Experimental investigation of Ice plant using different concentrations of Nano lubricant with primary refrigerant R-134a

Abstract

In this study the performance analysis of ice plant is carried out experimentally for different concentration (0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4%) of TiO2 with (POE) lubricant using R-134a as a primary refrigerant in to the system. The performance analysis is carried out based on the parameters such as temperature of brine, pressure ratio, compressor work, refrigerating effect and COP. The pressure and temperature readings are recorded by using the pressure gauge and thermocouples fitted in the test rig for the analysis. The properties of refrigerant are recorded by using the LABVIEW software in computerised test rig. In this analysis it was observed that the minimum compressor work and maximum COP found at 0.4% concentration of TiO2 compared to other concentration. At 0.4% concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles, the efficacy was found to be superior to that of a mixture of R134a and pure lubricant, consuming 16.3% less compressor power and increasing COP by 34.2%. But the thermal conductivity and the density, of the mixture of R134a and nanolubricant are observed higher in comparison with the mixture of R134a and pure lubricant and are increases with increasing the concentration of TiO2.

Keywords

• ice plant
• concentration of tio2
• r-134a
• coefficient of performance