Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of dilutant concentration on the performance of environment-friendly mixed refrigerants used in domestic refrigerators

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents the environment-friendly mixture compositions of hydrocarbons (HC)– and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)–based ternary mixtures that can be better alternatives for R134a in domestic refrigeration units. Combustible refrigerant HCs (R290, R600, R600a) and HFCs (R152a and R161) are used along with the dilutants R13I1, R245fa, R134a, R227ea, and R125 and their flammability studies were carried out theoretically. Minimum inerting concentration (MIC) is used to classify the flammable and non-flammable zones of the ternary mixtures. MIC points estimated with modified thermal balance method (MTBM) are compared with 62 experimental data points available in the literature. It was calculated that MTBM predicted the MIC values with in ±9%, for most of the working fluids selected in this study. R13I1 is used along with all the refrigerant (HC and HFC) combinations (as the first dilutant) while the effect of other dilutants on the system performance is carried out theoretically. It is predicted from the flammability diagram (developed in this study) that the inert effect of R227ea is higher than of R245fa, R134a, and R125. It is also observed that the drop in coefficient of performance (COP) is significant with R290/R13I1/R245fa (with increase in R245fa) mixture when compared to other combinations. Finally, mixtures R600a/R13I1/R245fa, R600a/R13I1/R227ea, R600a/R13I1/R134a, R600a/R13I1/R125, R161/R13I1/R134a, R290/R13I1/R125, R161/R13I1/R227ea, and R161/R13I1/R125 are identified as the best environment-friendly mixture compositions as alternatives to R134a. It is also calculated that the mixture R600a/R13I1/R125 possesses COP greater than 10% to R134a at the same working conditions.

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
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

AFT:

Adiabatic flame temperature (K)

C :

Coefficient in a reaction

CAFT:

Critical adiabatic flame temperature (K)

CFC:

Chlorofluorocarbon

CFL:

Critical flammability line

COP:

Coefficient of performance

E :

Power consumption per hour (KWh)

GWP:

Global warming potential

h :

Enthalpy (kJ/kg)

H :

Heating potential

HCFCs:

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon

HC:

Hydrocarbons

HFCs:

Hydrofluorocarbons

HFOs:

Hydrofluoroolefins

L :

Leakage rate per year (%)

m :

Mass of refrigerant (kg)

MIC:

Minimum inerting concentration

MTBM:

Modified thermal balance method

NBP:

Normal boiling point (°C)

P :

Pressure (bar)

Q :

Quenching potential

r :

Co2 emission (kgCo2/KWh)

S l :

Service life (years)

T:

Temperature (°C)

TBM:

Thermal balanced method

TEWI:

Total equivalent warming impact

X :

Dilutant concentration

X L, LEL:

Lower explosive limit (%)

X U, UEL:

Upper explosive limit (%)

X L,M :

Lower explosive limit of mixture (%)

X U,M :

Upper explosive limit of mixture (%)

Y :

Refrigerant concentration

∅ :

Inhibition coefficient

a:

Ambient

c:

Condenser

d :

Dilutant

e:

Evaporator

o:

Oxygen

f:

Refrigerant

F, M:

Refrigerant mixture

mix:

Mixture

r:

Ratio

d1:

First dilutant

d2:

Second dilutant

R290:

Propane

R600:

n-Butane

R600a:

Iso-butane

R134a:

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane

R13I1:

Trifluoroiodomethane

R125:

Pentafluoroethane

R152a:

1,1-Difluoroethane

R161:

Fluoroethane

R227ea:

Heptafluoropropane

R245fa:

Pentafluoropropane

References

  • Akash BA, Said SA (2003) Assessment of LPG as a possible alternative to R-12 in domestic refrigerators. Energy convers Manag 44:381–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anand S, Tyagi SK (2012) Exergy analysis and experimental study of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle: a technical note. J Ther Anal Calorimet 110:961–971

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aprea C, Greco A, Maiorino A, Masselli C (2018) The drop-in of HFC134a with HFO1234ze in a household refrigerator. Intl J Therm Sci 127:117–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dilshad S, Kalair AR, Khan N (2020) Review of carbon dioxide (CO2) based heating and cooling technologies: past, present, and future outlook. Intl J Energy Res 44:1408–1463

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fatouh M, El Kafafy M (2006) Assessment of propane/commercial butane mixtures as possible alternatives to R134a in domestic refrigerators. Energy Convers Manag 47:2644–2658

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gill J, Singh J (2017a) Energetic and exergetic performance analysis of the vapor compression refrigeration system using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system approach. Exp Ther Fluid Sci 88:246–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill J, Singh J (2017b) Energy analysis of vapor compression refrigeration system using mixture of R134a and LPG as refrigerant. Intl J Ref 84:287–299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammad MA, Alsaad MA (1999) The use of hydrocarbon mixtures as refrigerants in domestic refrigerators. Appl Ther Eng 19:1181–1189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han XH, Wang Q, Zhu ZW, Chen GM (2007) Cycle performance study on R32/R125/R161 as an alternative refrigerant to R407C. Appl Ther Eng 27:2559–2565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harish SSK, Venkatarathnam G (2016) Comparison of the straight adiabatic capillary tube expansion devices used in refrigeration systems operating with refrigerants R134a and R1234yf. J Ther Sci Eng Appl 8:21015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jabaraj DB, Narendran A, Lal DM, Renganarayanan S (2007) Evolving an optimal composition of HFC407C/HC290/HC600a mixture as an alternative to HCFC22 in window air conditioners. Intl J Ther Sci 46:276–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ju F, Fan X, Chen Y et al (2018) Experimental investigation on a heat pump water heater using R744/R290 mixture for domestic hot water. Intl J Ther Sci 132:1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumma N, Kruthiventi SSH (2022) Flammability and performance studies of eco-friendly ternary refrigerant mixtures used in vapour compression systems. Environ Sci Pollut Res 1–17

