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Effect of CuO nanolubricant on compressor characteristics and performance of LPG based refrigeration cycle: experimental investigation

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Abstract

Refrigeration, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system is the largest reason behind the increasing demand of energy consumption in the world and saving that energy through some innovative methods becomes a large issue for the researchers. Compressor is a primary component of the refrigeration cycle. The application of nanoparticles in refrigeration cycle overcomes the energy consumption issue by improving the compressor suction and discharge characteristics. In this paper, an experimental study is carried out to investigate the effect of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles on different parameters of the refrigeration cycle. CuO particles are appended with the system refrigerant through lubricating oil of the compressor. Further, the viscosity measurements and friction coefficient analysis of compressor lubricant for different fractions of nanoparticles has been investigated. The results showed that both the suction and discharge characteristics of the compressor were enhanced with the utilization of nanolubricant in LPG based refrigeration cycle. Nanoparticles additive in lubricant increases the viscosity which lead to a significant decrease in friction coefficient. The COP of the cycle was improved by 46%, as the energy consumption of the compressor was decreased by 7%.

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Abbreviations

m:

Mass of water (kg)

δt:

Temperature difference

t:

Time (sec)

Cp :

Specific heat kJ kg−1 K−1

K:

Energy meter constant.

n:

Number of pulses taken in energy meter

HTC:

Heat transfer coefficient

MO:

Mineral oil

CuO:

copper oxide

COP:

Coefficient of performance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, Mohali, 140307, India

    Ravinder Kumar

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Beant College of Engineering and Technology Gurdaspur, Gurdaspur, 143521, India

    Jagdev Singh & Pankaj Kundal

Authors
  1. Ravinder Kumar
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  2. Jagdev Singh
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  3. Pankaj Kundal
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Correspondence to Ravinder Kumar.

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Kumar, R., Singh, J. & Kundal, P. Effect of CuO nanolubricant on compressor characteristics and performance of LPG based refrigeration cycle: experimental investigation. Heat Mass Transfer 54, 1405–1413 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2231-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2231-0

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