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Performance augmentation of retrofitted sustainable R1234yf in R134a air conditioning system using Al2O3–SiO2 hybrid nanolubricant

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Abstract

Low global warming potential hydrofluoroolefin-1234yf (R1234yf) is an alternative green refrigerant for the automotive air conditioning (AAC) system to replace the existing R134a refrigerant. However, the low energy efficiency of the AAC system using R1234yf has been a significant obstacle to its wider use. This paper describes using Al2O3–SiO2/DEC PAG nanolubricant to enhance the performance of the AAC-R1234yf system. The hybrid nanolubricant was created by a two-step preparation process. The experiment was undertaken at volume concentrations up to 0.05% and under various operating conditions. The stability test shows that the hybrid nanolubricant remained in superior stability after 6 months, with minimum particle aggregation and sedimentation. The AAC-Al2O3–SiO2/DEC PAG system achieved the best performance at 0.03% volume concentration with an average increment of 12.01%. This outcome was contributed by the increase of the AAC evaporator’s heat absorb value by 2.8% and the reduction of the compressor work with an average decrease of 7.7%. In conclusion, a 0.03% volume concentration of Al2O3–SiO2/DEC PAG nanolubricant in the AAC compressor was recommended for optimum system performance and energy saving.

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Abbreviations

AAC:

Automotive air conditioning

AAC-Al2O3–SiO2/DEC PAG:

AAC-R1234yf system with Al2O3–SiO2/DEC PAG hybrid nanolubricants

AAC-DEC PAG:

AAC-R1234yf system with DEC PAG lubricants

AAC-R1234yf:

AAC system with R1234yf refrigerant

AAC-R134a:

AAC system with R134a refrigerant

ASHRAE:

American society of heating, refrigerating and air conditioning engineers

COP:

Coefficient of performance

Cp:

Specific heat capacity (J kg−1 K−1) for water at 30 °C

DEC:

Double-end-capped

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopes

GWP:

Global warming potential

IHX:

Internal heat exchanger

kW:

Kilowatt

m :

Mass (g)

\(\dot{m}_{{\text{w}}}\) :

Water mass flow rate (L min−1)

\(\dot{m}_{{\text{r}}}\) :

Refrigerant mass flow rate (kg s−1)

m RC :

Initial refrigerant charge (g)

n :

Number of population

PAG:

Polyalkylene glycol

\({q}_{\mathrm{L}}\) :

Heat Absorb (kJ kg−1)

\(\dot{{q}_{\mathrm{L}}}\) :

Cooling capacity (kW) at refrigerant side

\({\dot{q}}_{\mathrm{w}}\) :

Cooling capacity of (kW) from the calorimetric bath calculation

R.H.:

Relative humidity

rpm:

Revolution per minute

RSE:

Relative standard error (%)

S err :

Standard error

SAE:

Society of Automotive Engineers

T :

Temperature (K)

t:

Time (s)

T in :

Average temperature for water inlet

T out :

Average temperature for water outlet

TXV:

Thermostatic expansion valve

VCS:

Vapour compression system

\(W_{{{\text{in}}}}\) :

Compressor work (kJ kg−1)

\(\dot{W}_{{{\text{in}}}}\) :

Power consumption (kW)

WDEC:

Without double-end-capped

ϕ :

Volume concentration (%)

ρ :

Density (kg m−3)

\(\sigma\) :

Standard deviation for sample

L :

Lubricant

P :

Nanoparticle

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Universiti Malaysia Pahang (www.ump.edu.my) for the financial support given under RDU213302. The authors would like to also thank the research teams from the Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid and Processes (Pusat Bendalir), Advanced Automotive Liquids Laboratory (AALL) and Interdisciplinary Research Center for Renewable Energy and Power Systems (IRC-REPS), who have provided professional insights and expertise that greatly assisted the present research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pahang, 26600, Pekan, Malaysia

    W. H. Azmi

  2. Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid and Processes, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

    M. Z. Sharif, W. H. Azmi & M. F. Ghazali

  3. Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Hafiz Muhammad Ali

  4. Interdisciplinary Research Center for Renewable Energy and Power Systems (IRC-REPS), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Hafiz Muhammad Ali

  5. Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia, 75150, Melaka, Malaysia

    M. Z. Sharif

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  1. M. Z. Sharif
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  2. W. H. Azmi
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  3. M. F. Ghazali
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Sharif, M.Z., Azmi, W.H., Ghazali, M.F. et al. Performance augmentation of retrofitted sustainable R1234yf in R134a air conditioning system using Al2O3–SiO2 hybrid nanolubricant. J Therm Anal Calorim 148, 10203–10215 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12385-w

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