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Effect of h-BN solid nanolubricant on the performance of R134a–polyolester oil-based vapour compression refrigeration system

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Abstract

The interest in the use of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanoparticles as solid nanolubricant for R134a–polyolester oil-based vapour compression refrigeration system was arisen because of its self-lubricating property, thermal and chemical stability. The present investigation analyzes the consequence of different volume concentrations of h-BN solid nanolubricant in the polyolester oil-based lubricant, on its density, viscosity and tribological aspects, as well as on the coefficient of performance of a vapour compression refrigeration system using R134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) refrigerant as the working fluid. Different samples of nanolubricants were prepared based on the volume percentage of h-BN nanoparticles using magnetic stir, low-intensity ultrasonic bath and high-intensity ultrasonic stirrer method. The tribological test results reveal that there is a momentous enhancement in antifriction behaviour in the nanolubricant compared to base polyolester oil. The nanolubricant containing 3 vol% h-BN nanoparticles shows a sixty percentage improvement in the energy saving as compared to base POE oil system.

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Abbreviations

C p :

Specific heat capacity (kJ kg−1 K−1)

D p :

Nanoparticle diameter (m)

K :

Energy meter constant (Imp kW−1 h−1)

m :

Mass of water (kg)

m h-BN :

Mass of h-BN nanoparticles

m bf :

Mass of polyolester oil

n :

Number of pulses taken in energy meter

P :

Work power input (kW)

Q :

Refrigerant capacity (kW)

t :

Time (s)

T :

Absolute fluid temperature (K)

T r :

T/273.15 K

∆T :

Temperature difference (K)

x :

Mass fraction

COP:

Coefficient of performance

HFC:

Hydrofluorocarbon

POE:

Polyolester

PAG:

Polyalkylene glycol

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

UV:

Ultraviolet

VCR:

Vapour compression refrigeration

ρ h-BN :

Density of h-BN nanoparticles

ρ bf :

Density of polyolester oil

\(\varPhi\) :

Volume concentration

v :

Liquid kinematic viscosity (mm2 s−1)

ex:

Experimental

L:

Pure lubricant

m:

Mixture measured

np:

h-BN nanoparticles

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Dr. M. A. Neelakandan, Professor, Department of Chemistry, National Engineering College, for providing the research laboratory facilities. One of the authors, Dr. R. Harichandran, acknowledges the Advanced Engineering Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Engineering College, K.R. Nagar, Kovilpatti, Tamilnadu, India, for providing research laboratory facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Engineering College, K.R. Nagar, Kovilpatti, Tamilnadu, 628 503, India

    R. Harichandran, P. Paulraj, S. Maha Pon Raja & J. Kalyana Raman

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  1. R. Harichandran
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  2. P. Paulraj
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Correspondence to R. Harichandran.

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Harichandran, R., Paulraj, P., Maha Pon Raja, S. et al. Effect of h-BN solid nanolubricant on the performance of R134a–polyolester oil-based vapour compression refrigeration system. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 41, 140 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-019-1645-7

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