A REVIEW ON SUB-COOLING IN VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE FOR ENERGY SAVING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v81.13707Keywords:
Sub-cooling, COP, refrigerator, air conditioner, energy-savingAbstract
Vapor compression refrigeration cycle (VCRC) is widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning (R&A) systems. Sub-cooling is used to improve the coefficient of performance (COP) of the R&A system by enhancing the cooling capacity. This paper presents various sub-cooling methods, which have been established and applied to enhance the performance of the VCRC. In a simple cycle of VCRC, the exit of the condenser is at saturated liquid line. Further cooling of the exit condenser to the sub-cooled region can result in an increase in the cooling capacity due to low vapor quality refrigerant entering the evaporator. As a result, the refrigerant absorbs more heat in the evaporator. The lower the quality of the refrigerant entering the evaporator, the higher the cooling capacity that is produced by the evaporator. This cooling capacity improvement results in an increase in the COP. In the present study, four sub-cooling methods are reviewed, which are liquid-suction heat exchanger, dedicated mechanical sub-cooling, integrated mechanical sub-cooling and condensate assisted sub-cooling. The advantages and drawbacks of each method, as well as future research direction in this research domain were discussed in detail.
References
Pérez-Lombard, L., Ortiz, J., Pout, C. 2008. A Review on Buildings Energy Consumption Information. Energy and Buildings. 40(3): 394-398.
Sukri, M. F., Salim, M. A., Mohd Rosli, M. A., Azraai, S., Mat Dan R. 2012. An Analytical Investigation of Overall Thermal Transfer Value on Commercial Building in Malaysia. International Review of Mechanical Engineering. 6(5): 1050-1056.
Yang, L., Zhang, C. L. 2011. On Sub-cooler Design for Integrated Two-temperature Supermarket Refrigeration System. Energy and Buildings. 43(1): 224-231.
Sukri, M. F., Musa, M. N., Senawi, M. Y., Nasution, H. 2015. Achieving a Better Energy-efficient Automotive Air-conditioning System: A Review of Potential Technologies and Strategies for Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle. Energy Efficiency. 8: 1201-1229.
Vijayan, R., Srinivasan, P. S. S. 2009. Influence of Internal Heat Exchnager on Performance of Window AC Retrofitted with R407C. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research. 68(2): 153-156.
Pottker, G., Hrnjak, P. 2012. Effect of Condenser Subcooling of the Performance of Vapor Compression Systems: Experimental and Numerical Investigation. Proceeding of International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, Purdue University, USA 2012. 1-10.
Pottker, G., Hrnjak, P. 2015. Experimental Investigation of the Effect Condenser Subcooling in R134a and R1234yf Air-conditioning Systems with and without Internal Heat Exchanger. International Journal of Refrigeration. 50(1): 104-113.
Qureshi, B. A., Zubair, S. M. 2012. The Effect of Refrigerant Combinations on Performance of a Vapor Compression Refrigeration System with Dedicated Mechanical Sub-Cooling. International Journal of Refrigeration. 35(1): 47-57.
Qureshi, B. A., Zubair, S. M. 2013. Experimental Energetic Analysis of a Vapor Compression Refrigeration System with Dedicated Mechanical Sub-cooling. Applied Energy. 102: 1035-1041.
Zubair, S. M. 1994. Thermodynamics of a Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle with Mechanical Subcooling. Energy. 19(6): 707-715.
Qureshi, B. A., Zubair, S. M. 2013. Cost Optimization of Heat Exchanger Inventory for Mechanical Subcooling Refrigeration Cycles. International Journal of Refrigeration. 36(4): 1243-1253.
Zubair, S. M., Khan, S. H. 1995. On Optimum Interstage Pressure for Two-stage and Mechanical-subcooling Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycles. ASME Transactions, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering. 117(1): 64-66.
Zubair, S. M. 1990. Improvement of Refrigeration/air-conditioning Performance with Mechanical Subcooling. Energy. 15(5): 427-433.
Zubair, S. M., Yakub, M., Khan, S. H. 1996. Second-law-based Thermodynamic Analysis of Two-stage and Mechanical Subcooling Refrigeration Cycles. International Journal of Refrigeration. 19(8): 506-516.
Thornton, J. W., Klein, S. A., Mitchell, J. W. 1994. Dedicated Mechanical-subcooling Design Strategies for Supermarket Applications. International Journal of Refrigeration. 17 (8): 508-515.
