A small capacity steam-ejector refrigerator: experimental investigation of a system using ejector with movable primary nozzle

This paper describes an experimental study of a steam-ejector refrigerator using an ejector with a primary nozzle that could be moved axially within the mixing chamber section. The effects on coefficient of performance and cooling capacity produced by adjusting the position of the nozzle were studied. The experimental rig and method are described and results are presented which clearly show the benefit of using such a primary nozzle.     

Experimental investigation of a free-piston Vuilleumier refrigerator

This paper presents experimental data for a free-piston Vuilleumier machine, which was designed as a refrigerator for CFC-free cooling and air conditioning. The basic features of the Vuilleumier cycle and the free-piston operation, which is known from free-piston Stirling engines, are discussed briefly. Additionally, the design of the prototype is described. From the variety of the experimental data, the influence of the mean pressure and the three cycle temperatures on the refrigerating capacity and the COP are selected for presentation and detailed discussion in this paper. The results are used to deduce some general operating characteristics of free-piston Vuilleumier refrigerator, which reveal its potential for CFC-free cooling and air conditioning.     

Reciprocating compressors for refrigeration and heat pump application

Reciprocating compressors have been used in refrigeration for about 150 years. At first they operated at a maximum of 100 r.p.m. and so were very large. Much of the development has been directed to increasing speed and hence reducing size and cost. Recent improvements have been directed mostly to valve design because valve performance largely controls the indicator diagrams and hence the isentropic efficiency. Present studies are directed to improving the mechanical efficiency. Despite all this progress, further improvement is still possible.     

A theoretical study on a novel combined power and ejector refrigeration cycle

A new combined power and refrigeration cycle is proposed for the cogeneration, which combines the Rankine cycle and the ejector refrigeration cycle by adding an extraction turbine between heat recovery vapor generator (HRVG) and ejector. This combined cycle could produce both power output and refrigeration output simultaneously, and could be driven by the flue gas from gas turbine or engine, solar energy, geothermal energy and industrial waste heats. Parametric analysis and exergy analysis are conducted to examine the effects of thermodynamic parameters on the performance and exergy destruction in each component for the combined cycle. The results show that the condenser temperature, the evaporator temperature, the turbine inlet pressure, the turbine extraction pressure and extraction ratio have significant effects on the turbine power output, refrigeration output, exergy efficiency and exergy destruction in each component in the combined cycle. It is also shown that the biggest exergy destruction occurs in the heat recovery vapor generator, followed by the ejector and turbine.     

A theoretical study of a novel regenerative ejector refrigeration cycle

There has been a demand for developments of the ejector refrigeration systems using low grade thermal energy, such as solar energy and waste heat. In this paper, a novel regenerative ejector refrigeration cycle was described, which uses an auxiliary jet pump and a conventional regenerator to enhance the performance of the novel cycle. The theoretical analysis on the performance characteristics was carried out for the novel cycle with the refrigerant R141b. Compared with the conventional cycle, the simulation results show that the coefficient of performance (COP) of the novel cycle increases, respectively, by from 9.3 to 12.1% when generating temperature is in a range of 80–160 °C, the condensing temperature is in a range of 35–45 °C and the evaporating temperature is fixed at 10 °C. Especially due to the enhanced regeneration with increasing the pump outlet pressure, the improvement of COP of the novel cycle is approached to 17.8% compared with that in the conventional cycle under the operating condition that generating temperature is 100 °C, condensing temperature is 40 °C and evaporating temperature is 10 °C. Therefore, the characteristics of the novel cycle performance show its promise in using low grade thermal energy for the ejector refrigeration system.     

Cycling losses in domestic appliances: an experimental and theoretical analysis

The on/off mode is the method of control usually applied in domestic refrigeration equipment. Owing to this method of operation, cycling losses occur which depend on the on/off cycle length, the dimensions of the heat exchangers, etc. It is the aim of this study to analyse these cycling losses in detail, both numerically and experimentally. Two operation modes for cycling are selected: the condenser closed during the off-period and the condenser open during the off-period. Both cycling operation modes are compared with a continuously running system.     

