Performance characteristics of an irreversible magnetic Brayton refrigeration cycle

Based on the thermodynamic properties of a paramagnetic salt, an irreversible model of the magnetic Brayton refrigeration cycle is established, in which the working substance is a special paramagnetic material. The expressions of the important performance parameters, such as the coefficient of performance, refrigeration load and work input, are derived. Moreover, the optimal performance parameters are obtained at the maximum coefficient of performance. The results obtained here may include the ones of the magnetic Brayton refrigeration cycle using the magnetic material obeyed the Curie law as the working substance, the magnetic Brayton refrigeration cycle without regeneration and the eversible magnetic Brayton refrigeration cycle. Therefore, the results obtained here have general significance and will be helpful to deeply understand the performance of a magnetic Brayton refrigeration cycle.     

不可逆回热式玻色布雷顿制冷循环性能分析

基于玻色气体的热力学性质和回热式布雷顿制冷循环的不可逆模型,导出循环的一些重要性能参数,如循环的制冷量、回热量、输入功和性能系数的一般表达式。通过数值计算获得了循环的一些重要的性能特性曲线,分析了循环的不可逆性和回热特性对玻色布雷顿制冷机性能的影响。     

A new thermoeconomic approach and parametric study of an irreversible regenerative Brayton refrigeration cycle

The detailed parametric study of an irreversible regenerative Brayton refrigerator cycle using the new thermoeconomic approach is presented in this paper. The external irreversibility is due to finite temperature difference between the cycle and the external reservoirs while the internal irreversibilities are due to the nonisentropic compression and expansion processes and the regenerative loss. The thermoeconomic objective function defined as the cooling load per unit cost is optimized with respect to the state point temperatures for a typical set of operating conditions. The power input and cooling load are found to be decreasing functions of the expansion outlet temperature (T₁), while it is the reverse in the case of COP. On the other hand, there are optimal values of the temperature T₁, cooling load, power input and COP at which the cycle attains the maximum objective function for a typical set of operating parameters. Again, the objective function, COP and cooling load further enhance, while the power input goes down, as the various values of the effectiveness or efficiency components are increased.     

Research on performance of regenerative room temperature magnetic refrigeration cycle

On the basis of classical Langevin theory along with statistical mechanics, thermodynamics and magnetism, a new expression of magnetocaloric parameters used for room temperature magnetic refrigeration is proposed, which is briefer and more accurate than the existing one, providing a new way for studying performance of regenerative room temperature magnetic Ericsson refrigeration cycle. Influences of temperature of heat reservoirs and magnetic intensity on cycle refrigeration capacity and coefficient of performance are analyzed. The results show that the maximal temperature span of the cycle increases but its increasing rate decreases with the increase of magnetic field strength. In addition, there exists only one maximum value of effective refrigerating capacity. Two cycles with the same COP can reach a same temperature span under a certain magnetic field strength. A large magnetic field strength can improve COP but the increase rate of COP decreases.     

Performance of diffusion absorption refrigeration cycle with organic working fluids

A diffusion absorption refrigeration (DAR) cycle is driven by heat and utilizes a binary solution of refrigerant and absorbent as working fluid, together with an auxiliary inert gas. Commercial DAR systems operate with ammonia–water solution and hydrogen or helium as the inert gas. In this work, the performance of a simplified DAR system working with an organic absorbent (DMAC – dimethylacetamide) and five different refrigerants and helium as inert gas was examined numerically, with the aim of lowering the generator temperature and system pressure along with a non-toxic refrigerant The refrigerants were: chlorodifluoromethane (R22), difluoromethane (R32), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R124), pentafluoroethane (R125) and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a). The results were compared with the performance of the same system working with ammonia–water and helium. Similar behavior was found for all systems, regarding the coefficient of performance (COP) and rich and poor solution concentrations as functions of generator temperature. It was found that typical generator temperature with the new substances was 150 °C, yet lower COPs, higher evaporator temperatures and lower condensation temperature of about 40 °C governed these systems.     

