Thermodynamic Analysis of Vapour Compression Refrigeration System with Sustainable Refrigerant Blends as Alternatives to Replace R22

The phase out schedule of a hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant R22 demands the development of ecofriendly refrigerants. Since R22 has adverse ecological effects like high ODP and high GWP. Hence the present paper emphasis on the thermodynamic analysis of vapour compression refrigeration system with various ozone friendly refrigerant blends as an alternatives to R22. In this work eight refrigerant mixtures composed of R290, R134a, R152a, R125 and R32 at various compositions are developed. All the developed refrigerants possess zero ODP and low GWP compared to R22. The main objective of the present work is to compute the thermodynamic performance parameters of R22 and its alternatives based on actual vapour compression refrigeration cycle. The performance parameters of all the eight investigated refrigerants are computed at evaporating and condensing temperature of 7.2oC and 54.4oC respectively by using a MATLAB code. The results showed that COP of a refrigerant mixture RM40 (3.541) is higher among eight studied refrigerants and it is 0.2 % higher than the COP of R22 (3.534). GWP of RM40 (10) is lowest among the R22 and eight studied refrigerants. The compressor discharge temperature of RM40 is lower among the eight studied refrigerants and it is reduced by 6.6oC when compared to R22. Power spent per ton of refrigeration of RM40 (0.992 kW/TR) is lower among the eight studied blends and it is marginally lower than that of R22 (0.994 kW/TR). Volumetric refrigeration of capacity of RM40 (2837 kJ/m3) is higher among the eight investigated refrigerant blends and it is closer to that of volumetric capacity of R22 (3086 kJ/m3). Overall the thermodynamic performance of new binary blend RM40 (R290/R152a 95/5 by mass %) is very close to R22 and hence it is a sustainable alternative refrigerant to replace R22