A domestic refrigerator's potential of using hydrocarbon blends as refrigerants

Abstract

Because of environmental concerns, HFCs that were once widely used in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems may soon be phased out. The main reason for the phase-out of HFCs is that of their high potential for global warming (GWP). Consequently, there is now a greater need for appropriate, greener alternatives. In the recent years, significant initiatives are taken toward hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants or other eco-friendly refrigerants to ensure the sustainability of the environment. In this research work, an experimental examination has been made using green hydrocarbon refrigerants, i.e., a mixture of R600a and R290 in a ratio 55:45, as a substitute to R134a in a 150 L domestic refrigerator. Continuous running experiments have been conducted at various ambient temperatures (24, 29, 34, 39, and 43 degrees Celsius), whereas cycling running (ON/OFF) experiments were piloted solely at 29 degrees Celsius. The results revealed that hydrocarbon combination has lowered the energy consumption by 13.8% with 2.85–4.6% increase in COP. Compared to R134a discharge temperature, the exit temperature of green mixture hydrocarbons is found to be 6–14 K lower. Overall, the aforementioned hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture has proven to be the greatest long-term solution for phasing out R134a.