TA-23-C087 – A Systematic Approach to Evaluate Efficiency and Economic Viability of Using Heat Transfer Nano-Fluid in HVAC Systems

In 2021, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) announced its commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. To achieve this ambitious decarbonization target, the KSA pledged to invest more than $180 billion. Air-Conditioning (AC) is one of the major areas that offers immense energy savings opportunities, given that AC represents nearly 70% of the total electrical energy consumed for domestic use. Research on heat transfer enhancement using drop-in additive fluids is becoming more prevalent to increase the energy efficiency of AC systems. This paper provides the results of a techno-economic pilot testing of a high-performance, aluminum-oxide, engineered nanoparticle formulation, used as a drop-in additive in the chilled water loop of air-cooled chillers installed in a multistory residence located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. A monitoring arrangement was designed and installed to continuously measure the essential operational parameters throughout the pilot duration. Results showed an appreciable increase in the chilled water thermal conductivity and enhanced evaporator heat transfer, resulting in 15% reduction in the chiller’s compressor power usage, with a simple payback of less than 6 years.