Energy Analysis of Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle Using a New Generation Refrigerants with Low Global Warming Potential

An energy analysis study carried out on a vapor compression refrigeration cycle using refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP) of the Hydro-Fluoro-Olefin (HFO) type, in particular R1234yf and R1234ze fluids to replace HFC refrigerants . Computer code was developed using software for solving engineering equations to calculate performance parameters; for this, three HFC type fluids (R134a, R404A and R410A) were selected for a comparative study. The results showed that R1234ze is the best refrigerant among those selected for the mechanical vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The thermodynamic analysis showed the effect of the evaporator temperature (-22 °C to 10 °C) and the condenser temperature (30 °C to 50 °C) on the steam cycle performance. Compression refrigeration, including the coefficient of performance. The results showed that the HFO-R1234ze with low GWP gives the best coefficient of performance of 3.14 close to that of the R134a fluid (3.17). In addition, R1234ze is considered an alternative fluid to R134a for their ecological properties.

Dynamic Modelling of LNG Powered Combined Energy Systems in Port Areas

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a crucial resource to reduce the environmental impact of fossil-fueled vehicles, especially with regards to maritime transport, where LNG is increasingly used for ship bunkering. The present paper gives insights on how the installation of LNG tanks inside harbors can be capitalized to increase the energy efficiency of port cities and reduce GHG emissions. To this purpose, a novel integrated energy system is introduced. The Boil Off Gas (BOG) from LNG tanks is exploited in a combined plant, where heat and power are produced by a regenerated gas turbine cycle; at the same time, cold exergy from LNG regasification contributes to an increase in the efficiency of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. In the paper, the integrated energy system is simulated by means of dynamic modeling under daily variable working conditions. Results confirm that the model is stable and able to determine the time behavior of the integrated plant. Energy saving is evaluated, and daily trends of key thermophysical parameters are reported and discussed. The analysis of thermal recovering from the flue gases shows that it is possible to recover a large energy share from the turbine exhausts. Hence, the system can generate electricity for port cold ironing and, through a secondary brine loop, cold exergy for a refrigeration plant. Overall, the proposed solution allows primary energy savings up to 22% when compared with equivalent standard technologies with the same final user needs. The exploitation of an LNG regasification process through smart integration of energy systems and implementation of efficient energy grids can contribute to greener energy management in harbors.

Design of an Ejector Working in Combined Ejector - Vapor Compressor Refrigeration Cycle

In this paper, a calculation program is developed to design ejector working in a combined ejector – vapor compression refrigeration cycle. R134a is selected as the refrigerant for the ejector sub-cycle, and R410A is selected for the compressor sub-cycle. The effect of operating conditions and cooling capacity are examined. The results show that the area ratio increases with the increasing of generator temperature and intercooler temperature; and decreases with the increasing of condenser temperature and evaporator temperature. When the generator temperature, condenser temperature, intercooler temperature and evaporator temperature are 80°C, 34°C, 15°C, 0°C respectively, the area ratio is 8.55 and independent with cooling capacity. The design equations of significant dimensions based on operating conditions and cooling capacity are also introduced. The results show that R134a ejetor which is designed for simple ejector cycle is not suitable for combined cycle.

Thermodynamic Study of a Combined Power and Refrigeration System for Low-Grade Heat Energy Source

This study focuses on the thermal performance analysis of an organic Rankine cycle powered vapor compression refrigeration cycle for a set of working fluids for each cycle, also known as a dual fluid system. Both cycles are coupled using a common shaft to maintain a constant transmission ratio of one. Eight working fluids have been studied for the vapor compression refrigeration cycle, and a total of sixty-four combinations of working fluids have been analyzed for the dual fluid combined cycle system. The analysis has been performed to achieve a temperature of −16 °C for a set of condenser temperatures 34 °C, 36 °C, 38 °C, and 40 °C. For the desired temperature in the refrigeration cycle, the required work input, mass flow rate, and heat input for the organic Rankine cycle were determined systematically. Based on the manifestation of performance criteria, three working fluids (R123, R134a, and R245fa) were chosen for the refrigeration cycle and two (Propane and R245fa) were picked for the organic Rankine cycle. Further, a combination of R123 in the refrigeration cycle with propane in the Rankine cycle was scrutinized for their highest efficiency value of 16.48% with the corresponding highest coefficient of performance value of 2.85 at 40 °C.

Selection of optimal fluid for refrigeration cycles

Refrigeration and air-conditioning play an important role in our life and industrial applications. They have great impact on our life. They have also contributed to the world’s major environmental issues like ozone layer depletion and global warming. Common refrigerants such as CFCs and HCFCs which are working as fluid in refrigeration cycles have unfavorable environmental impacts and this has brought about concerns and regulations prohibiting their production and use as refrigerants by the year 2030. The development of different refrigerants over time took place based on safety and environmental impact issues. This paper, presents the selection of optimal working fluids for Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle (VCRs) based on computer aided molecular design (CAMD) and process optimization techniques. The resulting methodology utilizes from CAMD for the generation of optimum working fluid candidates. Candidates were evaluated as alternative refrigerants for the R134a refrigerating system through simulation using Aspen Hysys V8.0, with restricted by priority coefficient of performance COP, environmental and safety criteria. Ethyl trifluoromethyl ether 1,1,1-TrifluoroButane (new refrigerant) shows a good environmental and toxicity data also have high COP, 4.5, 2.7 respectively and were favored amongst the studied refrigerants as the choice alternative refrigerants to replace R134a. The methodology systematically identified conventional molecular structures that enable optimum VCRs process performance.