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Component-wise exergy and energy analysis of vapor compression refrigeration system using mixture of R134a and LPG as refrigerant

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Abstract

In this work, the experimental examination was carried out using a mixture of R134a and LPG refrigerant (consisting of R134a and LPG in a proportion of 28:72 by weight) as a replacement for R134a in a vapor compression refrigeration system. Exergy and energy tests were carried out at different evaporator and condenser temperatures with controlled environmental conditions. The results showed that the exergy destruction in the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and a capillary tube of the R134a / LPG refrigeration system was found lower by approximately 11.13–3.41%, 2.24–3.43%, 12.02–13.47% and 1.54–5.61% respectively. The compressor exhibits the highest level of destruction, accompanied by a condenser, an evaporator and a capillary tube in refrigeration systems. The refrigeration capacity, COP and power consumption of the compressor of the R134a /LPG refrigeration system were detected higher and lower compared to the R134a refrigeration system by about 7.04–11.41%, 15.1–17.82%, and 3.83–8.08% respectively. Also, the miscibility of R134a and LPG blend with mineral oil discovered good. The R134a and LPG refrigerant mixture proposed in this study perform superior to R134a from component-wise exergy and energy analyses under similar experimental conditions.

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Abbreviations

e:

Specific Exergy, kJ kg−1

S:

Entropy, kJ kg−1 K−1

E:

Exergy Destruction (kW)

T:

Temperature K

COP:

Coefficient of performance

ODP:

Ozone depletion potential

P:

Pressure, Bar

h:

Enthalpy, kJ kg−1

W:

Compressor power kW

Q:

Refrigeration capacity, kW

MR :

Refrigerant charge, g

d:

Diameter of capillary tube, mm

ΔTsub :

Inlet Sub cooling, K

L:

Capillary tube length, m

D:

Coil Diameter, mm

LPG:

Liquefied petroleum gas

GWP:

Global Warming Potential

ξ:

Mass flow rate, kg s−1

μ:

Dynamic viscosity, Pa-s

evap:

Evaporator

Cap:

Capillary

comp:

Compressor

cond:

Condenser

in:

Inlet

out:

Outlet

el:

Electrical

f:

fluid

h:

heater

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the IKG PTU, Kapurthala and BCET Gurdaspur for their excellent support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, IKGPTU, Kapurthala, Punjab, India

    Jatinder Gill

  2. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Department, BCET Gurdaspur, Punjab, India

    Jagdev Singh

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Correspondence to Jatinder Gill.

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Gill, J., Singh, J. Component-wise exergy and energy analysis of vapor compression refrigeration system using mixture of R134a and LPG as refrigerant. Heat Mass Transfer 54, 1367–1380 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2242-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2242-x

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