A Systematic Approach to Improve the Efficiency of a CO2 Booster Refrigerating Machine by Optimising the Performance of the Scroll Compressor

Abstract

AbstractWith the decreasing use of refrigerants with a high global warming potential, increasing the efficiency of refrigerating machines using natural working fluids is a very urgent task. The CO2 booster refrigerant cycle can be optimal for the fields of commercial refrigeration, climate engineering and heat pumps, but requires adaptation to regions with hot climates. Such solutions have already been tested by increasing the transcritical cycle efficiency through the use of an ejector and parallel compression. However the use of a scroll compressor in the transcritical cycle may be a good alternative to these methods. This solution, a little bit improves technical and economic indexes of the refrigerating machine, in the most part reducing capital and operational costs. When considering the prospect of improving the efficiency of a booster system with scroll compressor, it is necessary to address the issue of compressor performance optimisation. An issue of this kind can be referred to improving the efficiency of the booster system, at the expense of the internal characteristics of the refrigerating machine. Thus, in this paper, a conceptual approach to solve this problem based on system analysis of compressor interconnection as the main energy-consuming element of a refrigeration machine is considered. Development of conceptual model, allows to identify influence of various factors on operation of scroll compressor and to build adequate mathematical model, to choose or develop necessary methods of calculation.KeywordsBooster machineRefrigerating machineScroll compressorFluid leaksCalculation methodologyMathematical modelingCO2Transcritical cycleConceptual model