Experimental investigation on the performance of a −120 °C ultralow temperature refrigeration system based on a three-stage auto-cascade cycle

Yanbin Qin, Shaojie Zhang, Hua Zhang, Yuxuan Tan, Guozhong Zhou and Baolin Liu

Energy, 2025, vol. 320, issue C

Abstract: This study presents an experimental investigation on the pull-down performance and energy efficiency of a three-stage auto-cascade refrigeration (TACR) system designed for low-temperature freezer applications down to −120 °C. Utilizing low-GWP refrigerants including R600a, R290, R170, and R50, our research fills a significant gap in the existing literature by providing a comprehensive experimental analysis of a real ultralow temperature refrigerator operating at this temperature range. The unique design of the TACR system, featuring recuperators and a carefully selected refrigerant mixture, optimizes heat transfer and reduces environmental impact. The experimental setup achieved a relatively rapid cooling rate, reaching a no-load temperature of −124.7 °C in 40 min and cooling 2 L of ethanol to −120.1 °C in approximately 2 h. Additionally, the measured cooling capacity, coefficient of performance (COP), and relative Carnot efficiency of the TACR system were 93.5 W, 0.1255, and 15.10 %, respectively, at the temperature level of −120 °C. These results demonstrate the significant potential of the TACR system in the field of ultralow temperature freezing for the storage of vaccines and biomedical products, offering valuable insights and practical guidance for future applications.

Keywords: Auto-cascade refrigeration; -120 °C; Pull-down performance; Ultralow temperature; Energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:320:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225007881

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135146

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