The first experimental tests of novel bivalent hybrid ejector-compressor refrigeration system

Jerzy Gagan, Kamil Śmierciew, Andrzej Pawluczuk, Michał Łukaszuk, Adam Dudar and Dariusz Butrymowicz

Energy, 2025, vol. 317, issue C

Abstract: A sustainable approach to refrigeration involves hybrid systems combining heat driven ejector and electrically driven compressor technologies to leverage low-grade heat effectively. However, practical implementation of such systems is limited. This study presents the experimental validation of a 23 kW bivalent hybrid vapor ejector-compressor refrigeration system designed to produce chilled water at 6/12 °C for air-conditioning applications. The system can operate as ejector-driven and compressor-driven based on operational conditions, addressing the ejector limitations under high condensation pressures. Experimental results demonstrate the system capability to maintain a cooling output, achieving a coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.30 in an ejector mode and average 4.70 in a compressor mode. The mode-switching, i.e. bivalent point, corresponds to a condensation temperature of approximately 25 °C. Energy analysis reveals significant potential savings during ejector operation, highlighting its efficiency under favorable conditions. This work bridges the gap between theoretical modeling and practical application by experimentally validating the hybrid system performance. Additionally, a simple economic analysis underscores the viability of the system, estimating annual energy consumption at 42,836 kWh for continuous operation. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and deployment of hybrid refrigeration systems aimed at reducing environmental impact while maintaining operational flexibility.

Keywords: Ejector; Low-GWP refrigerant; Hybrid refrigeration system; COP; Energy efficiency; Bivalent operation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225002889
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:317:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225002889

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.134646

Access Statistics for this article

Energy is currently edited by Henrik Lund and Mark J. Kaiser

More articles in Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().