Thermodynamic Evaluation of Low-GWP A1 Refrigerants for Ultra-Low Temperature Refrigeration Applications

Pau Giménez-Prades, Cosmin-Mihai Udroiu, Joaquín Navarro-Esbrí and Adrián Mota-Babiloni ()
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Pau Giménez-Prades: ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
Cosmin-Mihai Udroiu: ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
Joaquín Navarro-Esbrí: ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
Adrián Mota-Babiloni: ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-25

Abstract: Slow market development has caused the lack of low-GWP A1 refrigerants for ultra-low temperature (ULT) refrigeration. Consequently, the high-GWP refrigerant R23 (GWP = 14,600) remains widely used within the ULT sector. For this reason, this paper proposes a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of recently developed CO 2 -based mixtures as low-GWP A1 alternatives to R23 for ULT applications, R469A (GWP = 1357), R472B (GWP = 526), R472A (GWP = 353), and R473A (GWP = 1830). In addition, three system configurations are analysed, the basic two-stage cascade system, and configurations incorporating internal heat exchangers (IHXs). Keeping a constant high-temperature stage (HTS) condensation temperature at 35 °C, three low-temperature stage (LTS) evaporation temperatures are considered, −70, −60, and −50 °C. The highest coefficient of performance (COP) is reached by R23 across all operating conditions and configurations. Among the alternative refrigerants, R473A exhibits the highest COP (0.74% to 1.26% lower than R23). The implementation of IHX results in a reduced COP compared to the basic cycle. R472B is the refrigerant least negatively affected by the IHX implementation due to its high glide. Finally, the environmental impact of R23 is notably reduced by all the alternative refrigerants (up to 95%). This paper’s findings highlight the potential of alternative refrigerants as replacements for R23 in ULT applications.

Keywords: cascade; internal heat exchanger; optimisation; A1 refrigerants; ultra-low temperature (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: 2025
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