Exergy, exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental studies and optimization of a novel triple-evaporator refrigeration cycle with dual-nozzle ejector using low GWP refrigerants

Nazer, Sahar; Ahmadi Boyaghchi, Fateme

doi:10.22059/ees.2020.39009

Exergy, exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental studies and optimization of a novel triple-evaporator refrigeration cycle with dual-nozzle ejector using low GWP refrigerants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Alzahra University, Deh-Vanak, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/ees.2020.39009

Abstract

In this work, a novel dual-nozzle ejector enhanced triple-evaporator refrigeration cycle (DETRC) without separator is proposed to improve the performance of the conventional ejector one (CETRC). The performance of DETRC is analyzed and compared with CETRC in term of energy coefficient of performance (COP_en). Under given operating conditions, the COP_en improvement of the novel cycle could reach about 24.35% which shows the excellent energy-saving potential of DETRC in comparison with CETRC. Then, a comprehensive comparison between R717, R600a, R1234yf and R290 as low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants of DETRC is conducted from the energy, exergy, economic and environmental impact (EI) aspects. It is observed that R717 gives better energetic and exergetic performances by 3.21 and 0.583 and R1234yf causes the lowest total product cost and EI rates of 8.186 $/h and 0.665 Pts/h, respectively for DETRC. Moreover, increasing the high evaporating temperature improves all desired performances of DETRC, simultaneously due to the reduction of compressor consumed power. Finally, a multi-objective optimization based on an evolutionary algorithm and LINMAP decision making are carried out to ascertain the optimum exergetic, economic and EI performances of DETRC for each refrigerant.

Keywords

References

[1] Bi, S., et al., Performance of a domestic refrigerator using TiO2-R600a nano-refrigerant as working fluid. Energy Conversion and Management, 2011. 52(1): p. 733-737.

[2] Fatouh, M. and M. El Kafafy, Assessment of propane/commercial butane mixtures as possible alternatives to R134a in domestic refrigerators. Energy Conversion and Management, 2006. 47(15-16): p. 2644-2658.

[3] Wongwises, S. and N. Chimres, Experimental study of hydrocarbon mixtures to replace HFC-134a in a domestic refrigerator. Energy conversion and management, 2005. 46(1): p. 85-100.

[4] Mohanraj, M., S. Jayaraj, and C. Muraleedharan, Environment friendly alternatives to halogenated refrigerants—A review. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2009. 3(1): p. 108-119.

[5] Bolaji, B., Experimental study of R152a and R32 to replace R134a in a domestic refrigerator. Energy, 2010. 35(9): p. 3793-3798.

[6] Padilla, M., R. Revellin, and J. Bonjour, Exergy analysis of R413A as replacement of R12 in a domestic refrigeration system. Energy Conversion and Management, 2010. 51(11): p. 2195-2201.

[7] Padmanabhan, V.M.V. and S. Palanisamy, The use of TiO2 nanoparticles to reduce refrigerator ir-reversibility. Energy Conversion and Management, 2012. 59: p. 122-132.

[8] Sarkar, J., Ejector enhanced vapor compression refrigeration and heat pump systems—A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2012. 16(9): p. 6647-6659.

[9] Liu, Y., et al., Compression-injection hybrid refrigeration cycles in household refrigerators. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2010. 30(16): p. 2442-2447.

[10] Tomasek, M.-L. and R. Radermacher, Analysis of a domestic refrigerator cycle with an ejector. 1995, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., Atlanta, GA (United States).

[11] Lin, C., et al., Pressure recovery ratio in a variable cooling loads ejector-based multi-evaporator refrigeration system. Energy, 2012. 44(1): p. 649-656.

[12] Chen, J., et al., A review on versatile ejector applications in refrigeration systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015. 49: p. 67-90.

[13] Elakdhar, M., E. Nehdi, and L. Kairouani, Analysis of a compression/ejection cycle for domestic refrigeration. Industrial & engineering chemistry research, 2007. 46(13): p. 4639-4644.

[14] Lawrence, N. and S. Elbel, Theoretical and practical comparison of two-phase ejector refrigeration cycles including First and Second Law analysis. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2013. 36(4): p. 1220-1232.

