Compression Refrigeration Research Articles

A review of internal cooling strategies in liquid desiccant dehumidification and cooling systems

Air conditioning systems have become an integral part of society, and their utilization is increasing day by day. Most air conditioning systems use the vapor compression refrigeration (VCR) principle, which is a 190-year-old technology and has undergone significant changes to improve its performance and efficiency. However, the major drawback of VCR is its high energy consumption and use of highly polluting refrigerants. In this 21st century, energy conservation and environmental protection are the need of the hour. To mitigate the challenges, the search for alternative cooling systems that are eco-friendly and have less energy consumption is gaining wide attention. Liquid desiccant systems are gaining popularity due to less energy consumption and being eco-friendly. Therefore, this study attempts to review the recent developments in liquid desiccant technology by focusing on internal cooling strategies. As the internal cooling improves the overall performance of the liquid desiccant by controlling the liquid temperatures. Therefore, this review highlights the various methods, configurations and mathematical simulations in internal cooling, which are less explored in the available literature.

An examination of the vapour compression refrigeration system performance utilizing several environmentally friendly refrigerants and the effect of nanoparticles- a review

The refrigeration system stands out as a significant contributor to the escalating trend in energy consumption. Therefore, implementing energy-saving measures is considered one of the most effective strategies for addressing this challenge. Nanofluids demonstrate remarkable promise in enhancing refrigeration systems' thermodynamic and mechanical efficiency. In contemporary times, there is a global emphasis on exploring nano refrigerants to enhance the heat transfer properties of cooling systems. Household and industrial refrigeration systems commonly utilize Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) because of their exceptional thermodynamic attributes. Nevertheless, the Kyoto Protocol has classified HFCs as contributors to global warming because of their high (GWP) value, which stands at 1300., their improved Coefficient of Performance (COP), and, critically, a lower GWP while having zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). Integrating nanoparticles with high thermal conductivity into traditional refrigerants has revealed compelling outcomes. These include heightened heat transfer coefficients, enhanced (COP), and reduced energy consumption by compressors in household refrigerators. This article explores the use of environmentally friendly refrigerants and the impact of nanoparticles on refrigeration systems.

Thermodynamic and exergetic evaluation of CO2 liquefaction for ship transport

CO2 liquefaction is significant to ensure CO2 transport safety and improve efficiency. Aiming at the temperature and pressure required for ship transport, this paper examines four liquefaction schemes including the compression refrigeration system, the Linde Hampson system, the precooled Linde Hampson system and the Claude system. The thermodynamic and exergetic ananlysis models are established primarily and total power consumption, liquefaction efficiency as well as exergy efficiency of the four systems are calculated and compared. The precooled Linde Hampson system shows the best performance with the three indicators of 391.74 kJ/kg, 97.97 % and 55.86 %, respectively. Additionally, exergy destruction among the system components are analyzed for Linde Hampson system and precooled Linde Hampson system. The maximum exergy destruction stem is from compressors. Another thing to note is that the proportion of the total exergy destruction with Joule-Thomson (J-T) valves are 19.38 % and 2.63 %, respectively. Furthermore, the replacement of the J-T valve by a liquid expander allowed for 9.35 % and 0.94 % electric power saving for the two systems, respectively. The pressure drop before and after the J-T valve directly determines the effect of this change. The research results could provide some vital reference for choosing proper CO2 liquefaction methods and reducing energy consumption during the process.

Magnetocaloric refrigerator with magnetic pump and liquid metals

One-seventh of the worldwide electricity is used for refrigeration related activities. When compared to the predominantly used vapor compression refrigeration system, magnetocaloric refrigeration provides an energy-efficient and eco-friendly alternative. It utilizes a magnetocaloric material which undergoes temperature changes when exposed to magnetic field changes. Nearly 60% of the total system cost is due to the permanent magnets used. For a given cooling power, the amount of permanent magnet needed is determined by the residence time required by the heat transfer fluid in each cycle. The start-of-the-art systems utilizes water-alcohol mixture as the heat transfer fluid, and a mechanical pump for its circulation. By utilizing non-toxic and non-hazardous gallium-indium-tin based liquid metals as heat transfer fluid, which has three order of magnitude higher thermal diffusivity, the residence time and the permanent magnetic material is reduced nearly by a factor of 10. Even accounting for the cost of the liquid metal, it results in considerable savings in the system cost. We present experimental results on the entropy change of using liquid metal with (Mn,Fe)2(P,Si)-based magnetocaloric material, and numerical results on the system level analysis. Further, to improve the reliability of the system, we propose to use magnetic pumping for heat transfer fluid circulation, which does not have any moving parts. The state-of-the art magnetic pump works at frequencies in the range of 100 to 1000 Hz. However, they cause detrimental heating effects due to eddy current losses. To overcome this, we have designed a pump that operates at 1 Hz and still achieves comparable flow rates. We present numerical results on the pump design by studying the dynamics of ferrofluid rise in a vertical pipe with multiple electromagnetic coils.

