Title: Exergy assessment on multi-evaporator cascade refrigeration system using R515B/R170 refrigerant pair: an experimental study

Authors: Parthiban Kasi; M. Cheralathan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603203, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603203, India

Abstract: This research explores the exergy analysis of a multiple evaporator cascade refrigeration system (MECRS), employing R515B for the higher temperature cycle and R170 for the lower temperature cycle. The MECRS achieves a maximum exergy efficiency of 28.27% and a minimum efficiency of 16.47% under both food storage and non-food storage conditions. Despite its lower exergy efficiency compared to conventional systems, the MECRS outperforms them in terms of coefficient of performance (COP) due to its utilisation of multiple evaporators in the low temperature circuit. According to this exergy analysis, refrigerant R515B is identified as the preferable choice for HTC, while refrigerant R170 is recommended as the better replacement for LTC.

Keywords: cascade refrigeration; exergy analysis; exergy efficiency; R515B; R170; coefficient of performance; COP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2024.142622

International Journal of Exergy, 2024 Vol.45 No.3/4, pp.159 - 174

Received: 27 May 2024
Accepted: 30 Jul 2024
Published online: 12 Nov 2024 *

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