofluid is attributable to the heat transfer enhancement and the decrease in viscosity of nanofluid, which are strongly proved by the temperature differences in cooling water and nanofluids as well as the falling film flowing time.