Performance of a domestic refrigerator in varying ambient temperatures, concentrations of TiO2 nanolubricants and R600a refrigerant charges
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Date
2021-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Heliyon
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of varying test conditions including ambient temperature (19, 22, and 25 C),
mass charges of R600a refrigerant (40, 50, 60, and 70 g), and concentrations of TiO2 nanolubricant (0, 0.2 and 0.4
g/L) on the performance of a slightly modified 100g R134a domestic refrigeration system. The investigated parameters
include evaporator air temperature, energy consumption, coefficient of performance, and second law
efficiency of the system. The results showed that the performance of the refrigeration system at 0.2 and 0.4 g/L
concentrations of TiO2 nanolubricant, improved at optimum ambient temperature and R600a mass charge conditions.
At optimum conditions, the evaporator air temperature and energy consumption reduced within the range
5.26 to 26.32 %, and 0.13 to 14.09 % respectively, while the coefficient of performance and second law efficiency
increased within the range 0.05 to 16.32 %, and 2.8 to 16 %, respectively. However, at other conditions (nonoptimum),
the energy consumption and evaporator air temperature were higher and within the range 0.28 to 8.26
%, and 5 to 40 % respectively, while the coefficient of performance and second law efficiency reduced within the
range 2.99 to 10.94 %, and 0.55 to 13.43 % respectively. In conclusion, we observed variations in the performance
of the refrigerator with varying test conditions.
Description
Staff Publication
Keywords
R600a, Refrigerator, TiO2 nanoparticle, Ambient temperature