Experimental investigation of R600a as a drop-in replacement for R134a in a VCRS-based magnetized water chiller

Abstract

Taking into consideration the substantial contribution of VCRS-based water chillers to building energy consumption, innovative approaches are needed to improve COP. One promising method involves the use of magnetization on the liquid line of the condenser, enhancing the performance of the system. In current research study, drop-in replacement effects were examined under the influence of two magnetic configurations: pair of magnets (MC-1) and a Halbach array (MC-2) with field strengths of 3000 G and 7200 G, respectively. The number of magnetizers was varied from 1 to 4. Tests were conducted at an ambient temperature of 28 ± 0.5°C, using R134a as the main refrigerant and R600a as the drop-in replacement. This study reports the influence of drop-in replacement on conventional water chiller. Further, the effects of magnetization on both systems have been discussed in detail. The maximum percentage enhancement in cooling effect for R134a with MC-1 and MC-2 was observed to be 5.70 and 8.92, respectively, and for R600a, it was found to be 6.19 and 9.77, respectively. Experimental findings revealed reductions in compressor power consumption by 2.9% for R134a and 5.88% for R600a with an increased number of magnetizers from 1 to 4 for MC-1. Additionally, for R134a and R600a with MC-2, reduction was found to be 4.85% and 7.97%, respectively. COP improvements of drop-in replacement water chillers were noted at 14.6% and 17.64% with MC-1 and MC-2, respectively, compared to the original system. Finally, significant reductions in CO₂ emissions of 35.7% and 37.37% were observed under MC-1 and MC-2, respectively.

Keywords

Magnetization Halbach array drop-in replacement hydrocarbon refrigerant COP

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Tipole

Karthikeyan

Bhojwani

, et al. Applying a magnetic field on liquid line of vapour compression system is a novel technique to increase a performance of the system. Appl Energy 2016; 182: 376–382.

Drake

Purvis

Hunt

. Business appreciation of global atmospheric change: the United Kingdom refrigeration industry. Public Underst Sci 2001; 10: 187.

Wongwises

Chimres

. Experimental study of hydrocarbon mixtures to replace HFC-134a in a domestic refrigerator. Energy Convers Manage 2005; 46: 85–100.

Mohanraj

Jayaraj

Muraleedharan

, et al. Experimental investigation of R290/R600a mixture as an alternative to R134a in a domestic refrigerator. Int J Therm Sci 2009; 48: 1036–1042.

Liu

Yan

. Theoretical investigation on an ejector–expansion refrigeration cycle using zeotropic mixture R290/R600a for applications in domestic refrigerator/freezers. Appl Therm Eng 2015; 90: 703–710.

Llopis

García-Vacas

Cabello

. Refrigerants for vapor compression refrigeration systems. In: Minea

(ed.) Advances in new heat transfer fluids: from numerical to experimental techniques. CRC Press, 2017, pp.463–522.

Calleja-Anta

Nebot-Andrés

Catalán-Gil

, et al. Thermodynamic screening of alternative refrigerants for R290 and R600a. Results in Engineering 2020; 5: 100081.

Morlet

Coulomb

Dupont

, et al

. The impact of the refrigeration sector on climate change. France: International Institute of Refrigeration, 2017.

Belman-Flores

Barroso

Rodríguez-Muñoz

, et al. Enhancements in domestic refrigeration, approaching a sustainable refrigerator - A review. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 2015; 51: 955–968.

10.

Babarinde

Akinlabi

Madyira

. Energy performance evaluation of R600a/MWCNT-nanolubricant as a drop-in replacement for R134a in household refrigerator system. Energy Reports 2020; 6: 639–647.

11.

Joshi

Zanwar

Joshi

, et al. Performance investigation of vapor compression refrigeration system using novel amine treated graphene quantum dots based nanosuspension. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 2023; 38: 101678. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2023.101678.

12.

Pahamli

Valipour

. Application of phase change materials in refrigerator and freezer appliances: A comprehensive review. Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer Research 2021; 8(1): 87–104. DOI:https://doi.org/10.22075/JHMTR.2021.21860.1316.

13.

Tipole

Karthikeyan

Bhojwani

, et al. Performance analysis of vapour compression cycle water chiller with magnetic flux at the condenser exit. Energy Build 2018; 158: 282–289.

14.

Deshmukh

. Performance improving techniques for VCR system: a review. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology 2018; 6: 849–855.

15.

Cavallini

Censi

Del Col

, et al. Condensation inside and outside smooth and enhanced tubes — a review of recent research. Int J Refrig 2003; 26: 373–392.

16.

Brück

. Developments in magnetocaloric refrigeration. J Phys D: Appl Phys 2005; 38: R381.

17.

Khovaylo

Rodionova

Shevyrtalov

, et al. Magnetocaloric effect in “reduced” dimensions: thin films, ribbons, and microwires of Heusler alloys and related compounds. Physica Status Solidi (b) 2014; 251: 2104–2113.

18.

Christensen

Bjørk

Nielsen

, et al. Spatially resolved measurements of the magnetocaloric effect and the local magnetic field using thermography. J Appl Phys, 2010; 108: 063913. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3487943.

19.

Warburg

. Magnetische untersuchungen. Ann Phys 1881; 249: 141–164.

20.

Deshmukh

Zanwar

Joshi

. Magnetic field effects on refrigeration systems: a comprehensive review. SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering 2024; 11: 18–29.

21.

Malekzadeh

Heydarinasab

Jahangiri

. Magnetic field effect on laminar heat transfer in a pipe for thermal entry region. J Mech Sci Technol 2011; 25: 877–884.

22.

Aïboud-Saouli

Settou

Saouli

, et al. Second-law analysis of laminar fluid flow in a heated channel with hydromagnetic and viscous dissipation effects. Appl Energy 2007; 84: 279–289.

23.

Bera

Babadagli

. Status of electromagnetic heating for enhanced heavy oil/bitumen recovery and future prospects: a review. Appl Energy 2015; 151: 206–226.

24.

Tipole

Karthikeyan

Bhojwani

, et al. Investigation on a diesel engine’s performance with integration of magnetic flux on the fuel line. Int J Ambient Energy 2018; 39: 726–731.

25.

Wang

Wei

. Effect of magnetic field on the physical properties of water. Results Phys 2018; 8: 262–267.

26.

Jing

Shi

Wang

, et al. Viscosity-reduction mechanism of waxy crude oil in low-intensity magnetic field. Energy Sources Part A 2019; 44: 1–14.

27.

Sidheshware

Ganesan

Bhojwani

. An overview of viscosity reduction techniques on hydrocarbon fluids. Int J Ambient Energy 2022; 43(1): 32–41.

28.

Tipole

Karthikeyan

Bhojwani

, et al. Examining the impact of magnetic field on fuel economy and emission reduction in I.C. Engines. Int J Ambient Energy 2022; 43(1): 678–684.

29.

Niu

Xiao

. Experimental study on the effect of magnetic field on the heat conductivity and viscosity of ammonia–water. Energy and Buildings - ENERG BLDG 2011; 43: 1164–1168.

30.

“Chiller facts – Progress Energy.” chiller-fact-sheet-052005.pdf (progress-energy.com).

31.

Lee

. An evaluation of empirically-based models for predicting energy performance of vapor-compression water chillers. Appl Energy 2010; 87: 3486–3493.

32.

Monfet

Zmeureanu

. Ongoing commissioning of water-cooled electric chillers using benchmarking models. Appl Energy 2012; 92: 99–108.

33.

Yao

Huang

Chen

. State-space model for dynamic behavior of vapor compression liquid chiller. Int J Refrig 2013; 8: 2128–2147.

34.

Gong

Chen

, et al. Thermodynamic simulation of condensation heat recovery characteristics of a single stage centrifugal chiller in a hotel. Appl Energy 2012; 91: 326–333.

35.

Kitanovski

Egolf

Poredos

. Rotary magnetic chillers with permanent magnets. Int J Refrig 2012; 35: 1055–1066.

36.

Sami

Aucoin

. Effect of magnetic field on the performance of new refrigerant mixtures. Int J Energy Res 2003; 27: 203–214.

37.

Deshmukh

Zanwar

Joshi

, et al. Experimental investigations on the performance of a vapor compression refrigeration system under the influence of magnetic field generated using magnetic pair and Halbach array. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects 2022: 1–21. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2021.2024302.

38.

Sami

Kita

. Behaviour of new refrigerant mixtures under magnetic field. Int J Energy Res 2005; 29: 1205–1213.

39.

Sami

. A new magnetic energizer for enhancement of refrigeration and heat pumping equipment. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2005 international mechanical engineering congress and exposition. ASME, 2005, pp.83–87.

40.

Sami

Comeau

. Study of pressure drop of refrigerant mixtures during boiling inside enhanced surface tubing under magnetic field. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2005 international mechanical engineering congress and exposition. ASME, 2005, pp.59–67.

41.

Deshmukh

Zanwar

Joshi

, et al. Impact of magnetic field generated using neodymium-iron-boron magnetic pairs on condensation heat transfer coefficient for tetrafluroethane (R134a). Mater Today Proc 2023.

42.

Deshmukh

Zanwar

Joshi

. Magnetisation effects of the Halbach array on the condensation heat transfer coefficient of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. Int J Ambient Energy 2024; 45(1): 1–11.

43.

Nair

Parekh

Tailor

. Experimental investigation of a vapour compression refrigeration system using R134a/Nano-oil mixture. Int J Refrig 2020; 112: 21–36.

44.

Belman-Flores

Rodríguez-Muñoz

Pérez-Reguera

, et al. Experimental study of R1234yf as a drop-in replacement for R134a in a domestic refrigerator. Int J Refrig 2017; 81: 1–11.

45.

Guideline for Life Cycle Climate Performance. http://www.cold.org.gr/library/downloads/Docs/Guideline for life cycle climate performance.pdf.

46.

Mani

Selladurai

. Energy savings with the effect of magnetic field using R290/600a mixture as substitute for CFC12 and HFC134a. Thermal Science 2008; 12: 111–120.

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB

0.16 MB