Experimental Analysis and Optimization of an R744 Transcritical Cycle Working with a Mechanical Subcooling System
In the last century, the refrigerant R744 (carbon dioxide) has become an environmentally friendly solution in commercial refrigeration despite its particular issues related to the low critical temperature. The use of transcritical cycles in warm and hot countries reveals the necessity of adopting di...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3204 |
| _version_ | 1797564698945650688 |
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| author | Daniel Sánchez Jesús Catalán-Gil Ramón Cabello Daniel Calleja-Anta Rodrigo Llopis Laura Nebot-Andrés |
| author_facet | Daniel Sánchez Jesús Catalán-Gil Ramón Cabello Daniel Calleja-Anta Rodrigo Llopis Laura Nebot-Andrés |
| author_sort | Daniel Sánchez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the last century, the refrigerant R744 (carbon dioxide) has become an environmentally friendly solution in commercial refrigeration despite its particular issues related to the low critical temperature. The use of transcritical cycles in warm and hot countries reveals the necessity of adopting different configurations and technologies to improve this specific cycle. Among these, subcooling methods are well-known techniques to enhance the cooling capacity and the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the cycle. In this work, an R600a dedicated mechanical subcooling system has been experimentally tested in an R744 transcritical system at different operating conditions. The results have been compared with those obtained using a suction-to-liquid heat exchanger (IHX) to determine the degree of improvement of the mechanical subcooling system. Using the experimental tests, a computational model has been developed and validated to predict the optimal subcooling degree and the cubic capacity of the mechanical subcooling compressor. Finally, the model has been used to analyze the effect of using different refrigerants in the mechanical subcooling unit finding that the hydrocarbon R290 and the HFC R152a are the most suitable fluids. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:01:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d017c758aef04fa7944c2ee442a06b53 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:01:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-d017c758aef04fa7944c2ee442a06b532023-11-20T04:26:40ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-06-011312320410.3390/en13123204Experimental Analysis and Optimization of an R744 Transcritical Cycle Working with a Mechanical Subcooling SystemDaniel Sánchez0Jesús Catalán-Gil1Ramón Cabello2Daniel Calleja-Anta3Rodrigo Llopis4Laura Nebot-Andrés5Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Jaume I University, E-12071 Castellón, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Jaume I University, E-12071 Castellón, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Jaume I University, E-12071 Castellón, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Jaume I University, E-12071 Castellón, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Jaume I University, E-12071 Castellón, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Jaume I University, E-12071 Castellón, SpainIn the last century, the refrigerant R744 (carbon dioxide) has become an environmentally friendly solution in commercial refrigeration despite its particular issues related to the low critical temperature. The use of transcritical cycles in warm and hot countries reveals the necessity of adopting different configurations and technologies to improve this specific cycle. Among these, subcooling methods are well-known techniques to enhance the cooling capacity and the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the cycle. In this work, an R600a dedicated mechanical subcooling system has been experimentally tested in an R744 transcritical system at different operating conditions. The results have been compared with those obtained using a suction-to-liquid heat exchanger (IHX) to determine the degree of improvement of the mechanical subcooling system. Using the experimental tests, a computational model has been developed and validated to predict the optimal subcooling degree and the cubic capacity of the mechanical subcooling compressor. Finally, the model has been used to analyze the effect of using different refrigerants in the mechanical subcooling unit finding that the hydrocarbon R290 and the HFC R152a are the most suitable fluids.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3204R744CO<sub>2</sub>transcriticalsubcoolingIHXR600a |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Sánchez Jesús Catalán-Gil Ramón Cabello Daniel Calleja-Anta Rodrigo Llopis Laura Nebot-Andrés Experimental Analysis and Optimization of an R744 Transcritical Cycle Working with a Mechanical Subcooling System Energies R744 CO<sub>2</sub> transcritical subcooling IHX R600a |
| title | Experimental Analysis and Optimization of an R744 Transcritical Cycle Working with a Mechanical Subcooling System |
| title_full | Experimental Analysis and Optimization of an R744 Transcritical Cycle Working with a Mechanical Subcooling System |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Analysis and Optimization of an R744 Transcritical Cycle Working with a Mechanical Subcooling System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Analysis and Optimization of an R744 Transcritical Cycle Working with a Mechanical Subcooling System |
| title_short | Experimental Analysis and Optimization of an R744 Transcritical Cycle Working with a Mechanical Subcooling System |
| title_sort | experimental analysis and optimization of an r744 transcritical cycle working with a mechanical subcooling system |
| topic | R744 CO<sub>2</sub> transcritical subcooling IHX R600a |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3204 |
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