Performance of Thermoacoustic Refrigerators: Cooling Load and Coefficient of Performance

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cila Herman ◽  
Christopher Lavin ◽  
Zdeneˇk Tra´vni´cˇek

Thermoacoustic refrigeration is an environmentally safe refrigeration technology that has evolved over the past three decades [1–5]. The influence of working fluid on the performance of the thermoacoustic refrigerator (TAR) expressed in terms of the cooling load and the coefficient of performance is discussed in the paper. The calculations rely on the short stack boundary layer approximation. A simple model of a one-dimensional half wavelength resonance tube equipped with stack plates and a pair of heat exchangers was used as the physical model. It is known that a TAR with noble gases and their mixtures as working fluids can achieve high values of the coefficient of performance (COP) because of small Prandtl number values. The present study revealed and quantified that cooling load behavior is quite different from the performance in terms of the COP: the highest cooling load is achieved with pure Helium as the working fluid. A reason is the very high sound speed in Helium. TARs with Helium as the working fluids deliver the highest cooling load of all gases and their mixtures examined here, therefore it has been suggested as a limiting case of the most powerful TAR. The influence of geometry and thermophysical parameters of the device on TAR performance was studied systematically and a performance sensitiviy analysis was presented with particular emphasis on TAR cooling load.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 206 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Saleh ◽  
Ayman A. Aly ◽  
Ageel F. Alogla ◽  
Awad M. Aljuaid ◽  
Mosleh M. Alharthi ◽  
...  

In this article, the performance and working fluid selection for an organic Rankine cycle-vapor compression refrigeration (ORC–VCR) integrated system activated by renewable energy is investigated. The performance of the system is described by the system coefficient of performance (COPS), and the refrigerant mass flow rate per kilowatt refrigeration capacity (m˙total). Twenty-three pure substances are proposed as working fluids for the integrated system. The basic integrated system performance is assessed and compared using the proposed working fluids. The basic VCR cycle works between 35 and 0 °C, while the basic ORC works between 35 and 100 °C. The impacts of different operating parameters such as the evaporator, the boiler, and the condenser temperatures on the ORC–VCR system performance are also examined. The results show that the cyclopentane accomplished the highest system performance under all investigated operating conditions. Accordingly, among the examined 23 working fluids, cyclopentane is the most appropriate working fluid for the integrated system from the viewpoints of environmental concerns and system performance. Nevertheless, due to its high flammability, further restrictions should be taken. The basic integrated system COPS, refrigeration effect, and the corresponding m˙total utilizing cyclopentane are 0.654, 361.3 kW, and 0.596 × 10−2 kg/(s kW), respectively.


2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas K. Priedeman ◽  
Michael A. Garrabrant ◽  
James A. Mathias ◽  
Roger E. Stout ◽  
Richard N. Christensen

This research effort involved experimentally testing an advanced-cycle, ammonia-water absorption chiller with a cooling capacity of 17.6 kW (5 refrigeration tons (RT)). The system was a generator-absorber heat exchange (GAX) cycle and was sized for residential and light commercial use, where very little absorption equipment is currently used. The components of the cycle were assembled with instrumentation, including flow meters, pressure transducers, and thermocouples. The findings of the research were cycle cooling load and coefficient of performance (COP), as well as many component heat duties and working fluid state points throughout the cycle. The COP of the chiller at essentially full load was measured at 0.68. A simulation of the GAX cycle was performed with a computer program that predicted the heat duties of each component and the cooling load of the cycle. The simulation of the GAX cycle and experimental testing compared closely. Existing market research shows that significant business opportunities exist for a GAX heat pump or chiller with a cooling COP of 0.70 or greater. The work performed in this study consisted of testing a GAX cycle with a COP that approached the target value of 0.70 and identified improvements that must be made to reach the target COP value.


