Evaluación de la capacidad calorífica del propilenglicol mediante la adición de nanopartículas de alofán.

Abstract

It is presented as an alternative to improve the performance of refrigeration systems with the incorporation of nanofluids, and aims to perform experimental tests using nanoparticles of allophane and propylene glycol as a base fluid in order to determine its heat capacity. The execution of the work started with the synthesis of allophane nanoparticles which were suspended in water for further analysis and characterization using the following methods: infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The concentrations worked with are 15 percent and 21 percent by volume of propylene glycol, both at 0.5 percent concentration of allophane nanoparticles for a volume of solution of 180 liters. The experimental tests were carried out in the "chiller" technical equipment that allowed the solution to be cooled from the ambient temperature to a temperature close to minus 10 degrees Celsius depending on the properties of the solution, this data could be obtained through an interface of user of the LabView software. The data obtained served to record the cooling curves at different concentrations, as well as for the determination of the cooling rate, then a comparative analysis was made with the cooling curves prepared under the same conditions in previous projects. Finally, we proceeded to determine the specific heat of the solutions containing allophane nanoparticles and its improvement was verified in comparison with the propylene glycol-based solutions. The results obtained were favorable, since it was verified that the addition of allophane nanoparticles produces a considerable improvement in the thermodynamic properties of the base fluids and increases their heat transfer, therefore, it is recommended the use of allophane nanoparticles in refrigeration systems and their study in other areas of application.