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Performance characteristics of HFC-134a and HFC-410A refrigeration system using a short-tube orifice as an expansion device

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Abstract

In the present article, the effect of heat source temperature, heat sink temperature, short-tube orifice diameter and short-tube orifice length on the performance characteristics of HFC-140A and HFC-134a refrigeration system using a short-tube orifice as expansion device, i.e., mass flow rate, cooling capacity, compressor pressure ratio, power consumption, and second law efficiency are experimentally studied. The short-tube orifices diameters ranging from 0.849 to 1.085 mm with length ranging from 10 to 20 mm are used in this examination. The test run are done at heat source temperature ranging between 16.5 and 18.5°C, and heat sink temperature ranging between 30 and 35°C. The results show that the tendency of second law efficiency is increased as the short-tube orifice diameter and heat source temperature are enhanced, but it is decreased by increasing the short-tube orifice length and heat sink temperature. Under the similar conditions, the mass flow rate, cooling capacity, and compressor power consumption obtained from HFC-410A are higher than those obtained from HFC-134a.

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Abbreviations

COP actual :

Actual coefficient of performance

COP carnot :

Carnot coefficient of performance

c p, hw :

Specific heat at constant pressure of the hot water, kJ/kg K

D :

Short-tube orifice diameter, m

L :

Short-tube orifice length, m

\( \dot{m}_{\text{hw}} \) :

Mass flow rate of hot water, kg/s

\( \dot{m}_{\text{cw}} \) :

Mass flow rate of cold water, kg/s

Q evap :

Heat transfer rate at evaporator, kW

T sink :

Heat sink temperature, °C

T source :

Heat source temperature, °C

T hw, in :

Hot water temperature at the inlet of the evaporator, °C

T hw, out :

Hot water temperature at the outlet of the evaporator, °C

∆T sub :

Degree of subcooling, °C

∆T sup :

Degree of superheat, °C

W comp :

Electrical power supplied to the compressor, kW

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), the Office of the Higher Education Commission and the National Research University Project for providing financial support for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering and Multiphase Flow Research Lab (FUTURE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand

    Kitti Nilpueng & Somchai Wongwises

  2. C Aircon Tech Co., Ltd., Bangkae, Bangkok, 10160, Thailand

    Chietta Supavarasuwat

Authors
  1. Kitti Nilpueng
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  2. Chietta Supavarasuwat
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  3. Somchai Wongwises
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Correspondence to Somchai Wongwises.

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Nilpueng, K., Supavarasuwat, C. & Wongwises, S. Performance characteristics of HFC-134a and HFC-410A refrigeration system using a short-tube orifice as an expansion device. Heat Mass Transfer 47, 1219–1227 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-011-0783-y

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