Performance Investigation of Vapor Compression Refrigeration System with Integrated Mechanical Sub-Cooling Circuit using Hydrocarbon Blends

Abstract

This work presents an experimental study to investigate the performance of vapor compression refrigeration system using hydrocarbon mixtures. A sub-cooling circuit and phase separator are integrated with main vapor compression refrigeration system and used to predict the performance of hydrocarbon blend R-290/R-600a as alternative refrigerant with three mass fractions of (60/40, 50/50 and 40/60) and compared with R-134a. The results showed that, the enhancement in the system performance was about 14% increase in coefficient of performance, 6% increase in refrigeration effect and reduction percentage in freezing compartment temperature was in range of 12%. Lower values of pressure ratio and discharge temperature are noticed for R-290/R-600a blends comparing with R-134a. The reduction percentage in compressors power was in range of 9% during operation period. It can be concluded that the hydrocarbon refrigerants are an efficient, economically feasible and environment friendly alternative refrigerants to R-134a in vapor compression refrigeration system with sub-cooling circuit. Hydrocarbon refrigerants are flammable, therefore, safety implications of using such fluids may require specific system design and suitable operating and maintenance routines to prevent ignition and leakage sources from refrigeration system components.