Simulation of a vapour-compression refrigeration cycles using HFC134A and CFC12

A performance comparison analysis of vapour-compression refrigeration systems using refrigerant HFC134a and CFC12 is presented. The analysis is based on computer simulation of actual cycles rather than the ideal cycles. The simulation models for HFC134a and CFC 12 are developed on the basis of fluid properties and thermo-hydraulic characteristics obtained from available experimental data and/or correlations. Using the simulation model thus developed, system performance with HFC134a and CFC12 are examined. A comparison of the performance of HFC134a and CFC12 is presented using COP (and compressor power) as a criterion for the same cooling load. Results indicate that the COP for HFC134a is slightly (about 3%) lower than that for a CFC 12 system. This means that the power requirement for a HFC134a system is slightly higher than that for CFC12 system for an identical cooling requirement. A comparison of these two systems from a thermodynamic point of view is also presented using exergy loss as a performance evaluation criterion. These results indicate that the HFC134a system is only slightly inferior to the CFC12 systems due to a higher (about 3%) exergy loss with HFC134a. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.