Title: Assessment of thermodynamic and environmental performances in subcooling process for different refrigerants

Authors: Onder Altuntas; M. Ziya Sogut; Enver Yalcin; T. Hikmet Karakoc

Addresses: Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Anadolu University, TR26470, Eskisehir, Turkey ' Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Anadolu University, TR26470, Eskisehir, Turkey ' Engineering Faculty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Balikesir University, TR10145, Balikesir, Turkey ' Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Anadolu University, TR26470, Eskisehir, Turkey

Abstract: Subcooling application in cooling processes leads to increasing of cooling performance and energy efficiency within defined limits. This study examines subcooling effects of refrigerants on the coefficient of performance (COP), exergy efficiency and environmental performances based on total equivalent warming impact (TEWI) and human health damage (HDD), which are considered environmental parameters, by considering different refrigerants. In the analyses, direct expansion (DX) system, which is used commonly in supermarkets, and the evaporator temperatures of the system 238 and 273 K are taken as reference. In addition, current refrigerants R-22, R-404A and R-507 and the alternative refrigerant R-407C are examined separately. The results of analyses show that the subcooling of 5 K in condenser causes energy saving between 4% and 8% as depending on the refrigerants and provides an increase as the exergy efficiency between 3% and 25%. Besides, HDD and TEWI values also decrease with increasing of subcooling temperature. At the end of the study, effect on system performance of subcooling processes was emphasised as related to exergy and TEWI analyses.

Keywords: DX systems; COP; coefficient of performance; refrigerants; exergy analyses; CO2 emission.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2017.087655

International Journal of Exergy, 2017 Vol.24 No.2/3/4, pp.216 - 234

Received: 24 Nov 2016
Accepted: 22 Apr 2017

Published online: 30 Oct 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article