Numerical modelling of a hybrid vapor compression refrigeration assisted closed loop liquid cooling system for high-performance computing systems

This study presents a numerical model of a miniature vapor compression refrigeration (VCR) system that is used to cool liquid coolant in a secondary pumped loop that is deployed to cool a high-powered CPU. The model employs a physical approach and iterative algorithms to solve coupled non-linear equations for both the refrigeration cycle and pumped single phase cooling loop. Experimental tests were conducted to verify the model using an in-house test facility. This paper outlines the modelling and solution approaches taken, discusses the efficacy of the model in terms of agreement with experimental measurements, and highlights the utility of the model as a design tool for cooling high powered electronics.

Experimental investigation on the influence of electronic expansion valve opening on the performance of miniature refrigeration system

In the cooling of personnel and electronic equipment under specific conditions, the miniature refrigeration system needs to provide different cooling capacity to adapt to different working conditions. At present, most scholars use capillaries as throttling components. Compared with capillaries, miniature refrigeration systems using electronic expansion valves as throttling components can provide a wider range of cooling capacity adjustment. Therefore, this study constructed a miniature vapor compression refrigeration system based on electronic expansion valves as throttling devices, with a system weight of 3.0 kg and dimensions of 380 mm × 300 mm × 200 mm. The experiment investigated the impact of electronic expansion valve opening on compressor power, cooling capacity, and COP under different refrigerant charge conditions. Results indicated that at an electronic expansion valve opening of 90, within the experimental range, there was a relative change in cooling capacity of 39.85 % and a relative change in COP of 29.11 % as the refrigerant charge increased. Refrigerant charge had a significant effect on the cooling capacity and COP of the miniature refrigeration system. Under the optimal refrigerant charge of 70 g, within the experimental range, there was a relative change in cooling capacity of 88.14 % with varying electronic expansion valve opening. The use of electronic expansion valves as throttle components in miniature refrigeration systems allows for a wider range of cooling capacity adjustments, making them suitable for more cooling conditions.

Energy, environmental and economic analysis of low GWP refrigerant heat pumps for simultaneous heating and cooling applications

Industries such as hotels, pharmaceuticals, dairy and food and beverage units require heating and cooling for their functional requirements. These industries mostly use fossil fuel-fired boilers for heating (hot water at 60 to 90 °C) and vapor compression refrigeration systems for cooling (−30 to 5 °C), which results in higher primary energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Heat pumps (HPs) are a sustainable option for meeting the simultaneous heating and cooling demands. However, HPs use synthetic refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP). Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the potential of low and medium-temperature HPs using low GWP refrigerants such as R744, R290, R600a, R161, R1234yf, R1234ze(E) and R1233zd(E). The best refrigerant for the HPs is proposed based on energy efficiency, environmental impact and economic feasibility as critical factors, compared with the conventional high GWP refrigerant (R134a). The occurrence of pinch points across the gas cooler/condenser is evaluated in the analysis. Life cycle climate performance (LCCP) is assessed to study the environmental impact. Also, the operating costs of these HPs are estimated and compared with the conventional systems used in the industry. Results show that R744 HP is an energy-efficient and clean solution for simultaneous heating and cooling applications, primarily at higher temperature lift (lower Tw,i and higher Tw,o) conditions.

