Application of fullerene C60 nano-oil for performance enhancement of domestic refrigerator compressors

• Published in: International journal of refrigeration Vol. 40; pp. 398 - 403
• Main Authors: Xing, Meibo, Wang, Ruixiang, Yu, Jianlin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Compresseur; Compressor; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines and turbines; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerene; Fullérene; Lubrication; Lubrification; Nano-particules; Nanoparticles; Refrigerating engineering; Refrigerating engineering. Cryogenics. Food conservation; Techniques. Materials; Fullerene; Nanoparticles; Fullérene; Nano-particules; Compresseur; Compressor; Lubrification; Lubrication; Performance; Refrigeration installation; Refrigerator
• ISSN: 0140-7007; 1879-2081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.12.004

In this work, the fullerene C60 nano-oil is proposed as a promising lubricant to enhance the performance of domestic refrigerator compressors. The stability of fullerene C60 nanoparticles dispersed in a mineral oil and the lubrication properties of the nano-oil were investigated experimentally. It was confirmed that the nanoparticles steadily suspend in the mineral oil at stationary conditions for a long period of time. The friction coefficients of the nano-oil significantly decrease with increasing the concentration of nanoparticles in the mineral oil, especially at the lower applied loads. The friction coefficients of the nano-oil with the concentration of 1–3 g L−1 are 12.9–19.6% lower than that of pure mineral oil. The applications of the nano-oil with the specific concentration of 3 g L−1 to two domestic refrigerator compressors were examined by compressor calorimeter experiments. The results shows the COPs of two compressors were improved by 5.6% and 5.3%, respectively, when the nano-oil was used instead of pure mineral oil. •Fullerene C60 nano-oil is proposed to enhance refrigerator compressor performance.•The stability of fullerene C60 nano-oil has been investigated for three years.•The lubricity of fullerene C60 nano-oil has been evaluated by friction coefficient.•Cops of two compressors with fullerene C60 nano-oil are improved by average 5.45%.