Performance analysis of the ejector-expansion refrigeration cycle using zeotropic mixtures

To evaluate the performance of the ejector-expansion refrigeration cycle (EERC) using zeotropic mixtures, a numerical study is conducted. A constant-pressure two-phase ejector model for zeotropic mixtures is established. The effects of both the fluid composition and the working conditions are investigated. Mixture R134a/R143a is selected as the working and the simulation results reveal that, the cycle COP increases first and then decreases as MF_t (the mass fraction of R134a) increases in the researched condition. The COP gets a maximum value of 4.18 with MF_t of 0.9 and yields a minimum value of 3.66 with MF_t of 0.5. With mixture 0.9/0.1, the COP improvement reaches a maximum value of 10.47%. This improvement rises at high condensing temperature or low evaporating temperature. The exergy analysis shows that the compressor and ejector contribute the most exergy destruction, and the cycle exergy efficiency achieves a maximum value with MF_t of 0.7.     

A combined-cycle refrigeration system using ejector-cooling cycle as the bottom cycle

A combined-cycle refrigeration system (CCRS) that comprises a conventional refrigeration and air-conditioning system using mechanical compressor (RAC/MC) and an ejector-cooling cycle (EJC) is proposed and studied. The EJC is driven by the waste heat from the RAC/MC and acts as the bottom cycle of the RAC/MC. A system analysis shows that the COP of a CCRS is significantly higher than a single-stage refrigeration system. Improvement in COP can be as high as 18.4% for evaporating temperature of the RAC/MC T_e at −5°C. A prototype of the CCRS was built and tested in the present study. Experimental results show that at T_e=−4.5°C, COP is improved by 14% for a CCRS. For T_e at 5°C, COP can be improved by 24% for a CCRS with higher condensing temperature of the RAC/MC. The present study shows that the CCRS using the ejector-cooling cycle as the bottom cycle of the RAC/MC is viable. Further improvement in COP is possible since the prototype is not designed and operated at an optimal condition.     

Thermodynamic optimization of combined power and refrigeration cycle using binary organic working fluid

A combined cycle has been proposed for the production of power and refrigeration simultaneously. The cycle can be driven by low grade heat sources such as solar, geothermal and waste heat sources. In the first part of this paper, a model has been developed to perform a parametric analysis to evaluate the effects of important parameters on the performance of the cycle, which is a combination of Rankine and absorption refrigeration cycle. Propane–decane has been used as an organic dual working fluid. In the second part, multi objective genetic algorithm is applied for Pareto approach optimization of the cycle. There are three important conflicting objectives namely, turbine work (W_t), cooling capacity (Q_c) and thermal efficiency (η_th) which have been selected to find the best possible combination of these performance parameters. Optimization has been carried out by varying turbine inlet pressure, superheated temperature and condenser temperature as design variables. Among optimum design parameters, a trade-off point is selected. Turbine inlet pressure, superheated temperature and condenser temperature are assumed to be 29.5 bar, 410 K and 386.6 K respectively as the values assigned to this point. Furthermore, it has been shown that some interesting and important relationships can be discovered among optimal objective functions and decision variables involved, consequently.     

Performance research of self regenerated absorption heat transformer cycle using TFE-NMP as working fluids

A heat transformer is proposed in order to upgrade low-temperature-level energy to a higher level and to recover more energy in low-temperature-level waste heat. It is difficult to achieve both purposes at the same time using a conventional heat transformer cycle and classical working pairs, such as H₂O–LiBr and HN₃–H₂O. The new organic working pair, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE)-N-methylpyrolidone (NMP), has some advantages compared with H₂O–LiBr and NH₃–H₂O. One of the most important features is the wide working range as a result of the absence of crystallization, the low working pressure, the low freezing temperature of the refrigerant and the good thermal stability of the mixtures at high temperatures. Meanwhile, it has some negative features like NH₃–H₂O. For example, there is a lower boiling temperature difference between TFE and NMP, so a rectifier is needed in refrigeration and heat pump systems. Because TFE–NMP has a wide working range and does not cause crystallization, it can be used as the working pair in the self regenerated absorption heat transformer (SRAHT) cycle. In fact, the SRAHT cycle is the generator–absorber heat exchanger (GAX) cycle applied in a heat transformer cycle. In this paper, the SRAHT cycle and its flow diagram are shown and the computing models of the SRAHT cycle are presented. Thermal calculations of the SRAHT cycle under summer and winter season conditions have been worked out. From the results of the thermal calculations, it can be found that there is a larger temperature drop when the waste hot water flows through the generator and the evaporator in the SRAHT cycle but the heating temperature can be kept the same. That means more energy in the waste heat source can be recovered by the SRAHT cycle.     