  • Kumma N, Moideen A, Kaushik P, Kruthiventi SSH (2020) Modified thermal balance method for estimating minimum inerting concentration of flammable refrigerant mixtures. J Ther Anal Cal 141:2201–2210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemmon EW, Bell IH, Huber ML, McLinden MO (2018) NIST Standard reference database 23: reference fluid thermodynamic and transport properties-REFPROP, Version 10.0, National Institute of Standards and Technology. Standard Reference Data Program, Gaithersburg

  • Ma T (2011) A thermal theory for estimating the flammability limits of a mixture. Fire Safety J 46:558–567

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma T (2013) Using critical flame temperature for estimating lower flammable limits of a mixture. Process Safety Progress 32:387–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma T, Larrañaga M (2015) Theoretical flammability diagram for analyzing mine gases. Fire Technol 51:271–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maalem Y, Fedali S, Madani H, Tamene Y (2020) Performance analysis of ternary azeotropic mixtures in different vapor compression refrigeration cycles. Intl J Ref 119:139–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Padmavathy SR, Chockalingam MP, Kamaraj N, et al. (2021) Performance studies of low GWP refrigerants as environmental alternatives for R134a in low-temperature applications. Environ Sci Pollut Res 1–10

  • Rasti M, Aghamiri S, Hatamipour M-S (2013) Energy efficiency enhancement of a domestic refrigerator using R436A and R600a as alternative refrigerants to R134a. Intl J Ther Sci 74:86–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sekhar SJ, Lal DM, Renganarayanan S (2004) Improved energy efficiency for CFC domestic refrigerators retrofitted with ozone-friendly HFC134a/HC refrigerant mixture. Intl Jo Ther Sci 43:307–314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shuxue X, Guoyuan M, Qi L, Zhongliang L (2013) Experiment study of an enhanced vapor injection refrigeration/heat pump system using R32. Intl J Ther Sci 68:103–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tashtoush B, Tahat M, Shudeifat MA (2002) Experimental study of new refrigerant mixtures to replace R12 in domestic refrigerators. Appl Ther Eng 22:495–506

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian G, Li X, Gao Y et al (2016) Theoretical and experimental study of explosion limits and the inhibition of flammable refrigerants. J Softw Eng Appl 9:501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uddin K, Arakaki S, Saha BB (2021) Thermodynamic analysis of low-GWP blends to replace R410A for residential building air conditioning applications. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28:2934–2947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Venkatarathnam G (2008) Cryogenic mixed refrigerant processes. Springer NY

  • Wu J, Chu Y, Hu J, Liu Z (2009) Performance of mixture refIntl J Refrigerant R152a/R125/R32 in domestic air-conditioner. 32:1049–1057

  • Wu X, Dang C, Xu S, Hihara E (2019) State of the art on the flammability of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants. Intl J Ref 108:209–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xuan Y, Chen G (2005) Experimental study on HFC-161 mixture as an alternative refrigerant to R502. Intl J Ref 28:436–441

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Feng B, Ma H et al (2021) Analysis of lower GWP and flammable alternative refrigerants. Intl J Ref 126:12–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Liu H, Wu X (2012) Theoretical and experimental study of the inhibition and inert effect of HFC125, HFC227ea and HFC13I1 on the flammability of HFC32. Process Safety Environ Protect 90:311–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Wu X, Peng J (2013) Theoretical and experimental investigation on the flame-retarding characteristic of R245fa. Exp Ther Fluid Sci 44:613–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang K, Meng X, Wu J (2014) Flammability limits of binary mixtures of dimethyl ether with five diluent gases. J Loss Prevent Process Industr 29:138–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao F (2011) Inert gas dilution effect on flammability limits of hydrocarbon mixtures

  • Zhao Y, Bin L, Haibo Z (2004) Experimental study of the inert effect of R134a and R227ea on explosion limits of the flammable refrigerants. Exp Ther Fluid Sci 28:557–563

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Ting W, Xihong L (2005) Experimental studies and estimates of the explosion limit of some environmentally friendly refrigerants. Combustion Sci Technol 177:613–626

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong Q, Huang Y, Zhao H, et al. (2021) Experimental study on the influence of trifluoroiodomethane on the flammability of difluoromethane and propane. International Journal of Refrigeration

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Low Temperature Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, Trichy, 620015, India

    Nagarjuna Kumma & Satya Sai Harish Kruthiventi

Authors
  1. Nagarjuna Kumma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Satya Sai Harish Kruthiventi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Nagarjuna Kumma handled methodology, writing, and data collection. Dr. Satya Sai Harish Kruthiventi was responsible for the conceptualization, reviewing, and final editing of the manuscript. The final manuscript was read and approved by all of the authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Satya Sai Harish Kruthiventi.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

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

Kumma, N., Kruthiventi, S.S.H. Effect of dilutant concentration on the performance of environment-friendly mixed refrigerants used in domestic refrigerators. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 71988–72000 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20965-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20965-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation