Experimental evaluation of a transcritical CO2 refrigeration facility working with an internal heat exchanger and a thermoelectric subcooler: performance assessment and comparative

The use of carbon dioxide in transcritical state has become one of the most used solutions to comply with the F-Gas directive and reduce greenhouse gases emissions from refrigeration systems at high ambient temperatures. For low-medium power units, the commonly used solutions to improve the efficien...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Casi Satrústegui, Álvaro, Aranguren Garacochea, Patricia, Araiz Vega, Miguel, Sánchez, Daniel, Cabello, Ramón, Astrain Ulibarrena, David
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/43724
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/43724
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Transcritical cycle
Subcooling
Thermoelectric subcooler
IHX
CO2
R744
Descripción
Sumario:The use of carbon dioxide in transcritical state has become one of the most used solutions to comply with the F-Gas directive and reduce greenhouse gases emissions from refrigeration systems at high ambient temperatures. For low-medium power units, the commonly used solutions to improve the efficiency such as the ejector, multiple compressor arrangements, mechanical subcooler, etc., add complexity and increase the cost of the refrigeration facility, which is not ideal for small units. In this low-medium power range, two technologies stand out to increase the performance of a carbon dioxide transcritical cycle: the internal heat exchanger and the thermoelectric subcooler. This study brings a complete research in which both solutions have been tested in the same experimental transcritical carbon dioxide refrigeration facility under the same working conditions. It focuses on the real performance of both systems and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of using an internal heat exchanger or a thermoelectric subcooler. The results show that the thermoelectric subcooler outperforms the internal heat exchanger in both the coefficient of performance and the cooling capacity while also being a more controllable and flexible solution.