Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental energy and exergy performance of an automotive heat pump using R1234yf

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Various energy and exergy performance parameters of an automotive heat pump (AHP) with R1234yf have been investigated and compared with those of the baseline system with R134a. For this aim, an AHP system was set up from the components of an air-conditioning system employed in a compact car and equipped with instruments for mechanical measurements. It was tested with R1234yf and R134a by changing the compressor speed and air stream temperatures incoming the outdoor and indoor units. Using test data, energy and exergy analyses of the AHP were performed, and its performance parameters were evaluated. The R1234yf system provided conditioned air temperatures in the range of 29.9–59.3 °C, heating capacities in the range of 1.96–3.14 kW and coefficient of performance (COP) values in the range of 2.44–4.56. It yielded 3.3–10.8 °C lower conditioned air temperature, 9.2–15.4% lower heating capacity, 1.6–7.1% lower COP, 13.8–21.6 °C lower compressor discharge temperature, 3.1–19.2% higher total exergy destruction rate per unit heating capacity but significantly less TEWI in comparison with the system with R134a. Moreover, the R1234yf system yielded larger exergy destructions in the outdoor unit, compressor and expansion device but lower exergy destruction in the indoor unit. These findings reveal that R1234yf can be used in AHP systems in expense of less heating capacity, lower COP and higher exergy destruction rate per unit heating capacity in comparison with R134a.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AAC:

Automotive air-conditioning

AHP:

Automobile heat pump

COP:

Coefficient of performance

\(D_{\text{ann}}\) :

Annual driving distance/km

EU:

European Union

EV:

Electric vehicle

\({\text{FC}}_{\text{m}}\) :

Volumetric fuel consumption per 100 kg mass of the AHP in 10,000 km driving/L

\({\text{FC}}_{\text{pow}}\) :

Volumetric fuel consumption in 10,000 km to power the AHP using R134a/L

GWP:

Global warming potential

HFC:

Hydrofluorocarbon

HFO:

Hydrofluoroolefin

ODP:

Ozone depleting potential

PTC:

Positive temperature coefficient

TEWI:

Total equivalent warming impact

TFA:

Trifluoroacetic acid

TXV:

Thermostatic expansion valve

V:

Hand valve

\(c_{\text{p}}\) :

Specific heat/kJ kg−1 K−1

\({\dot{\text{E}}\text{x}}_{\text{d}}\) :

Rate of exergy destruction/kW

\(h\) :

Specific enthalpy/kJ kg−1

L :

Annual refrigerant leakage ratio

\(m_{\text{AHP}}\) :

Mass of the AHP system/kg

\(m_{\text{r}}\) :

Refrigerant charge/kg

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate/kg s−1

N :

Lifetime of the system/year

n :

Number of measured variables

\(P\) :

Pressure/kPa

\(\dot{Q}\) :

Heat transfer rate/kW

\(R\) :

Ideal gas constant/kJ kg−1 K−1

\(s\) :

Specific entropy/kJ kg−1 K−1

T :

Temperature/K or °C

u :

Uncertainty

\(\dot{W}\) :

Power/kW

x :

Measured variable

y :

Function of measured variables

\(\alpha\) :

Refrigerant recovery factor

\(\beta\) :

CO2 emission factor of the fuel/kg CO2 L−1

ω :

Specific humidity

ψ :

Specific flow exergy/kJ kg−1

0:

Dead state

a:

Air

ai:

Air inlet

comp:

Compressor

cv:

Control volume

in:

Inlet

iu:

Indoor unit

j:

Location on the boundary

ou:

Outdoor unit

out:

Outlet

r:

Refrigerant

tot:

Total

v:

Water vapour

References

  1. UNEP. Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, final act. United Nations Environment Programme. 1987. https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/report/montreal-protocol-substances-deplete-ozone-layer-final-act. Accessed 5 Jan 2020.

  2. Lee Y, Jung D. A brief performance comparison of R1234yf and R134a in a bench tester for automobile applications. Appl Therm Eng. 2012;35:240–2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. EU. Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006. Official J European Union. 2014; L 150/195.

