Theoretical analysis of the energy performance of three low global warming potential hydro-fluorocarbon refrigerants as R134a alternatives in refrigeration systems
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online February, 2014
Theoretical analysis of the energy performance of three low global warming potential hydro-fluorocarbon refrigerants as R134a alternatives in refrigeration systems
In this study, the energy performances of low global warming potential R152a, R161 and R1234yf refrigerants were investigated theoretically as alternatives to R134a in vapour compression refrigeration system. The results obtained showed that the saturation vapour pressures for R152a and R1234yf are very close to the pressure of R134a, which indicates similar properties, while that of R161, between the temperatures range of −30℃ and 40℃, deviated significantly by being 49.2% higher than that of R134a. R152a emerged as the most energy efficient of the investigated refrigerants with average power per ton of refrigeration being 30.5% less than that of R134a. R152a and R161 exhibited higher volumetric refrigerating capacity and coefficient of performance than did R134a. The highest coefficient of performance was obtained using R152a in the system, with average value being 43.5% higher than that of R134a, while the average coefficient of performances for R161 and R1234yf are 4.8% higher and 7.1% lower, respectively. Generally, R152a performed better than other two alternatives, except that it is mildly flammable refrigerant. Major system redesign will be required before R161 can be employed as substitute for R134a. Also, R1234yf showed slightly low energy performance in terms of power per ton of refrigeration, volumetric refrigerating capacity and coefficient of performance.
ParkKJungD. Performance of heat pumps charged with R170/R290 mixture. Appl Energy2009; 86: 2598–2603.
2.
McMullanJT. Refrigeration and the environment issues and strategies for the future. Int J Refrigerat2002; 25: 89–99.
3.
SivasakthivelTSiva KumarKK. Ozone layer depletion and its effects: a review. Int J Environ Sci Dev2011; 2: 30–37.
4.
BolajiBOAkintundeMAFaladeTO. Comparative analysis of performance of three ozone-friendly HFC refrigerants in a vapour compression refrigerator. J Sustain Energy Environ2011; 2: 61–64.
5.
FatouhMIbrahimTAMostafaA. Performance assessment of a direct expansion air conditioner working with R407C as an R22 alternative. Appl Therm Eng2010; 30: 127–133.
6.
HeMLiTLiuZZhangY. Testing of the mixing refrigerants R152a/R125 in domestic refrigerator. Appl Therm Eng2005; 25: 1169–1181.
7.
BolajiBO. Performance investigation of ozone-friendly R404A and R507 refrigerants as alternatives to R22 in a window air-conditioner. Energy Build2011; 43: 3139–3143.
8.
JainVKachhwahaSSMishraRS. Comparative performance study of vapour compression refrigeration system with R22/R134a/R410A/R407C/M20. Int J Energy Environ2011; 2: 297–310.
9.
BoumazaM. Performances assessment of natural refrigerants as substitutes to CFC and HCFC in hot climate. Int J Therm Environ Eng2010; 1: 125–130.
10.
DalkilicASWongwisesS. A performance comparison of vapour-compression refrigeration system using various alternative refrigerants. Int Commun Heat Mass Trans2010; 37: 1340–1349.
WMO. World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Greenhouse Gas Bulletin No. 7, 2011.
13.
KauffeldM. Availability of low GWP alternatives to HFCs feasibility of an early phase-out of HFCs by 2020, Washington, DC: Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Inc, May 2012.
14.
UNEP. HFCs: a critical link in protecting climate and the ozone layer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2011.
15.
UNEP. Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. Report of the UNEP Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). United Nation Environment Program (UNEP), vol. 1, Ozone Secretariat, Nairobi, Kenya, 2013.
16.
IPCC. Climate change 2007: the scientific basis, in contribution of working group I to the IPCC fourth assessment report of the international panel on climate change. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2007, p. 212.
17.
Bolaji BO. Investigating the performance of some environment-friendly refrigerants as alternative to R12 in vapour compression refrigeration system. PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, 2008.
18.
IPCC. Climate change 2001: the scientific basis, in contribution of working group I to the IPCC third assessment report of the international panel on climate change of the WMO and UNEP. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
19.
Kayukawa Y. A study of thermodynamic properties for novel refrigerants with rapid and precise density measurement technique. PhD Thesis, The Center for Environment, Resources and Energy, Keio University, Japan, 2002.
20.
Brown JS, Zilio C and Cavallini A. Critical review of the latest thermodynamic and transport property data and models, and equations of state for R1234yf. In: International refrigeration and air conditioning conference, Purdue, IN, 12–15 July 2010, pp. 1130–1139.
21.
Calm JM and Hourahan GC. Physical, safety and environmental data for currents and alternative refrigerants. In: Refrigeration for sustainable development. Proceedings of the 23rd international congress of refrigeration, 21–26 August 2011, Prague, Czech Republic. Paris, France: International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR/IIF), p. 915.
22.
Hihara E. Risk assessment of mildly flammable refrigerants. The Japan Society of Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, Progress Report, April 2013.
23.
KataokaO. Flammability indices for refrigerants. Trans Japan Soc Refrig Air Cond Eng2011; 18: 289–298.
24.
CalmJMHourahanGC. Refrigerant data update. Heat Piping Air Cond Eng2007; 79: 50–64.
25.
ASHRAE. Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems. ASHRAE Standard 15-2004, Atlanta, GA, 2004.
26.
PalmB. Hydrocarbons as refrigerants in small heat pump and refrigeration systems – a review. Int J Refrig2008; 31: 552–563.
27.
ThononB. A review of hydrocarbon two-phase heat transfer in compact heat exchangers and enhanced geometries. Int J Refrig2008; 31: 633–642.
28.
DidionDA. The influence of the thermophysical fluid properties of the new ozone-safe refrigerants on performance. Int J Appl Thermodynam1999; 2: 19–35.
29.
LemmonEWMcLindenMOHuberML. NIST reference fluids thermodynamic and transport properties REFPROP 9.0, Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 2002.
30.
KumarKSRajagopalK. Computational and experimental investigation of low ODP and low GWP R123 and R290 refrigerant mixture alternate to R12. Energy Conver Manage2007; 48: 3053–3062.
31.
BolajiBOHuanZ. Comparative analysis of the performance of hydrocarbon refrigerants with R22 in a sub-cooling heat exchanger refrigeration system. J Power Energy2012; 226: 882–891.
32.
BolajiBO. Experimental study of R152a to replace R12 and R134a in a domestic refrigerator. Energy2010; 35: 3793–3798.
33.
MahmoudG. An investigation of R152a and hydrocarbon refrigerants in a mobile air conditioning. In: International congress and exposition, Detroit, MI, 1–4 March 1999, pp. 1–18.
34.
Navarro-EsbrıJMendoza-MirandaJMMota-BabiloniA. Experimental analysis of R1234yf as a drop-in replacement for R134a in a vapour compression system. Int J Refrig2013; 36: 870–880.