Author(s):  
Xiaowei Fan ◽  
Xianping Zhang ◽  
Xinli Wei ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Xiaojing Zhang

Since pure CO2 as refrigerant has some disadvantages failing to meet requirements, binary blends of CO2 (or R744) with other eco-friendly working fluids, R290, R1270, R170, RE170 and HFC134a are proposed in this paper to be used for medium temperature heat pump systems. The eco-friendly refrigerant mixtures can reduce the heat rejection pressure as that for pure CO2, and meanwhile suppress the flammability, explosivity as that for pure HCs or RE170. Based on the pinch point of heat transfer, the numerical models of heat pump cycle using CO2-based mixture are developed. With a comprehensive consideration of heating coefficient of performance (COPh), optimum heat rejection pressure, volumetric heating capacity, discharge temperature, the binary mixture CO2/R290 is determined as the most suitable working fluid for the given heat pump application. Compared to pure CO2, the optimum heat rejection pressure of mixture for 95/5, 90/10, 85/15 and 80/20 is decreased by 0.82, 0.94, 1.06 and 1.86MPa respectively for heat sink outlet temperature of 65°C. The experimental testrig is designed and set up for the transcritical heat pump system. The experimental study with different CO2 mass fraction has been carried out, which conducts a study on the variations of heat pump performance, component’s mass fraction and working fluid charge. The experimental results validated the CO2/R290 natural mixture proposed in theory. The experimental results provide useful references on the optimization and improvement of CO2/R290 heat pump testrig.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 625-635
Author(s):  
B. Saleh ◽  
Ayman A. Aly ◽  
M. Alsehli ◽  
M.M. Bassuoni ◽  
A. Elfasakhany

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the performance and working fluids screening for an ejector refrigeration cycle (ERC) activated by solar energy. Several common and new hydrofluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, hydrofluoroolefins and hydrofluoroethers are proposed as refrigerants for the ERC to determine the most appropriate one. Design/methodology/approach The ejector performance is characterized by the ejector area ratio (EAR) and entrainment ratio (ω), while the cycle performance is described by the coefficient of performance (COP). The influences of many working parameters like the evaporator, condenser and generator temperatures on the ejector and cycle performances are investigated for all candidates as well. Findings The results indicate that the best ejector and cycle performances are attained with the highest critical temperature dry refrigerant, i.e. R601 under all studied working conditions. From the perspective of energy efficiency and environmental issues, R601 can be considered the most appropriate working fluid amongst all candidates. However, extra attention should be considered against its flammability. The maximum COP, the corresponding ω and the necessary EAR using R601 are 0.743, 1.02 and 15.5, respectively, with 25 ºC condenser temperature and the typical values for the rest operating conditions. Originality/value Many common and new hydrofluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, hydrofluoroolefins and hydrofluoroethers are suggested as working fluids for the ERC to determine the most appropriate one. The mixing process inside the ejector constant-area section is assumed constant-pressure process.


2012 ◽  
Vol 468-471 ◽  
pp. 1313-1321
Author(s):  
Shi Jie Liu ◽  
Wen Sheng Yu ◽  
Wu Chen

Some suggestions for developing new working fluids for moderate-high-temperature heat pump with excellent thermal and environmental performance were given firstly in this paper. The theoretical and experimental performance analysis of new-developed working fluids M1-M6 was carried out. The theoretical performance results showed that M1-M6 had high heating efficiency and GWP (Global Warming Potential) of M2 was less than 150. The experimental results showed that M5 had higher thermal efficiency than other two working fluids under same working condition. At the ambient temperature respectively of 30 Centigrade Degree and 40 Centigrade Degree, it took 70 and 65 minutes by the heat pump charged with M5 as working fluid to heat 100 liters of water respectively from 30 Centigrade Degree to 80 Centigrade Degree. Meanwhile the system’s COP (Coefficient of Performance) was respectively 2.9 and 3.0.


