Experimental assessment of a thermoelectric subcooler included in a transcritical CO2 refrigeration plant

This study brings an experimental research that has tested a real transcritical CO2 vapor compression cycle that includes a thermoelectric subcooler at the exit of the gas-cooler of the refrigeration plant. The aforementioned technology hybridization increases the COP of refrigeration systems as lon...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Aranguren Garacochea, Patricia, Sánchez, Daniel, Casi Satrústegui, Álvaro, Cabello, Ramón, Astrain Ulibarrena, David
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Recursos:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/53201
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/53201
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:CO2
Thermoelectric subcooler
Subcooling
R744
Transcritical operation
COP
Descrição
Resumo:This study brings an experimental research that has tested a real transcritical CO2 vapor compression cycle that includes a thermoelectric subcooler at the exit of the gas-cooler of the refrigeration plant. The aforementioned technology hybridization increases the COP of refrigeration systems as long as the subcooling system is properly designed and operated. The experimental facility studied has been tested under constant ambient conditions (30 °C and relative humidity of 55%) and maintaining the evaporating temperature at -10 °C; while the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric modules and the thermal resistances of the heat exchangers located at the thermoelectric subcooler have been experimentally modified. The voltage supplied to the fans located at these heat exchangers was modified implying thermal performance deviation of the heat exchangers and a variation on the power consumption of the cooling facility. The results show an experimental increase on the COP of 11.3% while the cooling capacity increases a 15.3% when the thermoelectric modules are supplied with 2 V and the fans with 9 V. Moreover, the importance of optimizing the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric modules and to the auxiliary consumption of the thermoelectric subcooler is addressed along this research.