PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF R32/R600a BLEND WITH TiO2/MO NANOFLUID FOR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

Abstract

This experimental study investigated the energy and exergy performance of R32/R600a (50:50 by mass) with TiO2 nanofluid for a residential air conditioning system which was originally designed for R22. R32/R600a has been used along with 0.01%-0.02% volume concentration TiO2 nanolubricant. Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has been used as surfactant. Pressures and temperatures of different components have been recorded for measuring energy and exergy parameters. RERPROP 7 software has been used to determine the thermal properties of the refrigerants and the blend at different conditions. The results show that the R32/R600a has lower value of COP compared to R22. Numerically R32/R600a blend has 32%, blend with 0.01% nanofluid has 26% and blend with 0.02% nanofluid has 61% less COP than R22. However, refrigerating effect of the blend has increased by 10 percent compared to R22 while the blend with 0.01% and 0.02% has 20% and 9% more refrigerating effect respectively. Again, the blend without nanofluid and along with nanofluid (0.01%, 0.02%) have 25%, 7% and 3% more power consumption than that of R22 respectively. Exergy analysis shows R32/R600a blend and the 0.01%, 0.02% nanofluid have higher irreversibility compared to R22. Overall, R32/R600a blend is not suitable for retrofitting in R22 system.