Author(s):  
CP Jawahar

This paper presents the energy analysis of a triple effect absorption compression (hybrid) cycle employing ammonia water as working fluid. The performance parameters such as cooling capacity and coefficient of performance of the hybrid cycle is analyzed by varying the temperature of evaporator from −10 °C to 10 °C, absorber and condenser temperatures in first stage from 25 °C to 45 °C, degassing width in both the stages from 0.02 to 0.12 and is compared with the conventional triple effect absorption cycle. The results of the analysis show that the maximum cooling capacity attained in the hybrid cycle is 472.3 kW, at 10 °C evaporator temperature and first stage degassing width of 0.12. The coefficient of performance of the hybrid cycle is about 30 to 65% more than the coefficient of performance of conventional triple effect cycle.


Author(s):  
Jiaxi Xia ◽  
Jiangfeng Wang ◽  
Pan Zhao ◽  
Dai Yiping

CO2 in a transcritical CO2 cycle can not easily be condensed due to its low critical temperature (304.15K). In order to increase the critical temperature of working fluid, an effective method is to blend CO2 with other refrigerants to achieve a higher critical temperature. In this study, a transcritical power cycle using CO2-based mixtures which blend CO2 with other refrigerants as working fluids is investigated under heat source. Mathematical models are established to simulate the transcritical power cycle using different CO2-based mixtures under MATLAB® software environment. A parametric analysis is conducted under steady-state conditions for different CO2-based mixtures. In addition, a parametric optimization is carried out to obtain the optimal design parameters, and the comparisons of the transcritical power cycle using different CO2-based mixtures and pure CO2 are conducted. The results show that a raise in critical temperature can be achieved by using CO2-based mixtures, and CO2-based mixtures with R32 and R22 can also obtain better thermodynamic performance than pure CO2 in transcritical power cycle. What’s more, the condenser area needed by CO2-based mixture is smaller than pure CO2.


2012 ◽  
Vol 614-615 ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Tuo Wang ◽  
Feng Wu ◽  
Jin Hua Fei ◽  
Ming Fang Liu

Thermo-acoustic refrigerator is a new type of engine, which is based on the thermo-acoustic effect. A new model which expresses as an ellipse in pressure-volume diagram is established to investigate the thermodynamic performance of an actual thermo-acoustic refrigeration micro-cycle. The demarcation points of endothermic processes and exothermic processes in the actual micro-cycle are found. The analytic expressions of the dimensionless cooling load and the coefficient of performance (COP) are deduced. The relationship between the dimensionless cooling load and the COP are investigated by numerical examples. The results show that the dimensionless cooling load is a monotonically increasing function of the COP and the pressure amplitude.


Author(s):  
Behzad Omidi Kashani

The present research is about increasing the energy efficiency ratio (EER) in current direct evaporative coolers (DEC) in Iran. Increasing the cooling load and reducing the electrical energy consumption simultaneously (increasing the energy efficiency ratio (EER)) in DEC are the main goals of manufacturers and consumers of this device. When the circulation water pump runs continuously (static state), the circulation water rate is about 1.89 to 2.90 times of the amounts recommended in the reasonable standards. In order to adjust the circulation water rate to the recommended amount by standards, the present study has utilized repetitive cyclic scheduling programs to reduce the circulation rate to the optimal amount, (by turning the circulation pump on and off by dynamic pattern operation). In other words, the circulation pump stays on only for a certain period of a working cycle, and then the pump stays off for the rest of it. The cooling load and EER were measured based on ASHRAE 133 (2015). The results indicated that the cooling load in the dynamic state increased by 5.03 and 6.18 percent compared to the static state at low and high fan speeds, respectively. Moreover, in comparison with the static state, the amount of electrical energy consumed (kW-hr) in the dynamic state decreased by 8.8 and 4.2 percent at low and high fan speeds, respectively. Finally, the coefficient of performance (COP or EER) of the DEC in the dynamic state is increased by 15.16 and 10.78 in comparison with the static state at low and high fan speeds, respectively.


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