AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

2011, Science Hu, http://www.scihub.org/AJSIR ISSN: 2153-649X doi:10.5251/ajsir.2011.2.4.504.510

Validation of a vapour compression refrigeration system design model

M. A. Akintunde Federal University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PMB. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, +2348.35011797, [email protected]
ABSTRACT This paper presents the validation of a design model for vapour compression refrigeration systems developed by Akintunde (2004a). This model was used to design a vapour compression refrigeration system. The experimental set-up is made up of: a compressor- reciprocating type, 0.746 kW capacity, using R134a as working fluid, with cylinder stoke volume of 32.7 cm2; evaporator and condenser, bare coil tube-in-tube serpentine copper coil. The cycle performance was evaluated through the following parameters; Cooling load (Qe); Condensing load (Qc); Coefficient of performance (COP) and mass flow rate. The R values (calculating using excel) of the COPs under subcooling and superheating with the degree of subcooling and superheating conditions were 80.7% and 88% respectively. While the correlations between the COPs under the same conditions were 88% and 99.9%. The present analysis showed that the model results are comparable to the actual system from both quantitative and qualitative points of view. Under the same operational conditions, maximum absolute deviations of the variable parameters mass flow rate, COP and circulating water temperature, are within the range of 16%. Keywords: validation, evaluation, COP, alternative, refrigerant, INTRODUCTION The application of vapour compression system cycles, using R-12 and R-22 and other halocarbon compounds, had gone deep in the field of refrigeration and air-conditioning before the advent of ozone depletion. It is a known fact that the working fluids used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems are to be phased out (Mahmoud et al., 2002; Hafez and Rahman, 1992; Ko et al., 1993). Resulting from the ozone depletion potentials of these working fluids and the consequences effects of the phasing out of these fluids, researchers are focused on identifying alternative working fluids. Statt (1990) studied potential substitute refrigerants for centrifugal chillers that use R-12. The alternatives were required to have normal boiling points close to that of R-12. He found thirteen (13) compounds that satisfied this criterion. These are: R-115; 500, 502, 505, 506, which are already banned R-161 which is highly toxic; R-143a, 152a which are slightly flammable and R-22, 124, 125, 134 and 134a which are nonflammable. There are many other works published on the alternatives to R-12 and other ozone depletion refrigerants, some of these are: Kutter (1988); Clark, (1999); Eckels and Tesene (2003); Eckels and Tesene (2004); Sand et al., (1990); Crow et al., (1992). It has been concluded by many researchers that from thermodynamic point of view R-134a is closely related to R-12 in most important thermodynamic properties of refrigerants (Bolaji, 2008; Akintunde, 2007; Calm, 2002; Kim et al., 2002). Although, R-134a is presently been used as one of the best alternatives to R-12, there are still some notable problems. Statt (1990), reported that R-22 and R-134a will decrease both the capacity and efficiency by 5 to 10%. Al-Rabghi (1996), compared the theoretical performance of three candidate substitutes, R-22; R-717 and R-134a, in a one ton refrigeration system R-12 based unit with an evaporating temperature of 10o C and 55oC condensing temperature. The result showed that R134a decreases both the coefficient of performance (COP) and the capacity by 6.0% and 15.9% respectively. Veneyard et al., (1989), reported that R134a had higher energy consumption than R-12 by 7.8%. Due to these discrepancies it was believed that the systems using R-12 should be redesigned to accommodate R-134a. Kamei et al., (1990); Pannock et al., (1994) and Linton et al., (1992), studied the performance of R134a, R-152a and R-12. They concluded that new R134a systems could be designed to outperform the corresponding R-12 systems by the proper addition of subcooling. Linton et al., (1989), tested the performance of R-134a in a residential exhaust air heat pump designed for R-12. The results showed both refrigerants to have about the same heating (i.e.

