Performance Simulation of Vapour Compression Refrigeration Systems Using Ozone-Friendly Hydro-Fluorocarbon Refrigerants

Abstract

This paper presents the performance of four hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants (R125, R134a, R143a and R152a) selected to replace ozone depleting refrigerant in the existing vapour compression refrigeration systems using thermodynamic simulator. The performance in term of refrigeration capacities (RC), compressor work (Wc) and coefficient of performance (COP) were evaluated for the investigated refrigerants at various evaporating and condensing temperatures. The system performance increases as the evaporating temperature increases, but reduces as the condensing temperature increases. The results showed that R134a and R152a have thermodynamic performances similar to R12, while deviations of performances of R125 and R143a from that of R12 were very large. The overall assessment of the results for the R134a and R152a refrigerants, and the consideration of their global warming potentials (GWPs) showed that R152a will be a better alternative refrigerant than R134a in refrigeration system.