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Performance of a Linde-Hampson refrigerator operating from –120 °C to –60 °C with optimised R14-hydrocarbon mixtures exhibiting vapour-liquid-liquid equilibria

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Abstract

Single stage Linde-Hampson refrigerators that operate with R14-hydrocarbon mixtures can be used in place of traditional two/three stage vapour compression cascade refrigerators to provide refrigeration below–60 °C. The exergy efficiency of Linde-Hampson refrigerators can be increased by using compositions that exhibit vapour-liquid-liquid-equilibrium at low temperatures. The main aim of this work is to present the theoretical performance of a Linde-Hampson refrigerator operating with optimal R14-hydrocarbon mixtures from −120 to −60 °C. The results show that constant temperature refrigeration, however, cannot be provided above −80 °C with these mixtures. The use of nitrogen as an additional component below −100 °C is also investigated.

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Abbreviations

hj :

Enthalpy of stream j [kJ mol−1]

mi :

Number of segments in a chain of component i

ṅ:

Mole flow rate of refrigerant [mol s−1]

Pj :

Pressure of stream j [bar]

\( \overset{.}{\mathrm{Q}} \) :

Heat transfer rate [kW]

Qv :

Volumetric cooling capacity [J L−1]

TA :

Ambient temperature [°C]

TR :

Refrigeration temperature [°C]

Ẇ:

Work transfer [kW]

σi :

Segment diameter of component i [Å]

εi/kB :

Segment energy parameter of component i [K]

ηexe :

Exergy efficiency

ρj :

Molar density of stream j [mol m−3]

exj :

Exergy of stream j [kJ]

FC:

Fluorocarbon

ΔHT :

Isothermal refrigerating effect [Jmol−1]

HFC:

Hydrofluorocarbon

LLE:

Liquid-Liquid equilibrium

NBP:

Normal boiling point [°C]

Pc:

Critical Pressure [bar]

PC SAFT:

Perturbed chain statistical associating fluid theory

Tc:

Critical Temperature [°C]

TP:

Triple point [°C]

VLLE:

Vapour-liquid-liquid equilibrium

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India

    Sunil Jerome & G. Venkatarathnam

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  1. Sunil Jerome
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  2. G. Venkatarathnam
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Correspondence to G. Venkatarathnam.

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Jerome, S., Venkatarathnam, G. Performance of a Linde-Hampson refrigerator operating from –120 °C to –60 °C with optimised R14-hydrocarbon mixtures exhibiting vapour-liquid-liquid equilibria. Heat Mass Transfer 56, 1523–1535 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-019-02801-z

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