Exergy analysis of cascade refrigeration system working with refrigerant pairs R41-R404A and R41-R161

Abstract

In this paper, a comparative study of vapour cascade refrigeration system performance with R41 - R161 and R41 - R404A refrigerant couples have been presented to find out best suited refrigerant between R161 and R404A in the high temperature circuit. A mathematical model has been developed using the basic equations of refrigeration system for the calculation of basic performance parameters energetically and exergetically. Few parameters have been assumed to carry out the simulation. Simulated results show that R41 - R161 gives better results than R41 - R404A in all aspects, i.e. compressor power, COP, exergy destruction and exergetic efficiency wise. Exergetic analysis reveals that maximum and minimum losses for R41 - R161 occurs in the high temperature circuit compressor and evaporator respectively. Therefore, R161 can be a promising refrigerant to R404A due to its better thermophysical and environmental properties.