Minh, N. Q., Hewitt, N. J., Eames, P. C. 2006. Improved Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycles: Literature Review and Their Application to Heat Pumps. Proceeding of International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, Purdue University, USA, 2006. 1-8.
Sumeru, K., Cecep Sunardi, Sukri, M. F. 2018. Effect of Compressor Discharge Cooling Using Condensate on Performance of Residential Air Conditioning System. AIP Conference Proceedings 2001. 020002-1–020002-6.
Sumeru, K., Pramudantoro, T. P., Setyawan, A. 2018. Experimental Investigation on the Performance of Residential Air Conditioning System Using Water Condensate for Subcooling. MATEC Web of Conferences 197. 08002.
Mastrullo, R., Maurano, A. W., Tino, S., Vanoli, G. P. 2007. A Chart for Predicting the Possible Advantage of Adopting a Suction/Liquid Heat Exchanger in Refrigerating System. Applied Thermal Engineering. 27(14-15): 2443-2438.
Arora, C. P. 2001. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. 2nd ed. Singapore: McGraw-Hill.
Jones, J. B., Hawkins, G. A. 1986. Engineering Thermodynamics: An Introduction Textbook. 2nd ed. New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons.
Cengel, Y. A. 2003. Heat transfer: A Practical Approach. 2nd ed. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill.
Domanski, P. A. 1995. Minimizing Throttling Losses in the Refrigeration Cycle. Proceeding of 19th International Congress of Refrigeration 1995. Vo. IVb: 766-773.
Klein, S. A., Reindl, D. T., Brownell, K. 2000. Refrigeration System Performance Using Liquid-suction Heat-exchanger. International Journal of Refrigeration. 23(8): 588-596.
Navarro-Esbri, J., Cabello, R., Torrella, E. 2005. Experimental Evaluation of the Internal Heat Exchanger Influence on a Vapour Compression Plant Energy Efficiency Working with R22, R134a and R407C. Energy. 30(5): 621-636.
Couvillion, R. J., Larson, M. W., Mitchell, J. W. 1988. Analysis of a Vapor-compression Refrigeration System with Mechanical-subcooling. ASHRAE Transactions. 96(2): 641-659.
Khan, J. R., Zubair, S. M. 2000. Design and Rating of Dedicated Mechanical Subcooling Vapor-Compression System. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineering. 214: 455-472.
Qureshi, B. A., Zubair, S. M. 2012. The Impact of Fouling on Performance of a Vapor Compression Refrigeration System with Integrated Mechanical Sub-cooling System. Applied Energy. 92: 750-762.
Sawant, A. P., Agrawal, N., Nanda, P. 2011. Performance Assessment of an Evaporative Cooling Assisted Window Air Conditioner. International Journal of Low-Carbon Technology. 7: 128-136.
Sawan, R., Ghali, K., Al-Hindi, M. 2012. Use of Condensate Drain to Pre-cool the Inlet Air to the Condensers: A Thechnique to Improve the Performance of Split Air Conditioning Units. HVAC&R Research. 18: 37-41.
Tissot, J., Boulet, P., Trinquet, F., Fournaison, L., Lejeune, M., Liaudet, F. 2013. Improved Energy Performance of a Refrigerating Machine Using Water Spray Upstream of the Condenser. International Journal of Refrigeration. 38(1): 93-105.
Ibrahim, N. I., Al-Farayedhi, A. A., Gandhidasan, P. 2017. Experimental Investigation of a Vapor Compression System with Condenser Air Pre-cooling by Condensate. Applied Thermal Engineering. 110: 1255-1263.
Cecchinato, L. 2010. Part Load Efficiency of Packaged Air-cooled Water Chillers with Inverter Driven Scroll Compressors. Energy Conversion and Management. 51(7): 1500-1509.
Kalaiselvam, S., Saravanan, R. 2009. Exergy Analysis of Scroll Compressors Working with R22, R407C, and R417A as Refrigerant for HVAC System. Thermal Science. 13(1): 175-184.
Shao, S., Shi, W., Li, X, Chen, H. 2004. Performance Representation of Variable-speed Compressor for Inverter Air Conditioners based on Experimental Data. International Journal of Refrigeration. 27(8): 805-815.
Qureshi, T. Q., Tassou, S. A. 1996. Variable-speed Capacity Control in Refrigeration Systems. Applied Thermal Enginering. 16(1): 103-113.
Boyd, D. L. 1972. Capacity Control of Reciprocating Compressors Used in Refrigeration Systems. Proceeding of International Compressor Engineering Conference, Purdue University 1972. Paper 6.