Performance Enhancement Analysis of Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants

Due to the impact of global warming and climate change, more and more people are starting to have a clearer understanding and vigilance about greenhouse gases. To prevent further deterioration of the global environment, this study examines the coefficients of performance of 21 currently available refrigerants with very low global-warming potential and zero ozone-depleting potential under evaporation temperatures of 10, −20, −40, and −60 °C and condensation temperatures of 30, 40, and 50 °C, respectively. It is found that the use of pure refrigerant in a two-stage refrigeration system to replace the single-stage refrigeration system, in addition to mixing it into an appropriate mixture, can effectively improve the performance coefficient of the refrigeration system. For single-stage vapor compression refrigeration systems, R1234ze(Z), R601, and R1233zd(E) have the best refrigeration performances among the environmentally friendly refrigerants studied, while R441A performs the worst for Teva = 10 °C and −20 °C. Moreover, RE170 has the highest COP of the refrigeration system for Teva = −40 °C and −60 °C. However, R1234yf performs worse in COP when the evaporation temperature is lower, and it ranks last for Teva = −60 °C. When a double-stage vapor compression refrigeration system is employed instead, the percentage increase in the COP of the system using R1234yf becomes the largest for Teva = −40 °C and −60 °C. However, the growth rate of R717 ranks last for Teva = −60 °C. For an R717/R1234yf mixture at an optimum mass fraction of 0.25, the COP of the refrigeration system can be increased up to 25.8% despite an increase of 15.2% in operating pressure compared to R1234yf. The discharge temperature may rise; however, there will be no overheating problem for the compressor.

Dynamic modelling of supplemental cooling systems with vapor compression refrigeration units in civil aircrafts

Newly developed airliners have adopted supplemental cooling systems (SCS) to provide for non-cabin cooling requirements. In the present study, dynamic component models for compressor and phase change heat exchangers were developed with dynamic decoupling and explicit solution methods, and pressure zone separation and solution methods are developed based to obtain dynamic pressures as key values. A dynamic VCRU subsystem model is established, and the result under single-unit startup condition shows pressure deviations less than 0.16 %, with a simulation time ratio of 5.65 %, exhibiting good overall performance at both precision and speed. A dynamic SCS system model is developed, and the simulation of a 9000 s flight took 1973.3 s to complete. Result in the cruise phase shows the condensation and evaporation temperatures are in the ranges of 28.39–31.33 °C and −17.93 to −10.71 °C, respectively, meeting their respective designed ranges of 30 ± 5 °C and −15 ± 5 °C. These results reflects good consistency of the model with actual system characteristics. Control optimization is conducted based on the developed model to eliminate temperature fluctuation. The optimization reduced the maximum temperature deviation from 0.4004 K to 0.0019 K after system starting process, proving the feasibility of control method optimization based on the developed dynamic simulation model.

Achieving large negative electrocaloric effect in AgNbO3-based antiferroelectric ceramics based on dipole disordering

The electrocaloric effect (ECE) is considered as an environmentally friendly refrigeration technology, which can be used to replace vapor compression refrigeration. Lead-free antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramics are promising electrocaloric materials because of large saturation polarization and polarization change with temperature, which can generate large positive or negative ECE. In this work, the lead-free Ag(Nb1-0.8xHfx)O3 (x = 0, 0.001 and 0.003) AFE ceramics are fabricated through a conventional solid-state reaction method which shows a decreased the phase transition temperature of M1 - M2 toward room temperature (RT), and a large negative ECE (ΔT = −2.3 K under 130 kV cm−1) is obtained near the ambient temperature by using an indirect measurement in ANH0.001 AFE ceramic. The large negative ECE behavior is ascribed to dipole disordering (i.e. the anti-parallel dipoles are broken and gradually becomes disordered under an external electric field) resulting from the field-induced phase transition under a modest electric field. This work shows that AgNbO3-based AFE ceramics could be used in the refrigeration devices as an electrocaloric material.

Performance evaluation of VCR system with pure and various blends of R134a, R1234yf, and R1234ze (E) refrigerants

AbstractThe current small passenger car vapor compression refrigeration systems use high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants causing the greenhouse gas effect. In the present work, the low GWP of two pure refrigerants, R1234yf and R1234ze (E), and 16 blends of R134a, R1234yf, and R1234ze (E) are analyzed numerically. The experiments were conducted with R134a refrigerant to validate the numerical results. The experiments were conducted at the compressor speed of 600–1500 rpm and the condensing air at 30–40°C, relative humidity of 85%, and velocity of 1–3 m/s. The simulation and experimental results for R134a are deviated by a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 15%. It is found that the latent heat of vaporization of the two refrigerant mixtures with 80% R134a–20% R1234yf and the three refrigerant blends of 50% R134a–10% R1234yf–40% R1234ze (E) are the highest among 16 combinations. The other blends show a moderate difference of latent heat with R134a, but for maximum cooling capacity, the blends with 80% R134a–20% R1234yf and 50% R134a–10% R1234yf–40% R1234ze (E) are found to be more suitable for practical applications.

