Comparison of Performance of a Domestic Refrigerator using Al2O3 Nanoparticles with PAG Oil and Mineral Oil as Lubricant

ABSTRACT Nano fluid has caught the attention of many researchers for its novel properties which makes it unique and different in the field heat transfer, specifically thermal conductivity. So the present study comprises of the use of nano fluid in enhancement of the performance of a domestic refrigerator. Comparison of performance is analysed between the domestic refrigerator using refrigerant R134a (tetrafluroethane) and PAG Oil with the same refrigerant and Mineral oil with different mass fraction of Al2O3 nanoparticles. From the experimental observation it was found that for 0.2% mass fraction of nanoparticles ,the coefficient of performance of the system increases by 7.75% and 19.38% when we take PAG Oil and Mineral Oil as lubricant respectively. As a result of comparison of COP between PAG Oil with 0.2% mass fraction of nanoparticles and Mineral Oil with the same mass fraction of nanoaprticles, Mineral oil mixture gives an increase of 10.79% of COP over PAG Oil mixture. Likewise, for 0.4% mass fraction of nanoparticles the COP of the system increases by 14.48% and 25.3% for PAG Oil and Mineral Oil respectively. Here also Mineral Oil mixture gives an enhanced COP of 9.44% over PAG Oil mixture. Keywords : Polyalkaline Glycol Oil (PAG Oil) ,Mineral Oil , Mass Fraction, Nanoparticles