Emadi, A. 2005. Energy-Efficient Electric Motor. Marcel Dekker, New York, USA.
Lida, K., Yammamoto, T., Kuroda, T., Hibi, H. 1982. Development of an Energy Saving Oriented Variable Capacity System Heat Pump. ASHRAE Transactions. 88(1): 441-449.
Shimma, Y., Taeuchi, T., Sugiura, H. 1988. Inverter Control System in a Residential Heat Pump Air Conditioners. ASHRAE Transaction. 85(2): 1541-1552.
Marwan. 2004. Energy Saving in an Air-conditioning System using an Inverter and a Temperature-speed Controller. Ph.D. Thesis. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Hua, L., Jeong, S. K., Sam-Sang, You, S. S. 2009. Feedforward Control of Capacity and Superheat for a Variable Speed Refrigeration System. Applied Thermal Engineering. 29(5-6): 1067-1074.
Kwon, L., Hwang, Y., Radermacher, R., Kim, B. 2012. Field Performance Measurements of a VRF System with Sub-cooler in Educational Offices for the Cooling Season. Energy and Buildings. 49(2): 300-305.
Amarnant, A., Blatt, M. 2008. Variable Refrigerant Flow: Where, Why, and How. Engineering Systems. 25(1): 54-60.
Sulaimon, S., Abdulaziz, A., Darus, A. M. 2012. Improved Refrigerant Characteristics Flow Prediction in Adiabatic Capillary Tube. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Thechnology. 4(13): 1922-1927.
Kornhauser, A. A. 1990. The Use of an Ejector as a Refrigerant Expander. Proceeding of the USN/IIR-Purdue Refrigeration Conference. West Lafayette, IN, USA. 10-19.
Harrel, G. S., Kornhauser, A. A. 1995. Performance Test of Two-phase Ejector. Proceeding of the 30th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference Orlando, FL, USA. 49-53.
Sumeru, K., Nasution, H., Ani, F. N. 2012. A Review on Two-phase Ejector as an Expansion Device in Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 16(7): 4927-4937.
Sumeru, K., Nasution, H., Ani, F. N. 2013. Numerical Study of Ejector as an Expansion Device in Split-type Air Conditioner. Applied Mechanics and Materials. 388: 101-105.
Sumeru, K., Nasution, H., Sulaimon, S., Ani, F. N. 2013. Numerical Study of Ejector as an Expansion Device in Split-type Air Conditioner for Energy Savings. Journal of Engineering and Thechnological Sciences. 45(2): 179-192.
Sumeru, K., Sulaimon, S., Nasution, H., Ani, F. N. 2014. Numerical and Experimental Study of an Ejector as an Expansion Device in Split-type Air Conditioner for Energy Savings. Energy and Buildings. 97: 98-105.
Saidur, R., Kazi, S. N., Hossain, M. S., Rahman, M. M., Mohammed, H. A. 2011. A Review on the Performance of Nanoparticles Suspended with Refrigerants and Lubricating Oils in Refrigeration Systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 15(1): 310-323.
Bi, S. S., Guo, K., Liu, Z., Wu, J. 2011. Performance of a Domestic Refrigerator using TiO2-R600a Nano-refrigerant as working Fluid. Energy Conversion and Management. 52(1): 733-737.
Bi, S. S., Shi, L., Zhang, L. I. 2008. Application of Nanoparticles in Domestic Refrigerators. Applied Thermal Engineering. 28(14-15): 1834-1843.
Sabareesh, K. R., Gobinath, N., Sajith, V., Das, S., Sobhan, C. B. 2012. Application of TiO2 Nanoparticles as a Lubricant-Additive for Vapor Compression Refrigeration Systems – An Experimental Investigation. International Journal of Refrigeration. 35(7): 1989-1996.
Gordon, J. 2013. What is an Internal Heat Exchanger? https://macsworldwide.wordpress.com/ 2013/08/02/what-is-an-internal-heat-exchanger/. Posted on August 2, 2013. Assessed on November 12, 2018, 4.42 pm.
Danfos Group. 2018. Internal Heat Exchanger. http://products.danfoss.us/productrange/visuals/refrigeration/line-components/line-components-commercial-refrigeration/#/. Assessed on November 12, 2018, 6.45 pm.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright of articles that appear in Jurnal Teknologi belongs exclusively to Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Penerbit UTM Press). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions, or any other reproductions of similar nature.
