Environment Friendly Mixed Refrigerant to Replace R-134a in a VCR System with Exergy Analysis

Abstract

Study on environment friendly mixed refrigerant to replace R134a in vapour compression refrigeration (VCR) System. The mixed refrigerants investigated are propane (R290), butane (R600), isobutene (R600a) and R134a. Even though the ozone depletion potentials of R134a relative to CFC-11 are very low; the global warming potentials are extremely high and also expensive. For this reason, the production and use of R134a will be terminated in the near future. Hydrocarbons are free from ozone depletion potential and have negligible global warming potential. The results showed that, mixed refrigerant with charge of 80 g satisfy the required freezer air temperature when R134a with a charge of 110 g is used as refrigerant. The actual COP of refrigerator using mixed refrigerant was almost nearer that of the system using R134a as refrigerant. The coefficient of performance of the vapour compression refrigeration system using mixed refrigerant MR-3 [R134a/R290/ R600a/ R600 (20/35/40/5)] is having very close value with R134a and the Global warming potential of MR-3 is negligible when compared with R134a. Hence the mixed refrigerant MR-3 is chosen as an environmental friendly alternate refrigerant to R134a. The exergy analysis of the vapour compression refrigeration system using R134a and all the above mixtures are investigated. The effect of evaporator temperature on exergy efficiency and exergy destruction ratio of the system are experimentally studied. The exergy defect in the compressor, condenser, expansion device and evaporator are also obtained. Key words: R134a, Mixed refrigerant, Chlorofluorocarbons, Propane, Butane, Isobutene, REFPROP, COP, ODP, GWP, Exergy, VCR System.