High-pressure liquid refrigerant injection for reciprocating compressors

Isentropic (adiabatic) compression of superheated vapor in vapor compression refrigeration cycles usually results in some discharge superheat, i.e. the discharge temperature exceeding the condensing temperature. Large discharge superheat reduces both operating range and compression efficiency. Sub-isentropic compression with heat rejection to the heat sink is therefore superior to adiabatic compression, as it results in lower discharge superheat and improved efficiency. However, significant temperature reduction by heat transfer through the working chamber walls is difficult to facilitate in common refrigeration compressors, particularly reciprocating compressors. Refrigerant and oil injection is a well-established method for reducing temperatures and increasing efficiency in screw and scroll compressors, as well as multi-stage systems. In comparison, effective methods for temperature reduction in single-stage reciprocating compressors are fairly limited. Therefore, a concept for high-pressure liquid injection is proposed. By means of a pump and injection valve, high-pressure liquid refrigerant is injected into the working chamber and atomized. The compressed gas is cooled through the evaporation of the injected liquid. The injection valve allows for control over the injection timing and quantity, enabling adjustment of the temperature profile, which is a major distinction from existing refrigerant injection methods. The coupled compression-injection process is evaluated for various refrigerants using an energetic chamber model. The injection is found to be particularly suitable for refrigerants with a large evaporation heat and a shallow dew line slope. For the example of ammonia, a theoretical reduction in compression work of 8.9% at an evaporation temperature of −10 °C and a condensing temperature of 45 °C is found.

Magnetocaloric effect and applied refrigeration performance of La(Fe,Si)13-based compounds

As a solid-state refrigeration technology, room-temperature magnetic refrigeration has several significant advantages comparing with conventional gas compression refrigeration, such as environmental friendliness, high energy efficiency and dependable operation. In the present study, the magnetocaloric effect and applied refrigeration performance of La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.6-xMn0.15+xSi1.25Al0.1H1.8 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) compounds were studied systematically. All alloys crystallize mainly in NaZn13-type phase with trace α-Fe phase between 1.36 and 1.80 wt%. The necessary heat treatment improves the formation of main phase. As x increases, the Curie temperature (Tc) decreases gradually from 295.3 K to 273.0 K. All alloys undergo strong field-induced first-order itinerant-electron metamagnetic transition. Under 0–1.5 T, the maximum magnetic entropy changes (-ΔSM)max for La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.6-xMn0.15+xSi1.25Al0.1H1.8 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) compounds vary from 10.9 J/(kg K) to 13.5 J/(kg K). And the maximum adiabatic temperature changes (ΔTad)max vary from 2.7 K to 3.9 K. To study the applied refrigeration performance, a rotary magnetic refrigerator is designed successfully, whose refrigeration temperature and cooling power meet the requirement of cold storage. Successful large-quantity preparation, giant magnetocaloric effect and excellent refrigeration performance suggest that, La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.6-xMn0.15+xSi1.25Al0.1H1.8 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) compounds can be used as the promising candidates for magnetic refrigerants.

Impact of heat infiltration on the cooling capacity evaluation of an evaporator for household refrigerator-freezers with a non-adiabatic capillary tube

This study experimentally evaluates the cooling capacity of an evaporator in household refrigerator-freezers, typically scaled in hundreds of Watts, and investigates the impact of heat infiltration from the environment. Despite the scarcity of both quantitative and qualitative research in this area, this study provides data from a lab-scaled vapor compression refrigeration system that mimics a real-world side-by-side refrigerator-freezer. Experiments were conducted under conditions reflecting the household refrigerator-freezer, yielding 74 data points under quasi-steady state conditions. Despite careful insulation, heat infiltration from the ambient to the refrigerant flow in the evaporator occurred due to the significant temperature differential, impacting the cooling capacity evaluation fatally with a heat balance error of 26%. However, when considering the effects of heat infiltration, the error in the evaporator heat balance dropped to 6% significantly. The findings highlight the sensitivity of evaporator’s cooling capacity, less than 300 W, to external thermal factors during empirical evaluation. This study underscores the challenges of heat infiltration and the importance of considering such factors when assessing evaporator cooling capacity. The provided comprehensive analyses significantly contribute to the experimental prototyping of evaporators, emphasizing the need to account for external thermal influences during the evaluation process.

