Analysis of a simple vapor compression and ejector refrigeration systems working with eco-friendly refrigerants
Main Article Content
Abstract
Transitioning to alternative refrigerants with low Global Warming Potential (GWP) in both vapor compression and ejector refrigeration systems emerges as a viable strategy to address the environmental impact associated with refrigeration technologies. This shift necessitates a thorough examination of factors such as thermodynamic performance, safety considerations, and optimization of system design. The outcomes of this study contribute to the advancement of sustainable refrigeration systems, aligning with global initiatives to curb greenhouse gas emissions and preserve the environment.
The study adopts a thermodynamic approach to numerically investigate several eco-friendly refrigerants with GWP below 150, including R1234yf, R1234ze, R1270, R152a, R290, and R600a, as potential alternatives for vapor compression and ejector refrigeration systems. Thermodynamic models, developed in MATLAB using refrigerant properties, reveal that R600a and R290 exhibit promising potential as replacements for R134a in vapor compression refrigeration systems. These alternatives demonstrate a noteworthy improvement in the thermodynamic coefficient of performance, with percentages of 2.47% and 2.12%, respectively, under similar working conditions.
For ejector refrigeration systems, R152a, R717, and R1270 exhibit enhanced coefficients of performance, contributing to significant savings in generator heat load. The results highlight the ability of these refrigerants to improve both the efficiency and sustainability of refrigeration systems in diverse applications.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
-
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
-
ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
How to Cite
References
Ameur, K., Aidoun, Z., & Ouzzane, M. (2016). Modeling and numerical approach for the design and operation of two-phase ejectors. Applied Thermal Engineering, 109, 809–818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.11.022
Ansari, N. A., Yadav, B., & Kumar, J. (2013). Theoretical Exergy Analysis of HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze as an Alternative Replacement of HFC-134a in Simple Vapour Compression Refrigeration System. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 4(8). http://www.ijser.org
Atmaca, A. U., Erek, A., & Ekren, O. (2017). Investigation of new generation refrigerants under two different ejector mixing theories. Energy Procedia, 136, 394–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.10.271
Bansal, P., & Shen, B. (2015). Analysis of environmentally friendly refrigerant options for window air conditioners. Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 21(5), 483–490. https://doi.org/10.1080/23744731.2015.1016364
Bell, I. H., Wronski, J., Quoilin, S., & Lemort, V. (2014). Pure and pseudo-pure fluid thermophysical property evaluation and the open-source thermophysical property library coolprop. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 53(6), 2498–2508. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie4033999
Bencharif, M., Nesreddine, H., Perez, S. C., Poncet, S., & Zid, S. (2020). The benefit of droplet injection on the performance of an ejector refrigeration cycle working R245fa. International Journal of Refrigeration, 113, 276–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2020.01.020
Bobbo, S., Nicola, G. di, Zilio, C., Brown, J. S., & Fedele, L. (2018). Low GWP halocarbon refrigerants: A review of thermophysical properties. In International Journal of Refrigeration (Vol. 90, pp. 181–201). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2018.03.027
Colombo, L. P. M., Lucchini, A., & Molinaroli, L. (2020). Experimental analysis of the use of R1234yf and R1234ze (E) as drop-in alternatives of R134a in a water-to-water heat pump. International Journal of Refrigeration, 115, 18–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2020.03.004
Croquer, S., Poncet, S., & Aidoun, Z. (2017). Thermodynamic modelling of supersonic gas ejector with droplets. Entropy, 19(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/e19110579
dePaula, C. H., Duarte, W. M., Rocha, T. T. M., de Oliveira, R. N., Mendes, R. de P., & Maia, A. A. T. (2020). Thermo-economic and environmental analysis of a small capacity vapor compression refrigeration system using R290, R1234yf, and R600a. International Journal of Refrigeration, 118, 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2020.07.003
Galindo, J., Dolz, V., Garcia-Cuevas, L. M., & Ponce-Mora, A. (2020). Numerical evaluation of a solar-assisted jet-ejector refrigeration system: Screening of environmentally friendly refrigerants. Energy Conversion and Management, 210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112681
Méndez-Méndez, D.; Pérez-Garcia, V.; Belman-Flores, J.M.; Riesco-Avila, J.M.; Barroso-Maldonado, J.M. Internal Heat Exchanger Influence in Operational Cost and Environmental Impact of an Experimental Installation Using Low GWP Refrigerant for HVAC Conditions. Sustainability 2022, 14, 6008. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106008
Mota-Babiloni, A., Navarro-Esbri, J., Barragan, A., Molés, F., & Peris, B. (2014). Drop-in energy performance evaluation of R1234yf and R1234ze(E) in a vapor compression system as R134a replacements. Applied Thermal Engineering, 71(1), 259–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.06.056
“Official Journal of the European Union,” Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, 14.6.2006.
Ozsipahi, M., Kose, H. A., Kerpicci, H., & Gunes, H. (2022). Experimental study of R290/R600a mixtures in vapor compression refrigeration system. International Journal of Refrigeration, 133, 247–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2021.10.004
Saleh, B. (2016). Performance analysis and working fluid selection for ejector refrigeration cycle. Applied Thermal Engineering, 107, 114–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.06.147
Sanchez, D., Andreu-Nacher, A., Calleja-Anta, D., Llopis, R., & Cabello, R. (2022). Energy impact evaluation of different low-GWP alternatives to replace R134a in a beverage cooler. Experimental analysis and optimization for the pure refrigerants R152a, R1234yf, R290, R1270, R600a and R744. Energy Conversion and Management, 256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115388
Sanchez, D., Cabello, R., Llopis, R., Arauzo, I., Catalan-Gil, J., & Torrella, E. (2017). Évaluation de la performance énergétique du R1234yf, du R1234ze(E), du R600a, du R290 et du R152a comme alternatives à faible GWP au R134a. International Journal of Refrigeration, 74,267–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2016.09.020
Tashtoush, B., & Bani Younes, M. (2019). Comparative Thermodynamic Study of Refrigerants to Select the Best Environment-Friendly Refrigerant for Use in a Solar Ejector Cooling System. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 44(2), 1165–1184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-018-3427-4
Zheng, H., Tian, G., Zhao, Y., Jin, C., Ju, F., & Wang, C. (2022). Experimental study of R290 replacement R134a in cold storage air conditioning system. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2022.10220
Zyczkowski, P., Borowski, M., Luczak, R., Kuczera, Z., & Ptaszynski, B. (2020). Functional equations for calculating the properties of low-GWP R1234ze (E) refrigerant. Energies, 13(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/en13123052