Performance evaluation of an ejector subcooled vapor-compression refrigeration cycle

Abstract In this study, a novel vapor-compression refrigeration cycle with mechanical subcooling using an ejector is proposed to improve the performance of a conventional single-stage vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. In the theoretical study, a mathematical model is developed to predict the performance of the cycle by using R404A and R290, and then compared with that of the conventional refrigeration cycle. The simulation results show that the performance of the ejector subcooled cycle is better than that of the conventional cycle. When the evaporator temperature ranges from −40 to −10 °C and the condenser temperature is 45 °C, the novel cycle displays volumetric refrigeration capacity improvements of 11.7% with R404A and 7.2% with R290. And the novel cycle achieves COP improvements of 9.5% with R404A and 7.0% with R290. In addition, the improvement of the COP and cooling capacity of this novel cycle largely depends on the operation pressures of the ejector. The potential practical advantages offered by the cycle may be worth further attention in future studies.

[1]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  Progress of mathematical modeling on ejectors , 2009 .

[2]  J. U. Ahamed,et al.  A review on exergy analysis of vapor compression refrigeration system , 2011 .

[3]  Mohamed A. Antar,et al.  Experimental energetic analysis of a vapor compression refrigeration system with dedicated mechanical sub-cooling , 2013 .

[4]  Armin Hafner,et al.  1D Computational model of a two-phase R744 ejector for expansion work recovery. , 2011 .

[5]  S. Klein,et al.  NIST Standard Reference Database 23: NIST Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Refrigerants and Refrigerant Mixtures-REFPROP, Version 6.0 | NIST , 1998 .

[6]  I. Sârbu,et al.  A review on substitution strategy of non-ecological refrigerants from vapour compression-based refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems , 2014 .

[7]  Jianlin Yu,et al.  Applying mechanical subcooling to ejector refrigeration cycle for improving the coefficient of performance , 2007 .

[8]  Saffa Riffat,et al.  Recent developments in ejector refrigeration technologies , 2013 .

[9]  Jianyong Chen,et al.  Investigation of ejectors in refrigeration system: Optimum performance evaluation and ejector area ratios perspectives , 2014 .

[10]  Rita Mastrullo,et al.  Replacement of R404A with propane in a light commercial vertical freezer: A parametric study of performances for different system architectures , 2014 .

[11]  Stefan Elbel,et al.  Historical and present developments of ejector refrigeration systems with emphasis on transcritical carbon dioxide air-conditioning applications , 2011 .

[12]  Syed M. Zubair,et al.  The effect of refrigerant combinations on performance of a vapor compression refrigeration system with dedicated mechanical sub-cooling , 2012 .

[13]  Yunho Hwang,et al.  CO2 transcritical vapor compression cycle with thermoelectric subcooler , 2012 .

[14]  Ji Hwan Jeong,et al.  The selection of volume ratio of two-stage rotary compressor and its effects on air-to-water heat pump with flash tank cycle , 2013 .

[15]  Syed M. Zubair,et al.  Mechanical sub-cooling vapor compression systems: Current status and future directions , 2013 .

[16]  Liang Yang,et al.  Analysis on energy saving potential of integrated supermarket HVAC and refrigeration systems using multiple subcoolers , 2010 .

[17]  Marc A. Rosen,et al.  Thermodynamic analysis and comparison of combined ejector–absorption and single effect absorption refrigeration systems , 2014 .

[18]  Jahar Sarkar.  Performance optimization of transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle with thermoelectric subcooler , 2013 .

[19]  Eckhard A. Groll,et al.  Study of ejector efficiencies in refrigeration cycles , 2013 .

[20]  Predrag Stojan Hrnjak,et al.  Experimental validation of a prototype ejector designed to reduce throttling losses encountered in transcritical R744 system operation , 2008 .

[21]  Syed M. Zubair,et al.  The impact of fouling on performance of a vapor compression refrigeration system with integrated mechanical sub-cooling system , 2012 .

[22]  Xianbiao Bu,et al.  Performance characteristics of R1234yf ejector-expansion refrigeration cycle , 2014 .

[23]  Savvas A. Tassou,et al.  Comparative energy and exergy analysis of R744, R404A and R290 refrigeration cycles , 2009 .

[24]  Farid Nasir Ani,et al.  A review on two-phase ejector as an expansion device in vapor compression refrigeration cycle , 2012 .

[25]  A. Khalil,et al.  Ejector design and theoretical study of R134a ejector refrigeration cycle , 2011 .

[26]  J. Navarro-Esbrí,et al.  Theoretical comparison of low GWP alternatives for different refrigeration configurations taking R404A as baseline , 2014 .

[27]  Xiaosong Zhang,et al.  Thermodynamic analysis of a novel energy-efficient refrigeration system subcooled by liquid desiccant dehumidification and evaporation , 2014 .

[28]  Yuehong Su,et al.  Theoretical studies of a hybrid ejector CO2 compression cooling system for vehicles and preliminary experimental investigations of an ejector cycle , 2013 .

[29]  Pedro J. Mago,et al.  An examination of regenerative organic Rankine cycles using dry fluids , 2008 .

[30]  Luca Cecchinato,et al.  Design and experimental analysis of a carbon dioxide transcritical chiller for commercial refrigeration , 2008 .

[31]  Ramón Cabello,et al.  Experimental Energetic Analysis of the Subcooler System in a Two-Stage Refrigeration Facility Driven by a Compound Compressor , 2009 .

[32]  Jiangfeng Wang,et al.  Parametric optimization and comparative study of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for low grade waste heat recovery , 2009 .

[33]  Sih-Li Chen,et al.  Performance enhancement of a subcooled cold storage air conditioning system , 2009 .

[34]  Yu-Fu Kuo,et al.  Performance enhancement of a heat pump system with ice storage subcooler , 2010 .

[35]  Giuseppe Grazzini,et al.  Design of an ejector cycle refrigeration system , 2012 .

[36]  Liang Yang,et al.  On subcooler design for integrated two-temperature supermarket refrigeration system , 2011 .