IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v258y2022ics0360544222017753.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Study on the performance of an energy-efficient three-stage auto-cascade refrigeration system enhanced with a pressure regulator

Author

Listed:
  • Qin, Yanbin
  • Li, Nanxi
  • Zhang, Hua
  • Liu, Baolin

Abstract

This paper proposed a modified three-stage auto-cascade refrigeration cycle (MTARC) associated with an intermediate pressure regulator. The energy and exergy analyses indicate that the MTARC can acquire lower evaporating temperature, greater cooling capacity and higher COP. Under a typical operating condition, the MTARC using the alternative ternary zeotropic mixture of R1234yf/R41/R14(0.66/0.17/0.17) has an evaporator inlet temperature of −90.90 °C, COP of 0.4509 and exergy efficiency of 40.67%, which are 4.63 °C lower, 32.93% and 15.38% higher than those of the conventional three-stage ARC, respectively. Further research shows that with the decreasing intermediate pressure, the thermodynamic performance of the MARC can be improved significantly, but the compressor exhaust temperature also increases. When the intermediate pressure decreases from 1.8 MPa to 1 MPa, the cooling capacity, COP and exergy efficiency of the MTARC increase by 30.34%, 22.10% and 13.79% respectively, while the exhaust temperature increases 18.59 °C from 116.66 °C to 135.25 °C, which indicates that the selection of intermediate pressure needs to be comprehensively considered. The proposed new approach is valuable for optimizing the design and application of the refrigerator at an ultra-low temperature level of −80 °C.

Suggested Citation

  • Qin, Yanbin & Li, Nanxi & Zhang, Hua & Liu, Baolin, 2022. "Study on the performance of an energy-efficient three-stage auto-cascade refrigeration system enhanced with a pressure regulator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:258:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222017753
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124872
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544222017753
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2022.124872?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hao, Xinyue & Wang, Lin & Wang, Zhanwei & Tan, Yingying & Yan, Xiaona, 2018. "Hybrid auto-cascade refrigeration system coupled with a heat-driven ejector cooling cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 988-998.
    2. Sarkar, Jahar, 2012. "Ejector enhanced vapor compression refrigeration and heat pump systems—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(9), pages 6647-6659.
    3. Wang, Q. & Li, D.H. & Wang, J.P. & Sun, T.F. & Han, X.H. & Chen, G.M., 2013. "Numerical investigations on the performance of a single-stage auto-cascade refrigerator operating with two vapor–liquid separators and environmentally benign binary refrigerants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 949-955.
    4. Rezayan, Omid & Behbahaninia, Ali, 2011. "Thermoeconomic optimization and exergy analysis of CO2/NH3 cascade refrigeration systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 888-895.
    5. Bai, Tao & Yan, Gang & Yu, Jianlin, 2022. "Influence of internal heat exchanger position on the performance of ejector-enhanced auto-cascade refrigeration cycle for the low-temperature freezer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    6. Tashtoush, Bourhan M. & Al-Nimr, Moh'd A. & Khasawneh, Mohammad A., 2019. "A comprehensive review of ejector design, performance, and applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 138-172.
    7. Liu, Ye & Yu, Jianlin, 2018. "Performance analysis of an advanced ejector-expansion autocascade refrigeration cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 859-867.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Yinlong & Liu, Guoqiang & Chen, Qi & Yan, Gang, 2023. "Progress of auto-cascade refrigeration systems performance improvement: Composition separation, shift and regulation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Tan, Yingying & Li, Xiuzhen & Wang, Lin & Huang, Lisheng & Xiao, Yi & Wang, Zhanwei & Li, Shaoqiang, 2023. "Thermodynamic performance of the fractionated auto-cascade refrigeration cycle coupled with two-phase ejector using R1150/R600a at −80 °C temperature level," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    3. Konrad, Mary Elizabeth & MacDonald, Brendan D., 2023. "Cold climate air source heat pumps: Industry progress and thermodynamic analysis of market-available residential units," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    4. Sun, Zhili & Liang, Youcai & Liu, Shengchun & Ji, Weichuan & Zang, Runqing & Liang, Rongzhen & Guo, Zhikai, 2016. "Comparative analysis of thermodynamic performance of a cascade refrigeration system for refrigerant couples R41/R404A and R23/R404A," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 19-25.
    5. Qin, Yanbin & Li, Nanxi & Zhang, Hua & Liu, Baolin, 2021. "Energy and exergy analysis of a Linde-Hampson refrigeration system using R170, R41 and R1132a as low-GWP refrigerant blend components to replace R23," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    6. Besagni, Giorgio, 2019. "Ejectors on the cutting edge: The past, the present and the perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 998-1003.
    7. Qin, Yanbin & Li, Nanxi & Zhang, Hua & Jin, Binhui & Liu, Baolin, 2022. "Experimental characterization of an innovative refrigeration system coupled with Linde-Hampson cycle and auto-cascade cycle for multi-stage refrigeration temperature applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    8. Bai, Tao & Yan, Gang & Yu, Jianlin, 2022. "Influence of internal heat exchanger position on the performance of ejector-enhanced auto-cascade refrigeration cycle for the low-temperature freezer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    9. Yu, Binbin & Yang, Jingye & Wang, Dandong & Shi, Junye & Chen, Jiangping, 2019. "An updated review of recent advances on modified technologies in transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    10. Liu, Ye & Yu, Jianlin, 2018. "Performance analysis of an advanced ejector-expansion autocascade refrigeration cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 859-867.
    11. Zhu, Jingwei & Botticella, Francesco & Elbel, Stefan, 2018. "Experimental investigation and theoretical analysis of oil circulation rates in ejector cooling cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 718-733.
    12. Yu, Qinghua & Chen, Xi & Yang, Hongxing, 2021. "Research progress on utilization of phase change materials in photovoltaic/thermal systems: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    13. Tang, Yongzhi & Liu, Zhongliang & Li, Yanxia & Huang, Zhifeng & Chua, Kian Jon, 2021. "Study on fundamental link between mixing efficiency and entrainment performance of a steam ejector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PB).
    14. Han, Qingyang & Liu, Changchao & Xue, Haoyuan & Zhang, Hailun & Sun, Wenhui & Sun, Wenxu & Jia, Lei, 2023. "Working condition expansion and performance optimization of two-stage ejector based on optimal switching strategy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    15. Mohanraj, M. & Belyayev, Ye. & Jayaraj, S. & Kaltayev, A., 2018. "Research and developments on solar assisted compression heat pump systems – A comprehensive review (Part A: Modeling and modifications)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 90-123.
    16. Mahmood, Muhammad H. & Sultan, Muhammad & Miyazaki, Takahiko & Koyama, Shigeru & Maisotsenko, Valeriy S., 2016. "Overview of the Maisotsenko cycle – A way towards dew point evaporative cooling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 537-555.
    17. Hu, Bin & Wu, Di & Wang, R.Z., 2018. "Water vapor compression and its various applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 92-107.
    18. Saeid, Omar & Hashem, Gamal & Etaig, Saleh & Belgasim, Basim & Sagade, Atul, 2024. "Performance assessment of ammonia base solar ejector cooling system emphasizing ejector geometries: A detailed CFD analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    19. Sarkar, Jahar, 2015. "Review and future trends of supercritical CO2 Rankine cycle for low-grade heat conversion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 434-451.
    20. Chen, Qi & Yu, Mengqi & Yan, Gang & Yu, Jianlin, 2022. "Thermodynamic analyses of a modified ejector enhanced dual temperature refrigeration cycle for domestic refrigerator/freezer application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:258:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222017753. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.