Title: Experimental performance and enhanced exergy analysis of a domestic refrigerator

Authors: Sunday O. Oyedepo; Damola S. Adelekan; Toluwanimi J. Laoye; Victor N. Etta; James A. Adeyemi; Joseph A. Oyebanji; Richard O. Leramo; David O. Ariyo; Bahaa Saleh; Abdullah A. Algethami

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Nigeria ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria ' Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Nigeria ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Nigeria ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Experimental performance and enhanced exergy analysis of a domestic refrigerator is carried out in this study using pure LPG and LPG/R134A blends as refrigerants. The investigation was carried out under natural and forced convection conditions. Results of the study show that the least exergy destruction of 0.53 kW was recorded when LPG/R134A (50:50) blend was used under forced convection. On the component-wise exergy-analysis, the evaporator has the highest exergetic efficiency (40.6-95.4%) for all the refrigerants used. This study reveals existence of strong interconnections among the components. Also, the endogenous avoidable is much higher than the exogenous avoidable exergy destruction for all components.

Keywords: enhanced exergy; exergetic efficiency; irreversibility; endogeneous exergy destruction; exogeneous exergy destruction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2026.153927

International Journal of Exergy, 2026 Vol.50 No.1, pp.71 - 93

Published online: 08 Jun 2026 *

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