Enhancement of a R-410A Reclamation Process Using Various Heat-Pump-Assisted Distillation Configurations

Distillation for R-410A reclamation from a waste refrigerant is an energy-intensive process. Thus, various heat pump configurations were proposed to enhance the energy efficiency of existing conventional distillation columns for separating R-410A and R-22. One new heat pump configuration combining a...

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Main Authors: Nguyen Van Duc Long, Thi Hiep Han, Dong Young Lee, Sun Yong Park, Byeng Bong Hwang, Moonyong Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3776
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author Nguyen Van Duc Long
Thi Hiep Han
Dong Young Lee
Sun Yong Park
Byeng Bong Hwang
Moonyong Lee
author_facet Nguyen Van Duc Long
Thi Hiep Han
Dong Young Lee
Sun Yong Park
Byeng Bong Hwang
Moonyong Lee
author_sort Nguyen Van Duc Long
collection DOAJ
description Distillation for R-410A reclamation from a waste refrigerant is an energy-intensive process. Thus, various heat pump configurations were proposed to enhance the energy efficiency of existing conventional distillation columns for separating R-410A and R-22. One new heat pump configuration combining a vapor compression (VC) heat pump with cold water and hot water cycles was suggested for easy operation and control. Both advantages and disadvantages of each heat pump configuration were also evaluated. The results showed that the mechanical vapor recompression heat pump with top vapor superheating saved up to 29.5%, 100.0%, and 10.5% of the energy required in the condenser duty, reboiler duty, and operating cost, respectively, compared to a classical heat pump system, and 85.2%, 100.0%, and 60.8%, respectively, compared to the existing conventional column. In addition, this work demonstrated that the operating pressure of a VC heat pump could be lower than that of the existing distillation column, allowing for an increase in capacity of up to 20%. In addition, replacing the throttle valve with a hydraulic turbine showed isentropic expansion can decrease the operating cost by up to 20.9% as compared to the new heat pump configuration without a hydraulic turbine. Furthermore, the reduction in carbon dioxide emission was investigated to assess the environmental impact of all proposed sequences.
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spelling doaj.art-a62aa1802e5449bba1690cd1dcde862d2022-12-22T02:55:17ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-10-011219377610.3390/en12193776en12193776Enhancement of a R-410A Reclamation Process Using Various Heat-Pump-Assisted Distillation ConfigurationsNguyen Van Duc Long0Thi Hiep Han1Dong Young Lee2Sun Yong Park3Byeng Bong Hwang4Moonyong Lee5School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, KoreaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, KoreaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, KoreaOunR2tech Co., Ltd, Pohang 37553, KoreaOunR2tech Co., Ltd, Pohang 37553, KoreaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, KoreaDistillation for R-410A reclamation from a waste refrigerant is an energy-intensive process. Thus, various heat pump configurations were proposed to enhance the energy efficiency of existing conventional distillation columns for separating R-410A and R-22. One new heat pump configuration combining a vapor compression (VC) heat pump with cold water and hot water cycles was suggested for easy operation and control. Both advantages and disadvantages of each heat pump configuration were also evaluated. The results showed that the mechanical vapor recompression heat pump with top vapor superheating saved up to 29.5%, 100.0%, and 10.5% of the energy required in the condenser duty, reboiler duty, and operating cost, respectively, compared to a classical heat pump system, and 85.2%, 100.0%, and 60.8%, respectively, compared to the existing conventional column. In addition, this work demonstrated that the operating pressure of a VC heat pump could be lower than that of the existing distillation column, allowing for an increase in capacity of up to 20%. In addition, replacing the throttle valve with a hydraulic turbine showed isentropic expansion can decrease the operating cost by up to 20.9% as compared to the new heat pump configuration without a hydraulic turbine. Furthermore, the reduction in carbon dioxide emission was investigated to assess the environmental impact of all proposed sequences.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3776distillationheat pumphydraulic turbinerefrigerant reclamationr-410asuperheating
spellingShingle Nguyen Van Duc Long
Thi Hiep Han
Dong Young Lee
Sun Yong Park
Byeng Bong Hwang
Moonyong Lee
Enhancement of a R-410A Reclamation Process Using Various Heat-Pump-Assisted Distillation Configurations
Energies
distillation
heat pump
hydraulic turbine
refrigerant reclamation
r-410a
superheating
title Enhancement of a R-410A Reclamation Process Using Various Heat-Pump-Assisted Distillation Configurations
title_full Enhancement of a R-410A Reclamation Process Using Various Heat-Pump-Assisted Distillation Configurations
title_fullStr Enhancement of a R-410A Reclamation Process Using Various Heat-Pump-Assisted Distillation Configurations
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement of a R-410A Reclamation Process Using Various Heat-Pump-Assisted Distillation Configurations
title_short Enhancement of a R-410A Reclamation Process Using Various Heat-Pump-Assisted Distillation Configurations
title_sort enhancement of a r 410a reclamation process using various heat pump assisted distillation configurations
topic distillation
heat pump
hydraulic turbine
refrigerant reclamation
r-410a
superheating
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3776
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