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Performance analysis of cascade refrigeration system with alternative refrigerants to reduce carbon emission

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Abstract

The cascade refrigeration system (CRS) uses two types of refrigerants with different boiling points which individually work as the higher-temperature cycle (HTC) and the low-temperature cycle (LTC), with a heat exchanger combining them. In this study, refrigerant R170 is used for LTC, while refrigerants R32, R515B, and R466A are used for HTC in the cascade refrigeration systems to reduce carbon dioxide emission to the environment. Computer software was used to do the numerical calculations and simulation techniques for the cascade refrigeration cycle. The three refrigerant pairings R32/R170, R466A/R170, and R515B/R170 that combine zeotropes, azeotropes, and natural refrigerants were employed in this study to analyze the cascade refrigeration system. In comparison with other refrigerant pairs, the R515B/R170 refrigerant pair offers better coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.781 by raising the evaporator temperature. According to numerical simulations, R515B/R170 is found to be preferable for CRS in terms of maximizing COP and thermodynamic performance. Also, carbon emission to environment has reduced by 15% with the help of alternative refrigerants.

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Abbreviations

T e :

Evaporator temperature in K

T c :

Condenser temperature in K

VCR:

Vapor compression refrigeration

COP:

Coefficient of performance

R:

Refrigerant

HFO:

Hydrofluoroolefin

HFC:

Hydrofluorocarbon

ACR:

Autocascade refrigeration

POE:

Polyolester oil

HCFC:

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon

LHR:

Linde–Hampson refrigeration

HTC:

High-temperature circuit

LTC:

Low-temperature circuit

TEWI:

Total equivalent warming impact

LCCP:

Life cycle climate performance

IPCC:

Intergovernmental panel on climate change

GWP:

Global warming potential

EEV:

Electronic expansion valve

EPC:

Exergetic performance coefficient

ASHRAE:

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers

GWPRef :

GWP of the refrigerant

COPopt :

Optimum coefficient of performance

N :

System lifetime

m Ref :

Total refrigerant charge

W comp :

Work of compression

L annual :

Refrigerant leakage rate

α :

Recycling factor

E annual :

Energy consumed per year

β :

Electricity regional conversion factor

h :

Enthalpy at each state point from 1 to 12

W comp :

Work of compressor A and B

\({\dot{m}}\) :

Mass flow rate of refrigerant 

q e :

Specific refrigeration capacity

Q e :

Refrigeration effect

COPcas :

Cascade COP

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their useful comments and suggestions.

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  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603203, India

    Parthiban Kasi & M. Cheralathan

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  1. Parthiban Kasi
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Parthiban Kasi contributed to the concepts, investigation and writing—original draft. M. Cheralathan was involved in writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to M. Cheralathan.

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Kasi, P., Cheralathan, M. Performance analysis of cascade refrigeration system with alternative refrigerants to reduce carbon emission. J Therm Anal Calorim 148, 4389–4399 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-11989-6

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