ISSN (e): 2250 3005 || Vol, 04 || Issue, 8 || August 2014 ||

International Journal of Computational Engineering Research (IJCER)

www.ijceronline.com Open Access Journal Page 1
Improving and Comparing the Coefficient of Performance of
Domestic Refgirator by using Refrigerants R134a and R600a

Suresh Boorneni
1 ,
A.V.Satyanarayana
2
,
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, G.P.R College of Engineering, Andhra Pradesh, India)
2
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (Department Of Mechanical Engineering, G.P.R College of Engineering, Andhra
Pradesh, India)






















I. INTRODUCTION
Vapor compression Refrigeration system is an improved type of Mechanical refrigeration system. The
ability of certain liquids to absorb enormous quantities of heat as they vaporize is the basis of this system.
Compared to melting solids (say ice) to obtain refrigeration effect, vaporizing liquid refrigerant has more
advantages. To mention a few, the refrigerating effect can be started or stopped at will, the rate of cooling can be
predetermined, the vaporizing temperatures can be govern by controlling the pressure at which the liquid
vaporizes. Moreover, the vapor can be readily collected and condensed back into liquid state so that same liquid
can be recirculated over and over again to obtain refrigeration effect. Thus the vapor compression system
employs a liquid refrigerant which evaporates and condenses readily. The System is a closed one since the
refrigerant never leaves the system. The coefficient of performance of a refrigeration system is the ratio of
refrigerating effect to the compression work; therefore the coefficient of performance can be increased by
increasing the refrigerating effect or by decreasing the compression work.The Vapor compression refrigeration
system is now-a-days used for all purpose refrigeration. It is generally used for all industrial purposes from a
small domestic refrigerator to a big air-conditioning plant.

1.2 Statement of Problem
The main components of refrigeration system are compressor, condenser, expansion valve and
evaporator. In general refrigeration system the entire refrigeration circuit is exposed to atmosphere so that some
losses may occur. So the entire refrigeration circuit is placed in the closed cabin. The emission of refrigerants
like R12, R22, R134a etc are causes the depletion of ozone layer. So that the refrigerant R600a has been
chosen because it is natural refrigerant consist of hydrocarbon and eco friendly.
In the present dissertation work the heat exchanger is incorporated i.e. the capillary tube is insulated
together with suction line of the compressor. So that the heat transfer occur between vapour refrigerant in the
suction line and the liquid refrigerant in the capillary tube, so that some precooled liquid refrigerant can enter in
to evaporator which is more efficient than regular refrigeration system. This change in temperature of liquid
refrigerant entering in to evaporator will increase the coefficient performance of the system.



ABSTRACT
The main objective in present dissertation has been focused on alternative refrigerant to
conventional CFC refrigerant, CFC like R12, R22, R134a, etc are not eco friendly. The emission of
these refrigerants causes the depletion of ozone layer etc. Hence to avoid above difficulty the
alternative of refrigerant in the form of R600a has been choosing. R600a refrigerant are natural
refrigerant consist of hydrocarbon. In the present work, the performance of the domestic refrigerator is
determined using R600a (Isobutane) and comparison with R134a (Tetrafluoro-ethane) as the part of
project work the refrigerator setup consists of evaporator, compressor, condenser and expansion valve
are chosen with suitable specification. Also in the present work an attempt has been made to improve
the coieffiecnt of performance (cop) of the system, by incorporating a heat exchanger before admitting
refrigerant into the compressor. Thus the compressor work reduces and it may results increase the
performance of the refrigeration system.

KEYWORDS :Heat exchanger, coieffiecnt of performance, Isobutane, depletion of ozone,
alternative refrigerants.

Improving and Comparing The Coefficient
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1.3 objective of the work
1. Determining the actual coefficient of performance of domestic refrigerator using refrigerants R-134a
and R-600a.
2. Comparison the coefficient of performance of domestic refrigerators between refrigerants using R-134a
and R-600a.
3. Experiments increasing coefficient of performance of vapour compression refrigeration system by
incorporating heat exchanger.
4. Comparison the coefficient of performance of domestic refrigerators between refrigerants using R-134a
and R-600a after incorporating heat exchanger.

II. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND DESIGN DETAILS
Different experimental and theoretical comparison is performed by many researchers to evaluate the
performance of domestic refrigerator by using different refrigerants. In this experimental R-600a is compared
with the R-134a in a domestic refrigeration system. To perform the experiment 165L refrigerator is selected
which was designed to work with R-134a.it is consists of an evaporator, air cooled condenser, reciprocating
compressor. Heat exchanger incorporating in system, capillary tube rounded on the entire suction line of system.
By the process rounding of capillary to the suction line we reduce that external type of heat exchanger.


Figure.1 Fabrication of Refrigeration Tutor before Heat Exchanger Incorporation


Figure.2 Fabrication of Refrigeration Tutor after Heat Exchanger Incorporation

III. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
While coming experiment two types of refrigerant using in the refrigerator R134a & R600a ,Putting the
freezer regulator at top position so that no need of cut-off easily taken for system..Take down which refrigerant
is in application. Take down the energy meter reading no of seconds for 5 revolution of energy meter Take
down the reading of compressor pressure discharge inlet & condenser outlet from the pressure gauges. Take
down the temperature readings of compressor suction line, discharge temperature, temperature of evaporator and
condenser outlet temperature of system. Calculate coefficient of performance & energy consumption. And the
experiment is repeated for other refrigerant and the readings are tabulated in the tabular column.
Improving and Comparing The Coefficient
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IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table reading taken from the experimental procedure of R134a refrigerant placed in the experimental
setup. Note the reading of compressor inlet, compressor outlet condenser outlet, evaporator temperature pressure
& of various parameters in the setup.

