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Experimental Study On A Domestic Refrigerator Using LPG As A Refrigarant
Experimental Study On A Domestic Refrigerator Using LPG As A Refrigarant
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ABSTRACT
This project is devoted to feasibility study of substitution of LPG (60%
Propane and 40 % commercial Butane) as refrigerant instead of R134a in a
domestic refrigerator. An experimental performance study on a VCR system
with LPG as refrigerant was conducted and compared with R134a.The VCR
system was initially designed to operate with R134a. Experimental results
showed that the LPG refrigerant with charge of 40g worked well at loaded
condition as it took 30 min. to bring down the temperature of 500g of water
from 30 degree Celsius to 6.8 degree Celsius. LPG charge of 60g worked well
under unloaded condition. It took 5 minutes to bring down evaporator
temperature from 30 degree Celsius to 0 degree Celsius. Power consumed by
compressor while working with LPG as refrigerant is considerably low.
Key words: Vapor Compression Refrigerant System, LPG
Cite this Article: Ajeet Kumar Rai, Amit Kumar, Pravin Kumar and Ayaj
Ahamad Ansari. Experimental Study on A Domestic Refrigerator Using LPG
as A Refrigarant, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and
Technology, 6(11), 2015, pp. 43-49
http://www.iaeme.com/currentissue.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=6&IType=11
1. INTRODUCTION
In developing country like India, most of the vapour compression based refrigeration,
air conditioning and heat pump systems continue to run on halogenated refrigerants
due to its excellent thermodynamic and thermo-physical properties apart from the low
cost. However, the halogenated refrigerants have adverse environmental impacts such
as ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP). Hence, it is
necessary to look for alternative refrigerants to full fill the objectives of the
international protocols (Montreal and Kyoto) and to satisfy the growing worldwide
demand.
In earlier days, ethyl chloride was used as a refrigerant which soon gave way to
ammonia as early as in 1875. At about the same time, sulphur dioxide in 1874, methyl
chloride in 1878 and carbon dioxide in 1881, found application as refrigerant. During
1910-30 many new refrigerants, such as N2O3, CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C3H8 were
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/index.asp 43 editor@iaeme.com
Ajeet Kumar Rai, Amit Kumar, Pravin Kumar and Ayaj Ahamad Ansari
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/index.asp 44 editor@iaeme.com
Experimental Study on A Domestic Refrigerator Using LPG As A Refrigerant
2. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
Air-cooled condenser
Type Wire-on-tube
Tube material Steel
Tube diameter (inner/outer) 4.76/6.18 mm
Outer surface area 0.724m2
Maximum working pressure 40 bar
Evaporator
Type Roll bond-type
Material Aluminium
Length of evaporator panel 1184 ± 1 mm
Thickness of evaporator panel 1.2 ± 1 mm
Passage way surface of panel 0.35 m2
Volume capacity of panel 0.024 m3
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/index.asp 45 editor@iaeme.com
Ajeet Kumar Rai, Amit Kumar, Pravin Kumar and Ayaj Ahamad Ansari
Capillary Tube
Material Copper
Inner diameter 0.78 ± 0.02 mm
Outer diameter 2.0 ± 0.05 mm
Length 2.75 ± 0.03 m
Initial charge (40-90) g
Observation Table
Table 1 Study of performance of 40g LPG as refrigerant in VCR system with 500 g of
water at 29 oC in evaporator
Evaporator
Evaporator Compressor Compressor Condenser Evaporator Suction press. Discharge
Time outlet temp.
temp. T6 inlet temp. outlet temp. Outlet temp. inlet temp.T4 (Lps) press.
(min) T5
(oC) T1 (oC) T2 (oC) T3 (oC) (oC) (Psi) (hps) (Psi)
(oC)
At start 29 29.2 28 29.4 27.9 28 40 46
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Experimental Study on A Domestic Refrigerator Using LPG As A Refrigerant
50
45
Compressor temp. (oC) 40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (min.)
122
120
High pressure side (Psi)
118
116
114
112
110
108
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (min.)
4.5
4
3.5
Low pressure side (Psi)
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
-0.5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (min.)
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/index.asp 47 editor@iaeme.com
Ajeet Kumar Rai, Amit Kumar, Pravin Kumar and Ayaj Ahamad Ansari
30
20
15
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
time (min.)
Figure 5 Evaporator temp. vs time graph of 40g LPG refrigerant.
COP is calculated assuming cycle to be ideal vapour compression cycle and taking
dryness fraction as 0.95.
LPS = 0.69 bar
hf=83.41kJ/kg, hg=516.33 kJ/kg, hfg=432.92 kJ/kg
HPS= 8.28 bar
hg= 593.951kJ/kg= h2, hf = 250.52 kJ/kg= h3= h4
COP= (h1-h4)/ (h2-h1) = 2.45
Experiments were conducted at no load condition, took 6.5 minute to bring down
the Temperature from 300C to 00C. Pull down time is 6.5 minutes.
Analysing above data we can infer that LPG charge of 40g worked well at loaded
condition as it took 30 min. to bring down the temperature of 500g of water from 30
degree Celsius to 6.8 degree Celsius in comparison to 90g of R-134a which took 26
min. to bring down the temperature from 27 degree Celsius to 7 degree Celsius.
4. CONCLUSION
The performance of a domestic refrigerator was investigated using LPG as
refrigerants. Although the refrigerator has been designed for 105 g R134a, it was
capable to work with LPG. Nevertheless, energy consumption analysis indicated that
the HFC compressor should be changed to a HC compressor for hydrocarbon
refrigerants. Results showed that energy consumption was reduced, for the
refrigerator while working with a HFC type compressor charged with the optimum
amount of LPG charge, in comparison with the base refrigerator. The proposed LPG
seems to be an appropriate long-term candidate to replace R134a in the existing
refrigerator, except capillary tube length and initial charge Literature review on safety
analysis showed that in case of a sudden leakage of total amount of hydrocarbon
refrigerants, it would not result in explosive conditions. If same experiment was
conducted on the refrigerator designed for LPG, better results are expected.
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Experimental Study on A Domestic Refrigerator Using LPG As A Refrigerant
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