Experimental investigation on the performance of the refrigeration cycle using a two-phase ejector as an expansion device

In the present study, new experimental data on the performance of a never before seen two-phase ejector refrigeration cycle (TPERC) is presented. In this cycle, a two-phase ejector is used as an expansion device. The TPERC enables the evaporator to operate as in a liquid-recirculation system. The results are compared with those of the conventional refrigeration cycle (CRC). The effects of external parameters, i.e., heat sink and heat source temperatures on the system performance are discussed. The results show that the coefficient of performance of the TPERC is higher than that of the CRC over the whole range of experimental conditions. This is due to a higher refrigerant-side heat transfer coefficient in the evaporator, resulting from the higher refrigerant mass flow rate passing through the evaporator. However, the increase becomes relatively smaller as the heat sink temperature increases.     

R22替代工质回热循环的性能分析

R22的替代工质的制冷性能通常比R22差，采用回热循环是改善循环性能的一种方法，但是增加回热器会带来成本的增加，而且不同的制冷剂在回热循环中的COP及容积制冷量的变化也是不同的。针对上述问题，分析回热循环的特性和6种制冷剂（R290，R1270，R134a／R1270（0．45／0．55），R134a／R290（0．6／0．4），R407C和R410A）在回热循环中的容积制冷量和COP的变化特点。研究结果表明，R134a,／R1270，R290和R134a／R290系统使用回热器后，性能改善较大，R410A系统只有在高冷凝温度、高过热度时才有必要使用回热器，其余替代工质系统使用回热器，其系统性能改善不明显。     

Mechanical refrigeration using an ejector-injector to transfer the working fluid from the evaporator to the condenser

The refrigeration plant described in this paper uses an ejector-injector instead of a compressor to pump the freezing mixture from the evaporator to the condenser. A pump draws the liquid from the condenser and pumps it to another vessel. Before the ejector-injector, a heat exchanger preheats the refrigerating fluid to speed up the mixing with steam ejected from the evaporator. The steam is compressed using kinetic energy in the ejector-injector and the pump supplies a discharge pressure to operate the plant. The heat transfer fluid, the condensing and evaporating pressures and the energy losses determine the operating features of the plant. Energy saving is obtained using such an ejector-injector and it provides a simple method of refrigeration. The operating conditions were optimized in this study and the feasibility of the plant was confirmed.     

以外供液氮替代膨胀机的深度冷冻循环

介绍空分制氮装置采用膨胀机循环与液氮循环的两种工艺流程及能量平衡 ,示出了两种循环的实例比较。指出外供液氮可以作为冷源替代膨胀机 ,且单耗低、操作更方便 ,设备维护量更小、氮气提取率更高     

Effect of throat diameters of the ejector on the performance of the refrigeration cycle using a two-phase ejector as an expansion device

This paper is a part in a series that reports on the experimental study of the performance of the two-phase ejector expansion refrigeration cycle. In the present study, three two-phase ejectors are used as an expansion device in the refrigeration cycle. The effects of throat diameter of the motive nozzle, on the coefficient of performance, primary mass flow rate of the refrigerant, secondary mass flow rate of the refrigerant, recirculation ratio, average evaporator pressure, compressor pressure ratio, discharge temperature and cooling capacity, which have never before appeared in open literature, are presented. The effects of the heat sink and heat source temperatures on the system performance are also discussed.     

Impact of the initial field on the thermodynamic performance of room-temperature magnetic refrigeration cycle

The thermodynamic cycle performance of Gadolinium (Gd) and Gd_0.87Dy_0.13 used as the working substance in regeneration magnetic Brayton and Ericsson refrigeration cycles are investigated under different external magnetic field conditions. Based on the experimental iso-field heat capacities of Gd with different magnetic fields, the effects of magnetic field change on thermodynamic performances including the magnetic entropy change, cooling quantity, non-perfect regeneration, net cooling quantity, and coefficient of performance (COP) are analyzed and discussed. The present work shows the possibility of reducing the regenerative losses and thereby improving the net cooling quantity for a given field change by selecting optimal initial and final magnetic field values. The similar analysis and calculation of the related thermodynamic performances are further applied to the magnetic material Gd_0.87Dy_0.13 which exhibits better net cooling quantities when compared to Gd at low temperature.     