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output) capacity, evaporating pressure and evaporating and condensing temperatures. R-134a had higher condensing pressure by about 140 kPa and lower COP by about 15%. The expansion valve required much larger orifice to perform satisfactorily in the case of R-134a. Other proofs can be found in the works of Crown et al., (1992); Abu-Madi et al., (1992) and Hel-Haggar et al., (1996). Akintunde (2004a) and Akintunde (2004b) observed that, the performance of R-134a may be enhanced if the refrigeration systems are redesigned based on thermodynamic properties of the working fluids. He further observed that if balanced points (as suggested by Stoecker and Jones, 1982) between the refrigeration systems components (viz: compressor, condenser, evaporator and expander) are identified and these components can work together at these balanced points then the performance will be improved. He therefore developed a model based on both the balanced points between the system components and the thermodynamic properties of the working fluid. This model was tested by Akintunde et al., (2006) using R12 as working fluid. The test rig used for the experiment consists of a reciprocating type compressor, 0.746 kW with, 32.7 cm2 cylinder; bear coil evaporator made of copper 5.588 mm inner diameter and 6.35 mm outer diameter with tube length of 14.362 m, the condenser was of the same specifications as that of evaporator except that the length was 30.71 m. The developed model (Akintunde, 2004a and b) was used to generate the design data presented above, using condensing temperature of 40oC sub cooled by 5oC and evaporating temperature of -5oC. The generated capillary tube length was 2.0 m which is very much closed to 2.03 m found in ASHRAE (2002) under the same conditions. This system was used to compare the model with an actual system using R-12 as working fluid. Under the same operational conditions, Table 1. Evaporator and condenser specifications. parameters Outer diameter (mm)

maximum absolute deviations of variable parameters mass flow rate; condensing and evaporating temperatures and compressor speed are within the range of 16.15 to 18.50%, though most of the simulated results are within the range of 4.50 to 6.54% from an ideal cycle. In this study, the model developed by Akintunde (2004a) was used to design a refrigeration system using thermodynamic properties of R-134a (Appendix I and II). The system was constructed out of the data generated by this model. The system was used to validate the developed model by comparing experimental results with model results under various conditions. The experimental method follows those of Jabardo et al., (2002), Akintunde et al (2006) and Khan and Zubair (1999). The objectives are to: test and check system and components performance and obtain support data for validation of computer simulation model of the refrigeration system. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental set-up is made up of: a compressor- reciprocating type, 0.746 kW capacity, using R134a as working fluid, with cylinder stoke volume of 32.7 cm2; evaporator and condenser, bare coil tube-in-tube serpentine copper coil. The specifications of both condenser and evaporator are shown in Table 1. Tube-in-tube arrangement was used, to permit circulation of water to vary evaporator and condenser loads. The test sections (Condenser and Evaporator) were counter flow tube-in-tube heat exchangers with refrigerant flowing in tube and water flowing countercurrently in the annulus. The active heat transfer length for condenser is about 10% longer than that of evaporator. This will allow the removal of heat addition from compressor and some degree of subcooling. The degree of sub-cooling will still be enhanced by the flow rate of circulating water.

Inner diameter (mm)

Length (m)

Evaporator Inner tube Outer tube Inner tube Outer tube 9.53 18.43 Condenser 9.53 18.43 8.01 16.91 3.08 3.08 8.01 16.91 3.05 3.05

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The pressure taps of the test sections are formed by drilling small holes through the tube wall. A fitting is then placed over the holes and connected to the pressure line. A 0 MPa to 3.5 MPa capacitance sensing gauge accurate to 4.0 kPa measures the pressure at he test sections. T-type thermocouples

calibrated to 0.15oC measure the fluid temperatures at the inlets and outlets of the test section. Ambient temperature was measured by a digital temperature meter with uncertainty of 0.05oC. A schematic representation of the test rig is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 A schematic representation of the test rig. The cycle performance was evaluated through the following parameters; Cooling load (Qe); Condensing load (Qc); Coefficient of performance (COP) and & mass flow rate ( m ). These parameters were calculated using equations (1) to (4) from Jabardo et al., (2002) and steam table from Stoecker and Jones (1982). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Since the overall system performance is strongly influenced by operational parameters such as the evaporating and condensing temperatures, flow rates of refrigerant and the circulating water and ambient temperature, tests with the experimental rig was planned in such a way as to allow for the evaluations of their effects on COP and various operational conditions. The rig was designed using the developed model with the following inputs: evaporating temperature -5oC, condensing o temperature 40 C, sub-cooled to 5oC and an average ambient temperature of 35oC. Data obtained from the test rig was used to assess the quality of the model relative to the experimental tests. As reported by Lee et al., (2000), the expected charging for the capacity considered in this study should range between 800 (g) and 900 (g) of refrigerant. This is justified experimentally as shown in Fig.2. The refrigerant capacity (or the COP) increases as the charging. This trend continue till 750 (g) was charged into the system. Between 750 g and 900 g there was a partial constant after which there