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYPOTHESIS IN THE MODELING OF A HYBRID COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE

This paper presents a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of a hybrid refrigeration system that integrates an evacuated tube solar thermal collector into a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The proposed analysis comprises two distinct approaches: an isovolumetric model and a compressible flow model. The former assumes a constant specific volume within the solar heat exchanger, while the latter applies principles of compressible fluid dynamics. The study compares these models with a reference work, emphasizing similarities and disparities. The investigation systematically varies key parameters, including evaporator and condenser temperatures, inlet and outlet temperatures of the heat exchanger, and heat load. By varying these parameters, the coefficient of performance (COP) and compressor work are evaluated, elucidating the impact of heat addition on the system's performance. Additionally, the influence of different working refrigerant fluids, such as R22 and R410A, is examined under various design point conditions. The results demonstrate the potential energy savings achievable by the hybrid system, with reductions in electrical power compared to the conventional compressor, as solar heat is introduced. While the isovolumetric analysis closely aligns with the reference work, the compressible flow modeling highlights sensitivity to inlet conditions. Although not directly comparable, the latter approach presents promising trends within specific design point ranges. Comparisons of performance curves for different refrigerant fluids further validate the models and assist in potential fluid selection. Overall, the outcomes indicate a promising avenue for energy-efficient refrigeration systems and provide valuable insights for engineering design and optimization.

EXERGOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF A HYBRID SYSTEM OF WASTE INCINERATION AND ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION

The current global scenario presents a significant increase in energy demand for HVAC-R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) systems. Considering also that Brazil has the sixth most expensive energy in the world and that there is currently a greater scarcity of natural resources for energy generation, it is necessary to seek viable alternatives with lower energy consumption to the currently most used models, without any quality loss. On the other hand, absorption refrigeration and waste incineration systems can be lines of studies and research to be considered, considering that it is possible to reduce electrical energy consumption and also the environmental impacts that the usual compression refrigeration systems provide. . . In this context, one of the segments of Thermal Systems Engineering studied is the exergoeconomic analysis that comprises the concepts of Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, based on the Second Law of Thermodynamics and which uses the notions of optimization and economic analysis. Therefore, this work aims to perform an exergoeconomic analysis of a hybrid system of waste incineration and absorption refrigeration, with the specific objective of developing an exergoeconomic model for the hybrid system. Absorption incinerator-refrigerator. This is an exploratory bibliographic research using an absorption refrigerator from the Center for Research and Development of Self-Sustainable Energy (NPDEAS) of the Federal University of Paraná, in which a model was made with a macroscopic approach of the mass and heat transfer phenomena of a absorption refrigeration cycle, applying the principles of conservation of mass and energy in steady state for each component of the cycle, that is, each component will be considered as a single control volume. It is expected that it will be possible to predict the behavior of the absorption refrigeration system and that it will be possible to develop a scientific analysis tool to design, control and optimize absorption refrigeration systems, using waste incineration. The highest exergy destroyed was verified in the desorber with about 0.9461 kW and through the exergoeconomic analysis of the incinerator, it was found that the cost rate associated with the product of the incineration gases was $ 39,926.31 per year.

Refrigerants for eutectic refrigerating systems–Experimental results and future consideration

The new European F-Gas and PFAS Directives threaten to dramatically reduce quotas or even outright ban synthetic refrigerants, and transition to natural refrigerants in the near future seems inevitable. This article examines eutectic refrigerating systems used in low-temperature transport refrigerators for retail distribution considering transition to natural refrigerants. The main limitation for the operation of eutectic systems is the low evaporation pressure, and various designs addressing this limitation were already tried in the last few years during transition from R507A to R452A and other alternatives. In this article 5 systems with R452A, two with R290 and two with R1270 are compared. The greatest effect was demonstrated by addition of roll-bond plates – it reduced the difference between the inside air and evaporation temperatures by about 3 K. However, this solution is not promising with hydrocarbons due to the higher refrigerant charge. All other solutions together give no more effect than roll-bond plates in terms of evaporation temperature at the end of pull-down. Based on experimental results, the prospects of eutectic refrigeration system with natural refrigerants are reviewed. R290 is not suitable for such systems, but R1270 could be used in systems where eutectic plates just need to be crystallized. However, in weight-optimized systems used in refrigerated vans, the evaporation pressure of R1270 would be lower than atmospheric, which is considered unacceptable due to safety requirements. If this provision remains, the eutectic refrigerators with a single-stage vapour compression refrigerating system become impossible, and more complicated cascade system has to be developed.