Performance analysis of vapor compression refrigeration system using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system

In this work, an experimental investigation is carried out with R134a and LPG refrigerant mixture (composed of R134a and LPG in the ratio of 28:72 by weight) as an alternative to R134a in a vapor compression refrigeration system. Performance tests were performed with different evaporator temperatures under controlled ambient conditions. The results showed that the R134a/LPG mixture has a higher coefficient of performance (COP) than R134a by about 15.28% in the studied range. The applicability of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to predict the COP of R134a/LPG system was also investigated. An ANFIS model for the system was developed. The comparison of statistical analysis of mathematical and ANFIS model predictions respectively in terms of the absolute fraction of variance (0.982 and 0.994), the root mean square error (0.0056 and 0.0050) and the mean absolute percentage error (0.286% and 0.217%) showed that ANFIS model gave the better statistical prediction efficiency.     

Investigation of dry ice blockage in an ultra-low temperature cascade refrigeration system using CO2 as a working fluid

Dry ice blockage in a CO₂-solid-gas-flow-based ultra-low temperature cascade refrigeration system is investigated experimentally by a visualization test and a system study of the liquid CO₂ blew into an expansion tube through a Throttle needle valve. The visualization test shows that dry ice sedimentation occurs in low flow velocity and the dry ice formation makes the heat transfer behavior of CO₂ complicated. The sedimentation also occurs at low condensation temperature and low heating power input. Based on the present investigation, it is found that the present ultra-low temperature cascade refrigeration system is better to work at heating power input above 900 W and condensation temperature above −20 °C. At suitable operating condition, the present ultra-low temperature cascade refrigeration system has been shown the capability of achieving ultra-low temperature −62 °C continuously and stably.     

Application of an ejector in autocascade refrigeration cycle for the performance improvement

This paper presented a novel autocascade refrigeration cycle (NARC) with an ejector. In the NARC, the ejector is used to recover some available work to increase the compressor suction pressure. The NARC enables the compressor to operate at lower pressure ratio, which in turn improves the cycle performance. Theoretical computation model based on the constant pressure-mixing model for the ejector is used to perform a thermodynamic cycle analysis for the NARC with the refrigerant mixture of R23/R134a. The effects of some main parameters on cycle performance were investigated. The results show the NARC has an outstanding merit in decreasing the pressure ratio of compressor as well as increasing the COP. For NARC operated at the condenser outlet temperature of 40 °C, the evaporator inlet temperature of −40.3 °C, and the mass fraction of R23 is 0.15, the pressure ratio of the ejector reaches to 1.35, the pressure ratio of compressor is reduced by 25.8% and the COP is improved by 19.1% over the conventional autocascade refrigeration cycle.     

以跨临界CO_2-离子液体[bmim]PF_6为工质对的吸收式制冷循环性能分析

选择跨临界CO2-[bmim]PF6作为新型的吸收式制冷工质对,考察了CO2在离子液体[bmim]PF6中的溶解度和CO2-[bmim]PF6工质体系的热物性.计算了在给定工况下循环的制冷特性并对结果进行了分析与讨论.     

Experimental evaluation of the inter-stage conditions of a two-stage refrigeration cycle using a compound compressor

The aim of the present paper is to detail an analysis, based on experimental data, of the inter-stage working conditions of a two-stage vapour compression facility equipped with a compound compressor, which operates with the most usual inter-stage configurations (two-stage with direct liquid injection and two-stage with subcooler) in medium- and low-capacity commercial refrigeration applications. The experimental analysis is performed in an evaporating temperature range between ?36 and ?20 °C, and in a condensing temperature range between 30 and 47 °C, using one of the fluids most widely-used in Europe for low-temperature applications, the R-404a. The inter-stage working temperature/pressure obtained in the tests has been contrasted with the two usual criterion of the optimum working conditions definition: the arithmetical mean of the refrigerant condensing and evaporating temperatures and the criterion of equal pressure ratios in both stages. This paper presents the differences and affinities with the criterion and analyses the influence of the intermediate systems (direct liquid injection and subcooler) on the inter-stage operating conditions.