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Performance evaluation of sorption compressor based J-T refrigerator using R134a and mixture refrigerants as working fluids

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Abstract

The idea of adsorption based refrigerator was conceived in the year 1961 by Vickers. The present work reports development of a sorption compressor based J-T refrigerator with R134a alone as a working fluid and a three component mixture of R134a, Ethane and Methane. Commercially available activated carbon, obtained from coconut shell, is used as an adsorbent. The reported compressor is a four cell structure and uses isenthalpic expansion of R134a for cooling purpose. A lowest temperature of −8°C is obtained giving 5 W of refrigeration effect for R134a. The work is further extended to study the effect of various parameters like adsorption-desorption cycle time, heater power input and capillary tube length on the low temperature obtained from the refrigerator. Experiments are then carried out using a three component mixed refrigerant, a low temperature of −54°C at no load is achieved. Also a continuous trouble-free operation is observed.

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Abbreviations

EO :

characteristic energy of the surface, kJ;

p:

pressure, N/m2;

ps :

saturation pressure, N/m2;

R:

gas constant, J/mol K;

W:

equilibrium adsorption capacity of adsorbent, g/g;

WO :

micropore volume of adsorbent, m3/g;

βa :

shifting factor;

ρ:

density of the working gas, m3/kg;

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400 076, India

    R N MEHTA, S L BAPAT & M D ATREY

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr. S & S.S. Ghandhy Government Engineering College, Surat, 395 001, India

    R N MEHTA

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  1. R N MEHTA
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  2. S L BAPAT
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  3. M D ATREY
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Correspondence to M D ATREY.

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MEHTA, R.N., BAPAT, S.L. & ATREY, M.D. Performance evaluation of sorption compressor based J-T refrigerator using R134a and mixture refrigerants as working fluids. Sādhanā 44, 176 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-019-1156-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-019-1156-3

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