Examining the role of nano-sized additives in boosting air conditioner efficiency

Abstract

This study investigates the critical elements of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) in refrigerant adoption, with an emphasis on R22, a common refrigerant in household air conditioning with a GWP of 1700 and an ODP of 0.05. Under continuous 30°C testing, hydrocarbon refrigerant mixes (HCM) containing R22 and R152a in various mass ratios were evaluated for their ability to reduce R22 usage in vapor compression air conditioning systems. HCM outperformed R22 in terms of total system performance. The study examined the theoretical and actual performance of R152a, finding greater compressor reliability at lower temperatures and lower emissions due to improved containment and lowered refrigerant charge. To address the demand for R152a replacements, nanomaterials such as nanoCuO, ZnO, and Al2O3 were added into nanofluids to improve heat transmission. The performance of air cooling was investigated using various microfluid volume fractions of R22 and R152a. R152a with 0.5% CuO outperformed other refrigerants in terms of energy efficiency, operational costs, and Coefficient of Performance (COP). Cost research revealed that R152a + 0.5% CuO is a more cost-effective choice than unblended R22 and 13.64% more economical than R152a alone, highlighting its potential as a viable and economically attractive refrigerant solution.

Keywords

• Additives
• Air Conditioner
• Environmental Impact
• Nano Fluids

References

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