[15] Elakhdar, M., et al., Thermodynamic analysis of a novel Ejector Enhanced Vapor Compression Refrigeration (EEVCR) cycle. Energy, 2018. 163: p. 1217-1230.

[16] Chen, Q., G. Yan, and J. Yu, Performance analysis of an ejector enhanced refrigeration cycle with R290/R600a for application in domestic refrigerator/freezers. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2017. 120: p. 581-592.

[17] Wang, X., et al., Comparative studies of ejector-expansion vapor compression refrigeration cycles for applications in domestic refrigerator-freezers. Energy, 2014. 70: p. 635-642.

[18] Yu, J., X. Song, and M. Ma, Theoretical study on a novel R32 refrigeration cycle with a two-stage suction ejector. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2013. 36(1): p. 166-172.

[19] Zhou, M., X. Wang, and J. Yu, Theoretical study on a novel dual-nozzle ejector enhanced refrigeration cycle for household refrigerator-freezers. Energy conversion and management, 2013. 73: p. 278-284.

[20] Kairouani, L., et al., Use of ejectors in a multi-evaporator refrigeration system for performance enhancement. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2009. 32(6): p. 1173-1185.

[21] Calm, J.M. and G.C. Hourahan. Physical, safety, and environmental data for current and alternative refrigerants. in Proceedings of 23rd International Congress of Refrigeration (ICR2011), Prague, Czech Republic, August. 2011.

[22] Li, H., et al., Performance characteristics of R1234yf ejector-expansion refrigeration cycle. Applied energy, 2014. 121: p. 96-103.

[23] Sayyaadi, H. and M. Nejatolahi, Multi-objective optimization of a cooling tower assisted vapor compression refrigeration system. international journal of refrigeration, 2011. 34(1): p. 243-256.

[24] He, S., Y. Li, and R. Wang, Progress of mathematical modeling on ejectors. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2009. 13(8): p. 1760-1780.

[25] Li, D. and E.A. Groll, Transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle with ejector-expansion device. International Journal of refrigeration, 2005. 28(5): p. 766-773.

[26] Zhu, L., et al., Performance analysis of a novel dual-nozzle ejector enhanced cycle for solar assisted air-source heat pump systems. Renewable Energy, 2014. 63: p. 735-740.

[27] Bejan, A. and G. Tsatsaronis, Thermal design and optimization. 1996: John Wiley & Sons.

[28] Tsatsaronis, G., Definitions and nomenclature in exergy analysis and exergoeconomics. Energy, 2007. 32(4): p. 249-253.

[29] Aminyavari, M., et al., Exergetic, economic and environmental (3E) analyses, and multi-objective optimization of a CO2/NH3 cascade refrigeration system. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2014. 65(1-2): p. 42-50.

[30] Morosuk, T., G. Tsatsaronis, and C. Koroneos, Environmental impact reduction using exergy-based methods. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2016. 118: p. 118-123.

[31] Meyer, L., et al., Exergoenvironmental analysis for evaluation of the environmental impact of energy conversion systems. Energy, 2009. 34(1): p. 75-89.

[32] Cavalcanti, E.J.C., Exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analyses of an integrated solar combined cycle system. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017. 67: p. 507-519.

[33] Deb, K., et al., A fast and elitist multiobjective genetic algorithm: NSGA-II. IEEE transactions on evolutionary computation, 2002. 6(2): p. 182-197.

[34] Zitzler, E., K. Deb, and L. Thiele, Comparison of multiobjective evolutionary algorithms: Empirical results. Evolutionary computation, 2000. 8(2): p. 173-195.

[35] Feng, Y., et al., Comparison between regenerative organic Rankine cycle (RORC) and basic organic Rankine cycle (BORC) based on thermoeconomic multi-objective optimization considering exergy efficiency and levelized energy cost (LEC). Energy Conversion and Management, 2015. 96: p. 58-71.

[36] Konak, A., D.W. Coit, and A.E. Smith, Multi-objective optimization using genetic algorithms: A tutorial. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 2006. 91(9): p. 992-1007.

[37] Li, Y., S. Liao, and G. Liu, Thermo-economic multi-objective optimization for a solar-dish Brayton system using NSGA-II and decision making. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, 2015. 64: p. 167-175.