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Comparative thermodynamic analysis of a hybrid refrigeration system for promotion of cleaner technologies

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Abstract

This article presents a comparative thermodynamic analysis based on numerical methods for a hybrid refrigeration system suitable to operate as vapour absorption system (VA), vapour compression–absorption system (VCA) and vapour compression system (VC). The working fluid employed for the first two systems is ammonia–water and it is pure ammonia in case of the third system. The system is being powered by waste energy and conventional energy depending on the mode of operation. The effect on performance parameters like COP and exergy efficiency during all modes of operation has been evaluated by keeping the uniform parametric conditions like condenser temperature (40 °C) and evaporator temperature (5 °C) for all the modes of operation. The effect of ambient temperature on the exergy loss in each component of the different modes of operation have also been evaluated and discussed. The results obtained indicate that COP and exergy efficiency for VCA mode initially increases and then decreases whereas for VA and VC mode the COP and exergy efficiency decreases with condenser temperature. The analysis also reveals that with the variation in evaporator temperature the COP and exergy efficiency for VC mode increases whilst for VA and VCA mode the COP shows a slight increase whereas exergy efficiency decreases. The variation of exergy efficiency and exergy loss in different components with condenser and evaporator temperature shows that exergy efficiency is found to be the highest in VC mode whereas the lowest in VCA mode for both the temperature variations. The variation of compressor work and exergy loss in compressors with evaporator and condenser temperature shows that compressor work and exergy loss is lesser for VCA mode when compared to VC mode.

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Abbreviations

\( \dot{m} \) :

Mass flow rate (kg s−1)

h :

Enthalpy (kJ kg−1)

s :

Entropy (kJ kg−1 K−1)

\( \dot{Q} \) :

Heat flow (kJ s−1)

p :

Pressure (bar)

T :

Temperature (°C or K)

\( \dot{W} \) :

Power consumption (kJ s−1)

Ex:

Exergy (kJ s−1)

1–12:

Different state points in a system

PR-valve:

Pressure reducing valve

EES:

Engineering equation solver

COP:

Coefficient of performance

VA:

Vapour absorption refrigeration system

VCA:

Vapour compression–absorption refrigeration system

VC:

Vapour compression refrigeration system

Є:

Effectiveness of heat exchanger

η :

Efficiency/dimensionless

A:

Absorber

C:

Condenser

G:

Generator

E:

Evaporator

p:

Pump

c:

Compressor

i, in:

Inside

o, out:

Ambient, outside

Ex:

Exergy (kJ s−1)

η :

Efficiency

c, VA:

Compressor in vapour absorption refrigeration system

c, VCA:

Compressor in vapour compression–absorption refrigeration system

c, VC:

Compressor in vapour compression refrigeration system

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Acknowledgements

The financial assistance under Project No. 22/541/10-EMR-II from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India for this study is highly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, 182320, J&K, India

    S. Anand & A. Gupta

  2. Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Renewable Energy, Kapurthala, 144601, Punjab, India

    S. K. Tyagi

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  1. S. Anand
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  2. A. Gupta
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  3. S. K. Tyagi
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Correspondence to S. Anand.

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Anand, S., Gupta, A. & Tyagi, S.K. Comparative thermodynamic analysis of a hybrid refrigeration system for promotion of cleaner technologies. J Therm Anal Calorim 117, 1453–1468 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3889-x

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