Experimental Analysis of R134a/LPG as Replacement of R134a in a Vapor-Compression Refrigeration System

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental analysis of a vapor compression refrigeration system (VCRS) using the mixture of R134a and LPG with mass fractions of 28:72 as an alternative to R134a. In this work, we compare the energy performance of both refrigerants, R134a/LPG (28:72) and R134a, in a monitored vapor compression refrigeration system under a wide range of experimental conditions. So, the System with R134a/LPG (28:72) was tested by varying the capillary tube length and refrigerant charge under experimental conditions. Performance comparisons of both the systems are made taking refrigerant R134a as baseline, and the results show that the compressor power consumption, compressor discharge temperature and pull down time obtained with R134a/LPG (28:72) of 118[Formula: see text]g and capillary tube length of 5.1 m in vapor compression refrigeration system are about 4.4% 2.4% and 5.3%, respectively, lower than that obtained with R134a in the studied range. Also, when using R134a/LPG (28:72), the system shows values of refrigeration capacity and COP are about 10.6% and 15.2% respectively, higher than those obtained using R134a, In conclusion, the mixing refrigerant R134a/LPG proposed in this study seems to be an appropriate long-term candidate to replace R134a as a new generation refrigerant of VCRS, because of its well environmentally acceptable properties and its favorable refrigeration performances.