An analysis of the performance of an ejector refrigeration cycle working with R134a

Abstract

In the context of recent developments in the field of energy, the aspect related to energy consumption is of great importance for specialists. Many industries rely on refrigeration technologies, a great challenge being expressed by attempts in energy savings in this sector. In this respect, efforts oriented towards efficient industrial refrigeration systems have revealed the necessity of a proper design. The most commonly used method of cooling is based on vapor compression cycles. Compared to vapor compression refrigeration systems, an ejector refrigeration system shows an inferior performance, indicated by the Coefficient of Performance of the cycle, but it is more attractive from energy saving point of view. In this respect, the present study deals with a theoretically analysis of an Ejector Refrigeration System, started with the presentation of the typical ejector design. It is stated that ejector refrigeration is a thermally driven system which requires low grade thermal energy for its working. After a short description of the analyzed system, are given equations for thermal loads and Coefficient of Performance calculation, on First Law basis. The working fluid considered in this research is Freon R134a. The developed study is focused on the effect of generating temperature variation on the Coefficient of Performance (COP) and on the work input to the pump when the cooling effect, the condensation temperature, the evaporation temperature and the reference state temperature are kept constant. Are obtained results in the following conditions: the condensation temperature is tc = 33°C, the evaporation temperature is te = 3°C, the reference state temperature is to = 23°C. The generating temperature varies in the range 82 ÷ 92°C and the cooling effect is 1 kW. Also, are known the isentropic efficiencies of the ejector, which are 0.90, and the isentropic efficiency of the pump, which is 0.75. Calculation will reveal that the Coefficient of Performance is increasing together with the increase of the generating temperature values, the best COP value being 0.178, in the considered range for the mentioned temperature. In the same time, the generating temperature increase leads to the increase of the work input to the pump.