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Performance enhancement of air conditioning using thermosyphon system’s energy storage unit for cooling refrigerant before entering the condenser

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Abstract

This research focused on application of a heat transfer device, a Thermosyphon system energy storage unit (TSES unit), to air conditioning systems. The aim was to experimentally investigate use of the TSES unit to provide energy savings and enhance the heat transfer of the refrigerant. The TSES unit was installed between the compressor and the condenser. R-22, R-410A and R-134a refrigerants were used as working fluids in the thermosyphon heat pipe. Comparison of a conventional air conditioning system with the TSES unit-based air conditioning system shows that R-134a provides the best performance enhancement of the investigated refrigerants. The results show that the TSES unit-based system with R-134a reduced the refrigerant temperature at the condenser inlet to 11.67 °C, had the highest coefficient of performance with an increase of 22.75 %, increased the system’s cooling by 19.62 % and reduced power consumption by up to 3.76 %. This confirms that the device can lead to real energy savings.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Energy Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, 126 Pracha Uthit Road, Bang Mod, Thung Khru, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand

    Sirisawat Juengjaroennirachon, Naris Pratinthong & Pichai Namprakai

  2. Department of Mechanical Technology Education, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, 126 Pracha Uthit Road, Bang Mod, Thung Khru, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand

    Taveewat Suparos

Authors
  1. Sirisawat Juengjaroennirachon
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  2. Naris Pratinthong
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  3. Pichai Namprakai
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  4. Taveewat Suparos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sirisawat Juengjaroennirachon.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Jae Dong Chung

Sirisawat Juengjaroennirachon received his B.S. Ind. Ed. and M.S. Ind. Ed. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand, in 2005 and 2007, respectively. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Division of Energy Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand. His research interests include energy saving and refrigeration and air conditioning system.

Naris Pratinthong received his Ph.D. degree in Physics from University of Nice Sophai Antipolis, France, in 2004. Dr. Naris is currently an Assistant Professor at Division of Energy Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand. His research interests include solar energy, solar thermal process and refrigeration and air conditioning system.

Pichai Namprakai received his Ph.D. degree in Energy Technology from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand, in 1996. Dr. Pichai is currently an Associate Professor at Division of Energy Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand. His research interests include alternative energy and non-conventional energy.

Taveewat Suparos is currently an Associate Professor at Department of Mechanical Technology Education, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand. His research interests include energy storage system, energy saving and refrigeration and air conditioning system.

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Juengjaroennirachon, S., Pratinthong, N., Namprakai, P. et al. Performance enhancement of air conditioning using thermosyphon system’s energy storage unit for cooling refrigerant before entering the condenser. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 393–400 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-1241-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-1241-z

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