Thermodynamic Analysis of a CO 2 Refrigeration Cycle with Integrated Mechanical Subcooling

Laura Nebot-Andrés, Daniel Calleja-Anta, Daniel Sánchez, Ramón Cabello and Rodrigo Llopis
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Laura Nebot-Andrés: Thermal Engineering Group, Mechanical Engineering and Construction Department, Jaume I University, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Daniel Calleja-Anta: Thermal Engineering Group, Mechanical Engineering and Construction Department, Jaume I University, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Daniel Sánchez: Thermal Engineering Group, Mechanical Engineering and Construction Department, Jaume I University, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Ramón Cabello: Thermal Engineering Group, Mechanical Engineering and Construction Department, Jaume I University, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Rodrigo Llopis: Thermal Engineering Group, Mechanical Engineering and Construction Department, Jaume I University, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Spain

Energies, 2019, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Different alternatives are being studied nowadays in order to enhance the behavior of transcritical CO 2 refrigeration plants. Among the most studied options, subcooling is one of the most analyzed methods in the last years, increasing cooling capacity and Coefficient Of Performance (COP), especially at high hot sink temperatures. A new cycle, called integrated mechanical subcooling cycle, has been developed, as a total-CO 2 solution, to provide the subcooling in CO 2 transcritical refrigeration cycles. It corresponds to a promising solution from the point of view of energy efficiency. The purpose of this work is to present, for the first time, thermodynamic analysis of a CO 2 refrigeration cycle with integrated mechanical subcooling cycle from first and second law approaches. Using simplified models of the components, the optimum operating conditions, optimum gas-cooler pressure, and subcooling degree are determined in order to obtain the maximum COP. The main energy parameters of the system were analyzed for different evaporation levels and heat rejection temperatures. The exergy destruction was analyzed for each component, identifying the elements of the system that introduce more irreversibilities. It has been concluded that the new cycle could offer COP improvements from 11.7% to 15.9% in relation to single-stage cycles with internal heat exchanger (IHX) at 35 °C ambient temperature.

Keywords: CO 2; COP; energy efficiency; integrated mechanical subcooling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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