Table.1 Reading of R134a Refrigerant without Heat Exchanger
Operating
freezer
point
N
(rev/sec)
T
1

c
T
2

c
T
3

c
P
1

(bar)
P
2

(bar)
P
3

(bar)
C.O.P
1
2
3
4
61:07
61:12
60:00
59:00
-3.7
-5.9
-9.3
-11
53
56.9
57.5
60
40
42
44
46
0.68
0.62
0.55
0.55
9.6
10.34
11.72
11.72
9.31
9.65
11.03
11.03
4.22
4.20
4.16
3.81

Table .2 Reading of R134a Refrigerant with Heat Exchanger
Operating
freezer
point
N
(rev/sec)
T
1

c
T
2

c
T
3

c
P
1

(bar)
P
2

(bar)
P
3

(bar)
C.O.P
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
46:10
49:18
50:30
49:29
51:20
53:12
52
-7.9
-7.9
-9.6
-12
-15
-17.8
-19
54.8
54.9
55.6
57
58.5
59.2
60.1
44.3
42.3
41.6
42.6
43
43.1
43.1
0.68
0.55
0.58
0.58
0.37
0.344
0.310
17.24
15.51
15.72
15.86
15.17
15.17
14.48
16.55
14.62
15.03
15.17
14.48
14.48
14.13
4.55
4.44
4.30
3.9
3.87
3.64
3.40

Table reading taken from the experimental procedure of R600a refrigerant placed in the experimental setup.
Note down reading as per procedure placed.

Table .3 Reading for R600a without Heat Exchanger
Operating
freezer
point
N
(rev/sec)
T
1

c
T
2

c
T
3

c
P
1

(bar)
P
2

(bar)
P
3

(bar)
C.O.P
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

54
55
54
57
60
57
60
-10.6
-11.6
-12.2
-14.1
-16.8
-17.7
-18.3

55.9
57.4
56.8
57.2
58.4
59.3
60
45.2
45.1
43.9
43
44
43.8
44.3
0.14
0.13
0.14
0.07
0.08
0.07
0.08
9.2
8.9
9.1
8.06
8.34
8
7.92
8.21
8.12
7.94
7.79
7.94
7.35
7.24
5.76
4.12
4.76
3.9
3.8
3.7
4.08


Table .4 Reading for R600a Refrigerant with Heat Exchanger
Operating
freezer
point
N
(rev/sec)
T
1

c
T
2

c
T
3

c
P
1

(bar)
P
2

(bar)
P
3

(bar)
C.O.P
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
55:10
55:10
56:60
56:10
60:20
60:09
60:05
-11.6
-11.9
-12.9
-14.6
-17.6
-19.2
-19.6
51.9
51.7
52.3
53.6
53.7
53.3
53.5
41.3
39.4
41.7
39.6
38
39.2
38.6
0.13
0.13
0.14
0.06
0.06
0.07
0.06
8.2
8.4
8.2
8.06
7.93
7.44
7.33
7.93
7.93
7.91
7.79
7.58
7.24
7.17
5.2
5.19
5.21
4.15
3.6
4.01
4.06


Improving and Comparing The Coefficient
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Figure .3 Shows R600a refrigerant Evaporator point V
s
C.O.P
Colour Represent in graph Green colour : refrigerant with H.E
Red colour : refrigerant without H.E



Figure .4 Shows R134a refrigerant Evaporator point V
s
C.O.P


Figure .5 Represent R600a evaporator Temp V
s
Discharge Temp
Improving and Comparing The Coefficient
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Figure .6 Represent R134a evaporator Temp V
s
Discharge Temp

V. CONCLUSIONS
An experiment is conducted on domestic refrigerator by with & without incorporating heat exchanger
in the system by using various refrigerants in the fabrication system and their coefficient of performance &
energy consumption of the system is calculated.

Refrigerator carried out using without & with heat exchanger of refrigerant R134a & R600a in system,
in which coefficient of performance of refrigerator 0.95 increased by using heat exchanger.
In the same way the discharge temperature of compressor is decreased with 10% by using heat
exchanger , energy consumption refrigerator gradually increased with 3% of compared to normal
domestic refrigerator.

REFERENCES
[1] R. Yajima et al., 1994, "The Performance Evaluation of HFC Alternative Refrigerants for HCFC-22", IIR Joint meeting, CFCs
The Day After, Padova
[2] K. Furuhama et al., 1994, "Performance Evaluation of Residential Air Conditioner with HFC32/125 Mixture, The International
Symposium HCFC Alternative Refrigerants, Kobe
[3] E. Johnson, Global warming from HFC, Environ. Impact Assessment Rev. 18 (1998) 485492.
[4] M.A. Hammad, M.A. Alsaad, The use of hydrocarbon mixtures as refrigerants in domestic refrigerators, Applied Thermal
Engineering 19 (1999) 11811189.
[5] Douglas J D, Braun J E, Groll E A and Tree D R (1999), A Cost Method Comparing Alternative Refrigerant Applied to R-22
System, International Journal of Refrigeration, Vol. 22, pp. 107-125.
[6] B. O. Bolaji, Experimental study of R152a and R32 to replace R134a in a domestic refrigerator, Energy 35 (2010) 37933798.