Numerical Analysis of Using R449A Refrigerant Alternative to R404A in Cooling Systems: 3E-Analysis (Energetic, Exergetic, and Environmental)

Year 2023, , 1319 - 1325, 01.12.2023

Ragıp Yıldırım , Kazım Kumaş , Ali Özhan Akyüz , Afşin Güngör

https://doi.org/10.2339/politeknik.1073335

Abstract

The direct impact of refrigerants on the environment is largely dependent on the magnitude of global warming potential (GWP) values. In this regard, fluids with low GWP are very important for the environment. Commercial refrigeration accounts for about a third of the world's HFC use. R404A is a derived HFC near an azeotropic mixture. The refrigerant of R404A is widely used in commercial refrigeration systems, especially in supermarkets. As a result of the use of R404A in cooling systems with high GWP, both indirect and direct negative effects on the environment increase. In this study, the energy, exergy, and Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) of R449A, which has a lower GWP value, which can be an alternative to R404A refrigerant, were investigated theoretically. Different evaporator temperatures (-30oC to -5oC) and a condenser temperature (30oC) were used in the analysis. According to the results obtained, while the mass flow rate of R449A is approximately 13% lower than that of R404A, its exergy efficiency is 5% higher. R449A was found to be approximately 5% lower than R404A in LCCP analysis.  

Keywords

Global warming, R449A, R404A, energy, exergy, LCCP.

Soğutma Sistemlerinde R404A'ya Alternatif R449A Soğutucu Akışkan Kullanımının Sayısal Analizi: 3E-Analizi (Enerjetik, Ekserjetik ve Çevresel)

Abstract

Soğutucu akışkanların çevre üzerindeki doğrudan etkisi, büyük ölçüde küresel ısınma potansiyeli (GWP) değerlerinin büyüklüğüne bağlıdır. Bu bakımdan GWP değeri düşük akışkanlar çevre için oldukça önemlidir. Ticari soğutma, dünyadaki HFC kullanımının yaklaşık üçte birini oluşturmaktadır. R404A, azeotropik bir karışımın yakınında türetilmiş bir HFC'dir. R404A'nın soğutucu akışkanı, ticari soğutma sistemlerinde, özellikle süpermarketlerde yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. R404A'nın yüksek GWP'li soğutma sistemlerinde kullanılması sonucunda çevreye hem dolaylı hem de doğrudan olumsuz etkiler artmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, R404A soğutucu akışkanına alternatif olabilecek daha düşük GWP değerine sahip R449A'nın enerji, ekserji ve Yaşam Döngüsü İklim Performansı (LCCP) teorik olarak incelenmiştir. Analizde farklı evaporatör sıcaklıkları (-30oC ile -5oC) ve kondenser sıcaklığı (30oC) kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre R449A'nın kütle akış hızı R404A'ya göre yaklaşık %13 daha düşük iken ekserji verimi %5 daha yüksektir. LCCP analizinde R449A, R404A'dan yaklaşık %5 daha düşük bulunmuştur.

Keywords

Küresel ısınma, R449A, R404A, enerji, ekserji, LCCP.

