Abstract
The study of the influence of propane quality on the total pressure of vapors of the coolant in condensation and vaporization processes and on operation of refrigeration equipment was carried out. Research was carried out in the refrigeration department of the industrial combined unit of deparaffination of raffinates and oil removal from gatch. In the experiment, technical propane with the content of the main component of 91–96 % by weight was used as the coolant, the rest was made up by hydrocarbon impurities. To determine the composition of the coolant, chromatographic method for separation of hydrocarbons was used. The impact of propane quality on total pressure of coolant vapor in the refrigeration cycle was determined. Impurities were found to contribute to an increase in total pressure and temperature in evaporation and condensation processes. A decrease in propane content in the coolant from 95 % by weight to 89 % by weight leads to an increase in pressure in condensers from 57 to 86 kPa, in condensers – from 1,385 to 1,524 kPa. At the same time, there is an increase in temperature of evaporation and condensation by 4–5 o С. Contribution of each separate impurity to total pressure of saturated vapors of the coolant in evaporators and condensers was determined. The most harmful impurities are ethane and butane. Ethane and methane under conditions of cold production are in gaseous state and increase total pressure in the refrigeration cycle. The content of methane in the raw material mixture does not exceed 0.03 % by weight, which is why its impact on total pressure is negligible. Butanes form a liquid film on the surface of the equipment, worsen heat exchange processes, and contribute to an increase in the total pressure. Propylene behaves in the system as a coolant and its impact on total pressure is insignificant. The impact of hydrocarbon impurities on operation of refrigeration department was established. The impurities differently affect operation of the equipment, however, on the whole, this impact is negative. An increase in amount of impurities in the coolant contributes to an increase in power consumption of the compressor, worsens compression process and increases consumption of electricity. A decrease in propane content in the raw material mixture from 97 % to 95 % leads to an increase in total thermal loading on the condenser and the refrigerator by 1.7 %. This causes additional material and energy consumption in the course of cold production
Highlights
IntroductionArtificial cold is used to obtain low temperatures, which cannot be achieved through cooling by natural coolants (water, air)
Artificial cold is used to obtain low temperatures, which cannot be achieved through cooling by natural coolants.Refrigeration unit is an actual steam compression machine that works in the Carnot reverse cycle with fluid overcooling and coolant throttling before evaporators.Most often, ammoniac is used in cold production as a coolant, but at high performance plants, it is appropriate to use propane as a coolant
The ratios of components of a coolant are changed in the course of operation of the unit, so does the impact of specific impurities on the total pressure of vapors
Summary
Artificial cold is used to obtain low temperatures, which cannot be achieved through cooling by natural coolants (water, air). Revealing “bottle necks” of the process of cold obtaining and optimization of technological parameters are very relevant, because they allow a significant increase in efficiency of using energy resources and equipment. Composition of a coolant is one of the most influential factors, which affects stability and uninterrupted operation of a refrigeration unit. The ratios of components of a coolant are changed in the course of operation of the unit, so does the impact of specific impurities on the total pressure of vapors. Research into influence of the quality of a cooling agent on the basic technological parameters of the cold obtaining process will make it possible to assess the impact of each separate component on total pressure in the system and technical indicators of performance of the equipment. The relevance of the work in this direction lies in the fact that obtained results will contribute to development of measures regarding reduction of undesirable influence of impurities on production
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