& Qe = m(hee hei ) & Qc = m(hce hci )

(1) (2) (3) (4)

& P = m(hcpe hcpi )

Qe P

COP =

Where: h is the enthalpy; and the subscripts: ee = evaporator exit; ce = condenser exit; cpe = compressor exit; ei = evaporator inlet; ci = condenser inlet; cpi = compressor inlet.

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was a decrease in COP or refrigeration capacity. A charge ranged between 800 g and 900 g was used during this study. It can be observed also in Fig. 2 that the model and the experimental data followed the same trend. The different may be associated with heat leakage. As for the effect on the mass flow rate, it has been shown in an earlier study that the refrigerant flow rate within

the expected refrigerant (Akintunde et al., 2006).

charge

is

constant

It is interesting to note that the model predicted almost a linear relationship for both refrigeration capacity (Qe) and the COP with evaporator circulating water while the experimental data Fig. 3, justified the same assertion

The variation between the model and the experimental data is due to heat loss, which at present it is almost impossible to prevent since there is no perfect insulation of heat. Considering the results in Fig. 3, the deviation between the model and the experimental results are a maximum of 16 %, for mass flow rate and 18 % for COP. This shows that the model predicts the system performance to a reasonable accuracy for the indicated circulating

water temperature. Correlation between circulating water temperature and the COPs gives a coefficient of 88.4% for R-134a and 89% for the model, the corresponding value between the two COPs is 80.7%. A similar water circulation experiment was performed on condenser. The results showed that, the evaporator pressure was relative constant while the condensing pressure increases slightly. As shown in

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Fig. 4, the refrigerating capacity (or COP) is slightly affected; it decreases as the water temperature increases. This shows that environmental effect may not have significant effect on the performance of the system especially when a balanced point is reached between the major components. The closeness of both model and experimental data showed that the model is justified. The reduction in COP occur as a result of increase in condensing pressure and hence compression work and mass flow rate. Correlation between circulating water temperature and the COPs gives a coefficient of 88.5% for R-134a and 89% for the model; the corresponding value between the two

COPs is 81%. This shows that there no significant effects. As shown in Fig. 5, a linear relationship occurs between the COPs and the degree of subcooling. Also the COPs increase with the degree of subcooling. Correlation between the degree of subcooling and the COPs gives a coefficient of 99.5% for both R-134a and the model, the corresponding value between the two COPs is 99.7%. The same figures were obtained for degrees of superheat. This shows that the model is a prediction of the actual system.

The comparison of this model with others found in the literature is shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, m1 is ASHRAE design equation (1988), m2 is the present

model (Akintunde, 2004a) and m3 is the Chen et als equation (2000).

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CONCLUSION: The overall refrigeration system performance is strongly influenced by the agreement between the major components, viz: condenser, compressor, evaporator and expansion device, and the operational parameters, such as ambientcondensing- evaporating- temperatures and mass flow rate. These parameters were used in this study to validate a design model developed in a previous work by the same author. Tests results were used to assess the quality of the model by comparing the experimental results with the model predicted results. The variation of COPs, of the model and the experimental rig, with the performance parameters shows the same general trend under various investigation conditions. The R values (calculating using excel) of the COPs under subcooling and superheating with the degree of subcooling and superheating conditions were 80.7% and 88% respectively. While the correlations between the COPs under the same conditions were 88% and 99.9%. The present analysis showed that the model results are comparable to the actual system from both quantitative and qualitative points of view. Under the same operational conditions, maximum absolute deviations of the variable parameters mass flow rate, COP and circulating water temperature, are within the range of 16%. The experimental value always fall below that of model, this is as a result of experimental error such as heat leakages.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The author wish to acknowledge the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) for providing the grant for this study. The efforts of the URGC, FUTA are also acknowledged for considering the research fit for funding. REFERENCES
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