  4. Zhang Z, Wang J, Feng X, Chang L, Chen Y, Wang X. The solutions to electric vehicle air conditioning systems: a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev. 2018;91:443–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ma Y, Liu Z, Tian H. A review of transcritical carbon dioxide heat pump and refrigeration cycles. Energy. 2013;55:156–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hodnebrog Ø, Etminan M, Fuglestvedt JS, Marston G, Myhre G, Nielsen CJ, Shine KP, Wallington TJ. Global warming potentials and radiative efficiencies of halocarbons and related compounds: a comprehensive review. Rev Geophys. 2013;51:300–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wang CC. System performance of R-1234yf refrigerant in air-conditioning and heat pump system-an overview of current status. Appl Therm Eng. 2014;73:1412–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Peng Q, Du Q. Progress in heat pump air conditioning systems for electric vehicles: a review. Energies. 2016;9:240. https://doi.org/10.3390/en9040240.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tamura T, Yakumaru Y, Nishiwaki F. Experimental study on automotive cooling and heating air conditioning system using CO2 as a refrigerant. Int J Refrig. 2005;28:1302–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang D, Yu B, Hu J, Chen L, Shi J, Chen J. Heating performance characteristics of CO2 heat pump system for electrical vehicle in a cold climate. Int J Refrig. 2018;85:27–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang D, Yu B, Li W, Shi J, Chen J. Heating performance evaluation of a CO2 heat pump system for an electrical vehicle at cold ambient temperatures. Appl Therm Eng. 2018;142:656–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hosoz M, Direk M. Performance evaluation of an integrated automotive air conditioning and heat pump system. Energ Convers Manage. 2006;47:545–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lee DY, Cho CW, Won JP, Park YC, Lee MY. Performance characteristics of mobile heat pump for a large passenger electric vehicle. Appl Therm Eng. 2013;50:660–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hosoz M, Direk M, Yigit KS, Canakci M, Turkcan A, Alptekin E, Sanli A. Performance evaluation of an R134a automotive heat pump system for various heat sources in comparison with baseline heating system. Appl Therm Eng. 2015;78:419–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang Z, Wei M, Peng F, Liu H, Guo C, Tian G. Experimental evaluation of an integrated electric vehicle AC/HP system operating with R134a and R407C. Appl Therm Eng. 2016;100:1179–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lee HS, Lee MY. Steady state and start-up performance characteristics of air source heat pump for cabin heating in an electric passenger vehicle. Int J Refrig. 2016;69:232–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zilio C, Brown JS, Schiochet G, Cavallini A. The refrigerant R1234yf in air conditioning systems. Energy. 2011;36:6110–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mota-Babiloni A, Navarro-Esbri J, Barragan-Cervera A, Moles F, Peris B. Drop-in energy performance evaluation of R1234yf and R1234ze(E) in a vapour compression system as R134a replacements. Appl Therm Eng. 2014;71:259–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cho H, Park C. Experimental investigation of performance and exergy analysis of automotive air conditioning systems using refrigerant R1234yf at various compressor speeds. Appl Therm Eng. 2016;101:30–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Prabakaran R, Lal DM, Devotta S. Effect of thermostatic expansion valve tuning on the performance enhancement and environmental impact of a mobile air conditioning system. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-09224-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Huang L. Energy and exergy performance comparison of different HFC/R1234yf mixtures in vapor-compression cycles. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2020;140:2447–59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Abraham JDAP, Mohanraj M. Thermodynamic performance of automobile air conditioners working with R430A as a drop-in substitute to R134a. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2019;136:2071–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Gill J, Singh J, Ohunakin OS, Adelekan DS. ANN approach for irreversibility analysis of vapor compression refrigeration system using R134a/LPG blend as a replacement of R134a. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2019;135:2495.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gill J, Singh J, Ohunakin OS, Adelekan DS. Exergy analysis of vapor compression refrigeration system using R450a as replacement of R134a. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2019;136:857–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zou H, Huang G, Shao S, Zhang X, Tian C, Zhang X. Experimental study on heating performance of an R1234yf heat pump system for electric cars. Energy Procedia. 2017;142:1015–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Direk M, Yuksel F. Comparative experimental evaluation on heating performance of a mobile air conditioning system using R134a, R1234ze(E), R152a and R444a. J Therm Sci Technol. 2019;39:31–8.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wang Z, Wei M, Guo C, Zhao M. Enhance the heating performance of an electric vehicle AC/HP system under low temperature. Energy Procedia. 2017;105:2384–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang K, Li M, Yang C, Shao Z, Wang L. Exergy analysis of electric vehicle heat pump air conditioning system with battery thermal management system. J Therm Sci. 2020;29:408–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ozcan HG, Hepbasli A, Gunerhan H. Performance evaluation of a mobile air conditioning unit: an exergetic approach. Int J Exergy. 2019;28:183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Direk M, Yuksel F. Experimental evaluation of an automotive heat pump system with R1234yf as an alternative to R134a. Arab J Sci Eng. 2020;45:719–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Devecioglu AG, Oruc V. A comparative energetic analysis for some low-GWP refrigerants as R134a replacements in various vapor compression refrigeration systems. J Therm Sci Technol. 2018;38:51–61.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Arora P, Seshadri G, Tyagi AK. Fourth-generation refrigerant: HFO 1234yf. Curr Sci. 2018;115:1497.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Lemmon EW, Huber ML, McLinden MO. Reference Fluid Thermodynamic and Transport Properties (REFPROP), Version 9.1, in NIST Standard Reference Database 23. Gaithersburg: National Institute of Standards and Technology; 2013.

  34. Cho H, Lee H, Park C. Performance characteristics of an automobile air conditioning system with internal heat exchanger using refrigerant R1234yf. Appl Therm Eng. 2013;61:563–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Ozgener O, Hepbasli A. Modeling and performance evaluation of ground source (geothermal) heat pump systems. Energy Build. 2007;39:66–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Moffat RJ. Describing the uncertainties in the experimental results. Exp Therm Fluid Sci. 1988;1:3–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Klein SA. EES: Engineering Equation Solver, Version 10.167. F-Chart Software; 2016.

  38. Fischer SK. Total equivalent warming impact: a measure of the global warming impact of CFC alternatives in refrigeration equipment. Int J Refrig. 1993;16:423–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Hamza A, Khan TA. Comparative performance of low-GWP refrigerants as substitutes for R134a in a vapor compression refrigeration system. Arab J Sci Eng. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-04525-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Tuchowski W, Kurtz-Orecka K. The influence of refrigerants used in air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles on the environment. In: Ball P, Huatuco LH, Howlett RJ, Setchi R, editors. Smart innovation, systems and technologies–proceedings of the 6th international conference on sustainable design and manufacturing. Singapore: Springer Nature; 2019. pp. 605–14.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, 54187, Sakarya, Turkey

    Alpaslan Alkan & Ahmet Kolip

  2. Department of Automotive Engineering, Kocaeli University, 41001, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Murat Hosoz

Authors
  1. Alpaslan Alkan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ahmet Kolip
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Murat Hosoz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Murat Hosoz.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Alkan, A., Kolip, A. & Hosoz, M. Experimental energy and exergy performance of an automotive heat pump using R1234yf. J Therm Anal Calorim 146, 787–799 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10035-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10035-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation