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Energy and exergy performance comparison of different HFC/R1234yf mixtures in vapor-compression cycles

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Abstract

To increase the COP and volumetric capacity of hydrofluoroolefins while reducing the global warming potential (GWP) of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), four HFC/R1234yf mixtures with various compositions are compared with verified thermodynamic models. Results show that a lower R1234yf mass fraction leads to a higher mixture latent heat; R32/R1234yf has the highest pressures, the lowest pressure ratios and the biggest temperature glides. As the R1234yf mass fraction increases from 0.0 to 1.0, the cooling coefficient of performance (COP) first increases from 5.25 to 5.52 and later decreases to 5.30 for R32/R1234yf, while it decreases from 5.46, 5.63 and 5.30 to 5.29 for R134a/R1234yf, R152a/R1234yf and R161/R1234yf. The heating COP first increases from 3.90 to 4.00 and later decreases to 3.79 for R32/R1234yf, while it decreases from 3.84, 3.95 and 4.02–3.79 for others. Caused by different volumetric capacities, R32/R1234yf requires a compressor enlarged by 2.8 times, R134a/R1234yf and R152a/R1234yf requires little change on compressor size, while R161/R1234yf requires a compressor enlarged by 1.5 times. R32/R1234yf yields the highest discharge temperature, while R134a/R1234yf yields the lowest. R32/R1234yf shows the highest exergy COPs (ECOPs) when the R1234yf mass fraction is above 60% in cooling mode and 46% in heating mode. Otherwise, R152a/R1234yf performs the best in cooling model and R161/R1234yf performs the best in heating mode. Considering both GWP and efficiency, the optimal composition is 20/80% for R32/R1234yf, 10/90% for R134a/R1234yf and 100/0% for both R152a/R1234yf and R161/R1234yf. This study provides suggestions for the determination of optimal compositions of different HFC/R1234yf mixture refrigerants.

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Abbreviations

H :

Specific enthalpy, kJ kg−1

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate, kg s−1

p c :

Condensing pressure, kPa

p e :

Evaporating pressure, kPa

Q c :

Heating capacity of condenser, kW

Q e :

Cooling capacity of evaporator, kW

q c :

Cooling volumetric capacity, MJ m−3

q h :

Heating volumetric capacity, MJ m−3

T c :

Condensing temperature, °C

T e :

Evaporating temperature, °C

T 0 :

Reference temperature, °C

\(\dot{V}\) :

Volumetric flow rate, m3 s−1

W p :

Power of compressor, kW

x :

Mass fraction

η i :

Isentropic efficiency

ρ :

Density, kg m−3

ΔHlv :

Latent heat, kJ kg−1

COP:

Coefficient of performance

ECOP:

Exergy coefficient of performance

GWP:

Global warming potential

HCFC:

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons

HFC:

Hydrofluorocarbon

HFO:

Hydrofluoroolefin

ODP:

Ozone depletion potential

p–h:

Pressure–enthalpy

R22:

Chlorodifluoromethane

R32:

Difluoromethane

R125:

Pentafluoroethane

R134a:

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane

R152a:

1,1-Difluoroethane

R161:

Fluoroethane

R410A:

Mixture of difluoromethane and pentafluoroethane

R1234yf:

2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene

R1234ze(E):

Trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene

T-s:

Temperature–entropy

VLE:

Vapor–liquid equilibrium

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Acknowledgements

The supports from “Shanghai key laboratory of multiphase flow and heat transfer for power engineering” (13DZ2260900), PhD Start-up Funding (1D-16-301-007) and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission Funding (10-17-301-803) are greatly acknowledged.

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  1. Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, People’s Republic of China

    Lihao Huang

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Huang, L. Energy and exergy performance comparison of different HFC/R1234yf mixtures in vapor-compression cycles. J Therm Anal Calorim 140, 2447–2459 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08909-y

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