Energy and Exergy Analysis of a Subcritical Cascade Refrigeration System With Internal Heat Exchangers Using Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants


Aktemur C., ÖZTÜRK İ. T.

JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME, cilt.143, sa.10, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 143 Sayı: 10
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1115/1.4049271
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, Environment Index, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: cascade refrigeration system, internal heat exchanger, coefficient of performance, exergy efficiency, energy conversion, systems, energy systems analysis, THERMODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE, TEMPERATURE, ALTERNATIVES, MIXTURES
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study focuses on a thermodynamic performance analysis of a subcritical cascade refrigeration system (CRS) with internal heat exchangers (IHXs) using R41/R601, R41/R602A, and R41/cyclopentane as refrigerant pairs. The effect of evaporator temperature (T-ev), condenser temperature (T-cond), and temperature difference in the cascade heat exchanger (Delta T-CHX) on examined performance parameters are investigated. Each performance parameter is scrutinized by an optimum low-temperature circuit (LTC) condenser temperature. The operating parameters have some implications on the overall thermodynamic performance of the system. A change of 10 degrees C in the T-ev and T-cond affects the performance of the system by approximately +26% and -8%, respectively. Moreover, a variation of 1 degrees C in the Delta T-CHX reduces the performance of the system by about 2%. The effect of IHXs on the system has some interesting results. The coefficient of performance (COP) and exergy efficiency values of the system using R41/cyclopentane tend to constantly decrease by nearly 4.05%. Although not as much as R41/cyclopentane, there is also a slight drop in the performance of other refrigerant pairs. The discharge temperature in LTC and high-temperature circuit (HTC) compressors exceeds 120 degrees C for low-temperature refrigeration requirements, which is highly undesirable. Furthermore, the top priority components for the system improvement are HTC condenser, HTC compressor, and CHX. The refrigerant pairs with the thermodynamic performance from best to worst are R41/R601, R41/cyclopentane, and R41/R602A, respectively. Finally, the COP and exergy efficiency values of the modeled system are 10.40% higher and 3.06% lower, respectively, compared with current models in the literature.