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Abstract:
Along with fossil fuels, previous generation of refrigerants also contributed to global warming by remaining in the
environment for greater time. This issue could potentially be solved by replacing the previous generation’s high
global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants with environmentally friendly refrigerants. This scenario requires an
analysis of new refrigerants for a comparison of the thermodynamic properties of the previously used refrigerants. In
the present research, a numerical study was conducted to analyze the thermodynamic performance of specifically
low GWP hydrofluoroolefens (HFO) refrigerants for an actual vapor compression refrigeration cycle (VCRC) with a
constant degree of 3 K superheat.

Introduction:
Previously halogenated refrigerants were used in abundance because of their favorable thermodynamics properties

like COP, refrigeration effect etc.[1].But now, due to the excessive increase use of refrigeration devices based on
VCC it has become necessary to replace the previous generation non-environmentally friendly refrigerants with the

environmental friendly refrigerants for sustainable environment[2].Important terms used to indicate the seriousness

of impact of these refrigerants on environment is the Life Cycle Analysis and conversion efficiency[3]. Due to the
large GWP values of the previous generation of refrigerants, the USA’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
has decided to systematically phase out HFCs to 50% by 2024, 80% by 2029, and 100% by 2034 . Therefore, it is
necessary to find substitute refrigerant for the sustainability of the environment that should have a low GWP for
minimum environmental impact. Table 1 shows properties of a few refrigerants and
indicates that the heavier refrigerants R123, R1233zd(E) and R365mfc have higher normal boiling point
(NBP) than the light refrigerants R134, R1234yf and R1234ze(E). Consequently, lighter refrigerants have
a higher vapor pressure than heavier refrigerants, which is due to the interatomic bonding of molecules.

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2.0 Methodology:

While selecting a particular refrigerant we have to compromise on some parameters because

of certain nature of refrigerants which may have very low GWP may have very high toxicity
or flammability.

Mathematic Expressions:

For finding output parameters we use following equations on Engineering equation solver7
which represent entry and exit of refrigerant respectively

Q evp =m × ( h 1−h 7 )

Pcom =m×(h 3−h 2)

Q ev p
COP=
Pcomr

N
m= × Dcom p × ρ1 × η v
60

Qevap ,refrigernat −Q
Qevap ,relative= evap, R134a

Qevap ,R 134a

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COP ,ref −COP

COP, rel = ,R134 a

COP , R 134 a

Where COPrefrigerant represnets the coreesponding value of under study refirgernats

Ph diagrams:

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3.0 Results

12

11

10
Refrigeration effect(kW)

4
6 7.5 9 10.5 12
Condenser pressure(bar)

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-5
Refrigeration effect relative to R134a
-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

-40
(%)

-45
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Condenser pressure(bar)

. From the graph it is evident that as condenser pressure increases along the x-axis the
refrigeration effect drops.

3.2 Effect of Evaporator Pressure:

Refrigeration effect is maximum for R134a as shown in graph. As far as HFO refrigerants
are concerned Refrigeration effect is maximum for R123ze(Z)..

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7
Refrigerant effect(kW)

0
0.7 1 1.3 1.6 1.9
Evaporator pressure(bar)

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0
0.7 1 1.3 1.6 1.9
-5
Refrigerant effect relative to R134a

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35
(%)

-40

-45

-50
evaporator pressure(bar)

The graph above shows relative variation of refrigerant effect of HFO refrigerants as
compared to R134a.From the graph it is evident that line of R123ze(Z) is very close to
R134a.

3.3 Effect of Condenser pressure on Compressor input

power:

The compressor power input was maximum for R134a as shown by graph. As the condenser
pressure increases the compressor input power increases as enthalpy of compressed state
increases by increasing pressure.

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3.5

3.3

3.1
Compressor power(kW)
2.9

2.7

2.5

2.3

2.1

1.9

1.7

1.5
6 7.5 9 10.5 12
Condenser pressure(bar)

0
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

-2
Compressor work Relative to R134a

-4

-6

-8

-10
(%)

-12

-14
Condenser pressure(bar)

The percentage deviation of R134a was least for R123ze(Z) was only 2 percent at 12 bar
pressure. While the variation of R365mfc was about 12 percent. From the graphs we can see

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that as the condenser pressure is increasing the relative variation of HFO Refrigerants
increases.

3.4 Effect of Evaporator pressure on Compressor power

Input

From the graph the very first thing we can observe is that the as the evaporator pressure
increases the compressor input power increases. The input power was maximum for
R134a.Amongst the HFO refrigerants the power was maximum for R123ze(Z).

2.5
compressor input power(kW)

1.5

0.5

0
0.7 1 1.3 1.6 1.9
Evaporator pressure(bar)

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-2
Compressor wotk relative to R134a
-4

-6

-8

-10

-12
(%)

-14
0.7 1 1.3 1.6 1.9
Evaporator pressure(bar)

The relative variation of compressor input power with evaporator pressure is shown in graph
above. From the graph we can conclude that the relative variation of refrigerant is almost
constant with evaporator pressure.

Effect of Condenser Pressure on COP:

From the graphs we can see as the Condenser pressure is increased the cop of all the
refrigerants decreased..

The reason for this is that as the condenser pressure is increased Compressor work increases
and refrigeration effect decreases hence cop decreases with increase in pressure.

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Cop
6

4
COp

0
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Condenser pressure bar

-5

-10
COP relative to R134a

-15

-20

-25
(%)

-30

-35
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Condenser pressure(bar)

The graphs above show relative COP variation of HFO refrigerants with respect to
R134a.From the graph it is evident that variation of R123ze(Z) is minimum while it is
maximum for R365mfc.Deviation of R123ze(Z) is 6 percent while R365mfc is 30 percent.

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Effect of evaporator pressure on COP

COP is the most important parameter for evaluating devices operating on second law of
thermodynamics. form the graphs we can see as the evaporator pressure is increased the cop
of all the refrigerants increases.

3.5

2.5
COP

1.5

0.5

0
0.7 1 1.3 1.6 1.9
Evaporator pressure(bar)

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0
0.7 1 1.3 1.6 1.9

-5

-10
COP relative to R134a

-15

-20

-25
(%)

-30

-35

-40
Evaporator pressure(bar)

The graphs above show relative COP variation of HFO refrigerants with respect to
R134a.From the graph it is evident that variation of R123ze(Z) is minimum while it is
maximum for R365mfc.At 1.9 bar evaporator pressure deviation of R123ze(Z) is 4.7277
percent while R365mfc is 20.138 percent. Also, from the graphs it is evident that variation of
cop relative to R134a decreases with increase in evaporator pressure.

4.0 Conclusion

From all the discussion and result it can be deducted thatR123ze(Z) is the refrigerants which
can serve as an alternative for R134a.Its Global warming potential is very less as compared
to R134a, while its performance coefficient, refrigeration effect and compressor power only
slightly deviate from R134a.Replacemnt of R134a with R123ze(Z) will result in reduction in
Global warming due to refrigerants.

5.0 References:

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