An experimental study of an ejector cycle refrigeration machine operating on R113 Etude expérimentale d'une machine frigorifique à éjecteur au R113

This paper discusses an ejector cycle refrigeration machine that can use a wide range of refrigerants including halocarbons. The feature of such a system is the possibility of using a low grade heat source such as solar energy and waste heat to operate the system. A theoretical analysis was carried out to select a suitable refrigerant for the system. The influence of boiler, condenser and evaporator temperatures on system heat transfer is investigated experimentally under different operating conditions. The experimental machine uses R113 as a working refrigerant.     

Experimental study on the design of orifice pulse tube refrigerator

An experimental study on the design of a single-stage orifice pulse tube refrigerator (OPTR) was carried out. It was shown experimentally that there exists an optimum operating frequency which increases with decreasing pulse tube volume. For a fixed pulse tube volume, increasing the pulse tube diameter will improve the performance. The experimental results are used to derive a correlation for the performance of OPTR which correlates the net cooling capacity with the operating conditions and the dimensions of the OPTR.     

Numerical analysis and experimental investigation into the performance of a wire-on-tube condenser of a retrofitted refrigerator

The present paper discusses (a) the analysis of a wire-on-tube condenser under varying operating conditions of free convection using FEM, and (b) experimental verification of the performance of two wire-on-tube condensers in a retrofitted domestic refrigerator using refrigerant R-134a. The study is motivated by the desire to investigate if the wire-on-tube condensers used in R-12 based refrigerators could be used in a modified refrigerator using R-134a refrigerant. Experiments were conducted in a climate chamber under controlled and varying ambient temperatures and mass flow rates to determine the locations where phase change occurs and the degree of subcooling achieved. In terms of initial and final phase change point locations the predicted results agree with the experimental results to within ±10%. The analysis and the experiments also lead to the information about the adequacy of the number of tubes for complete condensation of the refrigerant vapour under given operating conditions. The methodology can be used as a design tool for the design of wire-on-tube condenser of a small refrigerator as well as the suitability of specific decommissioned condensers for use in a retrofitted refrigerator. It also indicates that R-12 based refrigerators using wire-on-tube condensers retrofitted with R-134a compressor and refrigerant deserve and warrant further studies for adoption.     

Feasibility study of a two-stage vapour compression heat pump with ammonia-water solution circuits: experimental results

A breadboard heat pump was designed and built to test the performance of a vapour compression heat pump with two-stage ammonia-water solution circuits. A major improvement in performance was obtained by incorporating a bleed line to attain water balance between the high and the low temperature solution circuits. The new scheme was first investigated by computer simulation and then incorporated in the experimental setup. The advantages of this scheme are reduced first cost (by eliminating the need for a rectifier), a simplified system and its control mechanisms, a 20–30% improvement in cooling coefficient of performance and a 10–15% increase in cooling capacity as compared to the system with a rectifier. Coefficients of performance in the range of 0.69 to 1.04 were obtained experimentally for a temperature lift of 100 K and cooling capacities in the range of 2.02 to 4.22 kW. The pressure ratios encountered were in the range of 6.9 to 11, which are 35 to 50% of the pressure ratio expected for a conventional single-stage heat pump.     

An experimental solar-powered adsorptive refrigerator tested in Burkina-Faso

An adsorptive solar refrigerator was built and tested in May 1999 in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso. The adsorption pair is activated carbon + methanol. The adsorber is also the solar collector (2 m², single glazed), the condenser is air-cooled (natural convection) and the evaporator contains 40 l of water that can freeze into ice. This amount of ice acts as a cold storage for the cold cabinet (available volume of 440 l). Elements such as valves and a graduated bottle are installed, but only for experimental purposes. Apart from these valves, and also ventilation dampers which are open at night time and closed at daytime, the machine does not contain any moving parts and does not consume any mechanical energy. Within the requirement of vacuum technology, the machine is relatively easy to manufacture, so that construction in Burkina-Faso is feasible. Experimental performance is presented in terms of gross solar COP. During the test period, irradiance were quite good (between 19 and 25 MJ m⁻²), but the ambient temperature was relatively warm (averagely 27.4 °C at sunrise and 37.4 °C at mid-afternoon). The experimental values of the gross solar COP lie between 0.09 and 0.13. Despite a warm climate, the performance of the machine compares favourably to previously published results.

Résumé

An adsorptive solar refrigerator was built and tested in May 1999 in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso. The adsorption pair is activated carbon + methanol. The adsorber is also the solar collector (2 m², single glazed), the condenser is air-cooled (natural convection) and the evaporator contains 40 l of water that can freeze into ice. This amount of ice acts as a cold storage for the cold cabinet (available volume of 440 l). Elements such as valves and a graduated bottle are installed, but only for experimental purposes. Apart from these valves, and also ventilation dampers which are open at night time and closed at daytime, the machine does not contain any moving parts and does not consume any mechanical energy. Within the requirement of vacuum technology, the machine is relatively easy to manufacture, so that construction in Burkina-Faso is feasible. Experimental performance is presented in terms of gross solar COP. During the test period, irradiance were quite good (between 19 and 25 MJ m⁻²), but the ambient temperature was relatively warm (averagely 27.4 °C at sunrise and 37.4 °C at mid-afternoon). The experimental values of the gross solar COP lie between 0.09 and 0.13. Despite a warm climate, the performance of the machine compares favourably to previously published results.     

Development of a circulating system for a jet refrigeration cycle

This paper proposed a workless-generator-feeding (WGF) system for a jet refrigeration cycle, using R141b. This feeding system does not require any mechanical power. The liquid refrigerant from the condenser was fed to the vapour-generator by means of the generator pressure and gravitational force. The system was tested and compared with a conventional system using a mechanical pump. It was found that this system was workable. The heat input to the generator was slightly higher than that for a system using a mechanical pump. The jet refrigeration cycle employing this new feeding system provided a slightly lower coefficient of performance (COP) compared to a system using a mechanical pump. However, this new system did not require any mechanical energy. Therefore, the jet refrigeration system employing this WGF system is truly a heat-power refrigeration cycle.     

Fluids for high temperature heat pumps

The theoretical performances of some 250 potential work fluids in vapour compression heat pumps condensing at 150°C and evaporating at 100°C have been predicted, using expression for coefficient of performance (COP) and minimum superheat that involve only easily accessible physical properties. Expected correlations were found between COP and critical temperature, between specific compressor displacement and normal boiling point, T_bp, and between condensing pressure and T_bp. Correlations were also found between minimum superheat and both molecular weight and critical pressure. From these correlations, the desirable basic properties of a high temperature heat pump fluid are deduced. The principle of corresponding states is invoked to explain the connection between minimum superheat and critical pressure, and hence the reason why perfluorinated compounds tend to make poor work fluids.     

Numerical assessment of steam ejector efficiencies using CFD

Ejector efficiencies for the primary nozzle, suction, mixing and diffuser were determined for the first time, according to their definitions, using an axi-symmetric CFD model. Water was considered as working fluid and the operating conditions were selected in a range that would be suitable for an air-conditioner powered by solar thermal energy. Ejector performance was estimated for different nozzle throat to constant section area ratios. The results indicated the existence of an optimal ratio, depending on operating conditions. Ejector efficiencies were calculated for different operating conditions. It was found that while nozzle efficiency can be considered as constant, the efficiencies related to the suction, mixing and diffuser sections of the ejector depend on operating conditions.     

CO2-heat pump water heater: characteristics, system design and experimental results

CO₂ is one of the few non-toxic and non-flammable working fluids that do not contribute to ozone depletion or global warming, if leaked to the atmosphere. Tap water heating is one promising application for a trans-critical CO₂ process. The temperature glide at heat rejection contributes to a very good temperature adaptation when heating tap water, which inherits a large temperature glide. This, together with efficient compression and good heat transfer characteristics of CO₂, makes it possible to design very efficient systems. A heating-COP of 4.3 is achieved for the prototype when heating tap water from 9°C to 60°C, at an evaporation temperature of 0°C. The results lead to a seasonal performance factor of about 4 for an Oslo climate, using ambient air as heat source. Thus, the primary energy consumption can be reduced with more than 75% compared with electrical or gas fired systems. Another significant advantage of this system, compared with conventional heat pump water heaters, is that hot water with temperatures up to 90°C can be produced without operational difficulties.     

