Performance Assessment of Low Global Warming Potential Alternative Refrigerants

Global warming is the general increase in global temperature brought on by higher-than-normal concentrations of greenhouse gases. These gases trap heat waves as they approach the world and allow them to continue entering the atmosphere over time without being able to leave. This study used low global warming potential alternative refrigerants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with global efforts to phase out chlorinated fluids in order to preserve the ozone layer as a result of the Montreal Protocol. A software program called Cycle-D-Hx, which has a graphical user interface and a thermodynamic model of the refrigeration system, was used to evaluate how well household refrigerators working with various types of refrigerants performed. The model was validated using data from a household refrigerator charged with R134A. The performance of several low global warming potential alternative refrigerants, including R404A, R449A, R513A, and R452A, was then assessed using the model.

The hydrofluoroolefin based R452A refrigerant is an alternative to R404A and R507 that is non-ozone depleting and has a low global warming potential. An azeotropic blend, R-513A is a drop-in replacement for R-134a in existing systems. Common hydrofluorocarbons and the new hydrofluoro-olefin molecule R1234yf are combined to form R449a, which is made up of R32 (24%), R125 (25%), R134a (26%), and R1234yf (25%). R513A, an aceotropic blend with no temperature glide, is composed of 44% R134a and 56% R1234yf.

The simulation's findings demonstrate that R452A has a coefficient of performance 1.578, a zero potential for ozone depletion, a 0.5oC temperature glide for the evaporator and condenser and also a low potential for global warming unit count of 2140. Along with these thermodynamic and environmental qualities, R452A blend can take the place of R134A as a refrigerant because it is non-flammable and noncorrosive and will not corrode the metal parts of the compressor and evaporator of the refrigeration system.