Title: Comparative exergetic, economic and exergoeconomic analyses of a hybrid cascade refrigeration system using ammonia-propane, propane-propylene and isobutane-propane refrigerant pairs

Authors: Kaushalendra Kumar Singh; Rajesh Kumar; Anjana Gupta

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, 110042, India; Department of Mechanical Engineering, G.L. Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201308, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, 110042, India ' Department of Applied Mathematics, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, 110042, India

Abstract: In the present study a comparative exergetic, economic and exergoeconomic analysis is done on a hybrid cascade refrigeration system using ammonia-propane, propane-propylene and isobutane-propane refrigerant pairs. Overall system cost rate, component-wise exergy destruction rates, exergetic efficiencies and exergoeconomic factors are investigated for the three refrigerant pairs at thermodynamic optimal operating conditions. The study concludes that ammonia-propane is the best refrigerant pair with maximum exergetic efficiency of 24.83% and minimum total cost rate of $564,469/yr, whereas isobutane-propane is thermodynamically superior but economically inferior than propane-propylene refrigerant pair.

Keywords: cascade refrigeration system; optimisation; exergy and economic; comparative analysis; exergoeconomic factor; natural refrigerants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2021.118723

International Journal of Exergy, 2021 Vol.36 No.2/3/4, pp.315 - 329

Received: 30 Aug 2020
Accepted: 25 Mar 2021
Published online: 03 Nov 2021 *

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