References

• [1] Aprea, C., Greco, A., Maiorino, A., “An experimental evaluation of the greenhouse effect in the substitution of R134a with pure and mixed HFO in a domestic refrigerator”, International Journal of Heat and Technology, 35, 413-418, (2017).
• [2] Toprak, K., Ouedraogo, K. E., “Performance analysis of thermal storage assisted cooling tower with night cooling”, Journal of Polytechnic, 23: 1027-1035, (2020).
• [3] Nyemba, W. R, Chinguwa, S., Marango, B.L., Mbohwa C., “Evaluation and feasibility assessment of the suitability of refrigeration systems devoid of harmful refrigerants for storage of vaccines”, Procedia Manufacturing, 35: 291-297, (2019).
• [4] Guo, Q., Li, M., Gu H., “Condensation heat transfer characteristics of low-GWP refrigerants in a smooth horizontal mini tube”, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 126: 2-38, (2018).
• [5] Demirci, E., Özkaymak, M., Koşan, M., Akkoç A.E., Aktaş, M., “Doğal soğutucu akışkan kullanımında Gelişmeler,” Gazi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, 6: 184-199, (2020).
• [6] Abas, N., Kalair, A.R., Khan, N., Haider, A., Saleem Z., Saleem, M.S., “Natural and synthetic refrigerants, global warming: A review”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 90: 557- 569, (2018).
• [7] Azzolin, M., Bortolin S., “Condensation and flow boiling heat transfer of a HFO/HFC binary mixture inside a minichannel”, International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 159: 106638, (2021).
• [8] Devecioğlu, A.G., Oruç, V., “Soğutma sistemlerinde R454C kullanılmasının deneysel incelenmesi”, Politeknik Dergisi, *(*): *, (*).DOI: 10.2339/politeknik.898828
• [9] Makhnatch, P., Mota-Babiloni, A., Rogstam, J., Khodabandeh, R., (2017). “Retrofit of lower GWP alternative R449A into an existing R404A indirect supermarket refrigeration system”, International Journal of Refrigeration,76: 184-192, (2017).
• [10] Heredia-Aricapa, Y., Belman-Flores, J.M., Mota-Babiloni, A., Serrano-Arellano, J., García-Pabón J.J., “Overview of low GWP mixtures for the replacement of HFC refrigerants: R134a, R404A and R410A”, International Journal of Refrigeration, 111: 113-123, (2020).
• [11] Han, Xh., Qiu, Y., Xu, Yj., Zhao, My., Wang Q., Chen, G., “Cycle performance studies on a new HFC-161/125/143a mixture as an alternative refrigerant to R404A”, Journal of Zhejiang University-Science A, 13: 132–139, (2012).
• [12] Oruç, V., Devecioğlu, A. G., Ender, S., “Improvement of energy parameters using R442A and R453A in a refrigeration system operating with R404A”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 129: 243–249, (2018).
• [13] Karampour, M., Sawalha, S., “State-of-the-art integrated CO2 refrigeration system for supermarkets: A comparative analysis”, International Journal of Refrigeration, 86: 239–257, (2018).
• [14] Mendoza-Miranda, J. M., Mota-Babiloni, A., Navarro-Esbri, J., “Evaluation of R448A and R450A as low-GWP alternatives for R404A and R134a using a micro-fin tube evaporator model”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 98: 330-339, (2016).
• [15] Li, G., “Comprehensive investigation of transport refrigeration life cycle climate performance”, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 21: 33-49, (2017).
• [16] Cardoso, B. J., Lamas, F.B., Gaspar, A.R, Ribeiro J. B., “Refrigerants used in the Portuguese food industry: current status”, International Journal of Refrigeration, 83: 60-74, (2017).
• [17] Llopis, R., Calleja-Anta, D., Sánchez, D., Nebot-Andrés, L., Catalán-Gil, J., Cabello, R., “R-454C, R-459B, R-457A and R-455A as low-GWP replacements of R-404A: Experimental evaluation and optimization”, International Journal of Refrigeration, 106: 133-143, (2019).
• [18] Heredia-Aricapa, Y., Belman-Flores, J.M., Mota-Babiloni, A., Serrano-Arellano, J., García-Pabón J.J., “Overview of low GWP mixtures for the replacement of HFC refrigerants: R134a, R404A and R410A”, International Journal of Refrigeration, 111: 113-123, (2020).
• [19] Koşan, M., Erten, S., Aktekeli, B., Aktaş, M., “Performance analyses of the industrial cooling system with microchannel condenser: An experimental study”, Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation, 7: 83-95, (2020).
• [20] Jacob, T. A., Matty, E. P., Fronk B. M., “Comparison of R404A condensation heat transfer and pressure drop with low global warming potential replacement candidates R448a and R452a”, International Journal of Refrigeration,116: 9-22, (2020).
• [21] Saengsikhiao, P., Taweekun, J., Maliwan, K., Sae-ung, S., Theppaya, T., “Investigation and analysis of R463A as an alternative refrigerant to R404A with lower global warming potential”, Energies, 13: 1514, 1-19, (2020).
• [22] Roy, R., Mandal, B. K. “Thermo-economic analysis and multi-objective optimization of vapour cascade refrigeration system using different refrigerant combinations”, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 139: 3247-261, (2020).
• [23] Oruç, V., Devecioğlu, A. G., “Experimental investigation on the low-GWP HFC/HFO blends R454A and R454C in a R404A refrigeration system”, International Journal of Refrigeration, 128: 242-251, (2021).
• [24] Yıldırım, R., Kumaş, K., Akyüz, A., “Investigation of using R454C refrigerant instead of R404A in a refrigeration system: Energy and environmental analysis”, Journal of Technical Sciences 11: 47-51, (2021).
• [25] Yıldız, A., Yıldırım, R. “Investigation of using R134a, R1234yf and R513A as refrigerant in a heat pump”, International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology,18: 1201–1210, (2021).
• [26] Kumaş, K., Akyüz, A., “Performance Analysis of R450A Refrigerant in vapor compression cooling System for sustainable environment”, Akademia Doğa ve İnsan Bilimleri Dergisi, 6: 57-71, (2020).
• [27] Khanlari, A., Tuncer, A. D., Şirin, C., Afshari, F. Güngör, A., “Empirical investigation of small-scale aluminum wool packed solar air heater made with waste material”, Journal of Polytechnic, 24: 1337-1343, (2021).
• [28] Yıldırım, R., Güngör, A., Kumaş, K., Akyüz, A., “Evaluation of low GWP refrigerants R452B and R454B as alternative to R410a in the heat pump systems”, Journal of International Environmental Application and Science, 16: 47-52, (2021).
• [29] Choi, S., Oh, J., Hwang, Y., Lee, H. “Life cycle climate performance evaluation (LCCP) on cooling and heating systems in South Korea”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 120: 88–98, (2017).
• [30] https://enerji.gov.tr/bilgi-merkezi-enerji-elektrik.