Performance of a Limited Charge of R600a and LPG Refrigerants in a Domestic Refrigerator Using R134a Refrigerant in Different Ambient Conditions
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In this work, a slightly modified 100g R134a domestic refrigerator was retrofitted
with limited mass charge (30g) of R600a and LPG refrigerants and tested in
different ambient temperature conditions (19, 21, 23 and 25 oC). The test rig was
fitted with appropriate instrumentation for experimentation. Performance
characteristics investigated with the test rig at steady state include evaporator air
temperature, discharge temperature and power consumption. Results showed that
the retrofitted hydrocarbon refrigerants in the system at the ambient conditions gave
power consumption, discharge temperature, condensing pressure lower by 15 – 45
%, 16 – 30 % and 25 – 62 % than R134a refrigerant. In addition, the cabinet
temperature of the system with the hydrocarbon refrigerants were higher than R134a
by 10 - 60 %. In conclusion, the investigated energetic characteristics of the system
improved with reducing ambient temperature and all conditions with infused
hydrocarbon refrigerants attained cabinet temperatures lower than -3 oC in
accordance to ISO 8187 recommendation for domestic refrigerators.
Keywords
TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery