Study of refrigeration system with minichannel condenser using R1234ze, R134a, R152a, R600a, R290 and mixture of R290/R600a (50/50)

A versatile vapor compression refrigeration (VCR) system is designed, developed and manufactured for testing different alternative refrigerants to R134a. The refrigerants such as R1234ze, R152a, R600a, R290 and mixture of R290/R600a (50/50) refrigerants are tested with an aluminum minichannel condenser which is designed for R134a. All the refrigerants are experimented for condensation temperature varying from 40 to 55°C while evaporation temperature varying from −10 to +15°C for every condensing temperature. The performance parameters like volumetric refrigerating capacity, actual work consumption of compressor, coefficient of performance (COP) and condenser capacity are compared for different alternative refrigerants. Aluminum minichannel condenser has reduced condensing temperature by 2–3°C with an increase in COP by 10%. The ratio of volumetric refrigerant capacities for R152a, R1234ze, R600a, R290 and HC mixture of R290/R600a (50/50) with respect to R134a are found to be 1.296, 1.143, 0.736, 1.749 and 1.067, respectively which is useful to select specific compressor. The ratio of compressor work for R600a, R290, HC mixture of R290/R600a, R152a and R1234ze with respect to R134a are found to be 1.81, 1.812, 1.867, 1.6 and 1.1, respectively. The ratios of condenser capacity of R600a, R290, HC mixture of R290/R600a, R152a and R1234ze with respect to R134a are found to be 1.914, 2.061, 1.939, 1.65 and 1.064, respectively. It is found that COP of R152a, R600a and R1234ze are larger by 11.53, 5.38 and 27% over R134a whereas COP of R290/R600a (50/50) and R290 are decreased by 0.75% and 14.23% over R134a, respectively. The exergy loss analysis for VCR system components is carried out at condensing temperature of 44°C while evaporating temperature ranging from −10 to +15°C for all the refrigerants and found that total exergy loss is more for R600a among all refrigerants.