Simulation Study on Performance of Solar-Powered Desiccant Wheel and Ground Source Heat Pump Air Conditioning in Qingdao

In China, a large amount of the total energy consumption is made up of building energy, particularly in humid regions. The conventional vapor compression refrigeration systems cannot effectively control the indoor humid and thermal environment. Therefore, this article proposes a solar-powered desiccant wheel and ground-source heat pump (SDW-GSHP) air conditioning system. The energy consumption of the system is mainly from sustainable sources of solar and geothermal energy, showcasing excellent energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. The desiccant wheel (DW) processes latent heat loads, and the GSHP processes the sensible heat load. The regeneration air of the DW is heated by a solar collector. The operational performance of the system was simulated by using TRNSYS during the typical summer week (15 July to 22 July) in Qingdao. The simulation results indicated that indoor temperature was maintained within 25.8–26.2 °C and the relative humidity was maintained in the range of 57–61%. The COP of the SDW-GSHP air conditioning system was 42.1% higher than that of the DW air conditioning system with electric heating regeneration, and electricity saved 43.7%.

Agricultural Waste Valorization for Nanoparticles Synthesis and Enhancement of Vapour Compression Refrigeration System’s Performance

Waste management has been a major concern in the society and agricultural wastes can be utilized in the synthesis of nanoparticles and deployed in the vapour compression refrigeration system (VCRS) to enhance its performance. This study analysed the thermophysical properties, performance, energy consumption, pull-down time, and capacities of VCRS using bio-nanoparticles produced from orange and pineapple peels. Eco-friendly refrigerants R600a and R134a with pure polyolester (POE) as the lubricating oil for the compressor were used. The nanolubricants were dispersed in three volume fractions of 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.20% concentration in the lubricant using the two-step method. The degradation of nanolubricants were analysed by examining the thermophysical properties of the nanolubricants before and after use in the VCRS. At 0.2% volume concentration, optimum COP of 6.31 and 5.01 were obtained for pineapple and orange peels respectively for R600a. The nanolubricants of orange peels with the volume fraction of 0.2% had the best pull-down time with a temperature of-2oC. The lowest power consumption was observed for 0.1% volume concentration of pineapple nanolubricants while 0.2% volume concentration of orange nanolubricants was observed to have the least power consumption. Considering the R134a refrigerant, the volume concentration with the optimum COP was 0.1 vol% concentration for the orange bio-based nanolubricants with an increase in the COP of 36.3% when compared with pure R134a while 0.2 vol% had the best pull-down time with a temperature of-3oC. There was a 14.2% drop in the power consumption of 0.1 vol% concentration of pineapple nanolubricants when compared to the various concentrations of the bio-based nanolubricants. From this study, the optimum performance was observed at 0.20 vol% concentration for the orange and pineapple nanolubricants with a relatively less power consumption. R600a refrigerant can completely replace R134a in its use in refrigeration systems and achieve similar pull-down time and coefficient of performance when bio-nanolubricants are utilized in the systems.

Analysis of cascade vapor compression refrigeration system using nanorefrigerants: Energy, exergy, and environmental (3E)

Nanorefrigerants are considered the most efficient heat transfer fluids for improving heat transfer properties in the refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. For the first time in this study, energy, exergy, and environmental evaluation (3E) analyses were performed by the addition of different nanoparticles to a low GWP refrigerant pair such as R290/R1233ZDE in a cascade refrigeration system. CNT, CuO, and, TiO2 nanoparticles were added to the refrigerant. The effect of nanoparticles on the cascade refrigeration system was analyzed using a model based on density changes. A detailed thermodynamic analysis was performed of the cascade refrigeration system at different evaporator temperatures and mass ratios. The power consumption of the compressor decreases as the evaporator temperature increases for all types of nanoparticles, resulting in an increase in COP values. The analyses showed that CuO nanoparticles had the highest performance. It has been observed that the energy and exergy efficiency increase as compressor work decreases with increasing mass ratios in all nanorefrigerants. In addition, the results indicated that all nanorefrigerants emit lower monthly CO2 emissions compared to the pure refrigerants. The nanorefrigerants play a crucial role in reducing energy consumption and promoting environmental protection compared to traditional refrigerants.