Optimal operation of a complex thermal system: a case study

The paper focuses on the search for the optimal operation modes of a complex thermal plant. The system under analysis is basically made-up by four gas-fueled reciprocating engines with heat recovery. Each engine can drive simultaneously an electric generator as well as the compressor of a heat-pump/chiller. The plant is interconnected to the electric utility grid, both to receive additional power and to deliver power in excess. In addition, each heat-pump/chiller can be driven electrically, using the electric generator as a motor. For any given load condition, a large number of operation modes are possible. The problem of finding out the configuration that minimizes the economic cost of operating the system is dealt with. This cost is regarded as the objective function to be minimized in a typical constrained optimization problem. Statement and solution of this problem are discussed. Numerical examples are included and commented.     

An experimental and numerical study of the dynamic behaviour of a counter-flow evaporator

The dynamic behaviour of a counter-flow, water-heated evaporator is studied experimentally and numerically. The frequency distribution of the random oscillations of the mixture-vapour transition point and the superheat temperature at the exit of the evaporator is obtained for steady operation of the system. These oscillations are well correlated. The transition point movement is found to cause fluctuations in the refrigerant temperature over 1 m downstream of its range of motion. Step changes in the refrigerant flow rate and the heating water flow rate demonstrate the non-linear characteristics of the evaporator where the time constants for step increases and step decreases of the same magnitude differ significantly. The distributed model predicts the variation of the superheat temperature and the evaporator pressure following step changes in the inputs with good accuracy.     

Comparison of conventional and automated refrigerated storage systems

High rise warehouses with automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) can frequently be justified as a viable alternative to conventional freezer storage. To determine viability, a design year data base must be developed and both conventional and automated system/facility options tested against this operational standard. To determine which alternative best suits design year requirements, a justification analysis must be completed. This analysis must address investment costs and total operational costs. Operational factors such as expandability, flexibility and maintainability must be considered. This Paper outlines a basic approach to the justification analysis required when considering high rise automated and conventional alternatives for refrigerated warehousing applications.     

Comparison of the working domains of some compression heat pumps and a compression-absorption heat pump

The working domains of a model of a compression heat pump using different fluids and a model of a compression-absorption heat pump using water-ammonia mixtures are defined, plotted and discussed. These domains are defined by means of limiting values for their electrical coefficient of performance, volumetric heating capacity, and low and high pressure. In the case studied in the present paper, the disappearance from use of CFC and HCFC fluids leaves only one alternative for the implementation of high temperature electric heat pumps: hydrocarbons in compression devices or water-ammonia mixtures in compression-absorption devices. Problems relating to the implementation of these systems are also mentioned.     

Air-side heat transfer enhancement of a refrigerator evaporator using vortex generation

In most domestic and commercial refrigeration systems, frost forms on the air-side surface of the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. Frost-tolerant designs typically employ a large fin spacing in order to delay the need for a defrost cycle. Unfortunately, this approach does not allow for a very high air-side heat transfer coefficient, and the performance of these heat exchangers is often air-side limited. Longitudinal vortex generation is a proven and effective technique for thinning the thermal boundary layer and enhancing heat transfer, but its efficacy in a frosting environment is essentially unknown. In this study, an array of delta-wing vortex generators is applied to a plain-fin-and-tube heat exchanger with a fin spacing of 8.5 mm. Heat transfer and pressure drop performance are measured to determine the effectiveness of the vortex generator under frosting conditions. For air-side Reynolds numbers between 500 and 1300, the air-side thermal resistance is reduced by 35–42% when vortex generation is used. Correspondingly, the heat transfer coefficient is observed to range from 33 to 53 W m⁻² K⁻¹ for the enhanced heat exchanger and from 18 to 26 W m⁻² K⁻¹ for the baseline heat exchanger.