TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of R448A and R450A as low-GWP alternatives for R404A and R134a using a micro-fin tube evaporator model
AU - Mendoza-Miranda, Juan Manuel
AU - Mota-Babiloni, Adrián
AU - Navarro-Esbrí, Joaquín
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/4/5
Y1 - 2016/4/5
N2 - When retrofitting new refrigerants in an existing vapour compression system, their adaptation to the heat exchangers is a major concern. R450A and R448A are commercial non-flammable mixtures with low GWP developed to replace the HFCs R134a and R404A, fluids with high GWP values. In this work the evaporator performance is evaluated through a shell-and-microfin tube evaporator model using R450A, R448A, R134a and R404A. The accuracy of the model is first studied considering different recently developed micro-fin tube correlations for flow boiling phenomena. The model is validated using experimental data from tests carried out in a fully monitored vapour compression plant at different refrigeration operating conditions. The main predicted operational parameters such as evaporating pressure, UATP, and cooling capacity, when compared with experimental data, fit within ±10% using the Akhavan-Behabadi et al. correlation for flow boiling. Results show that R450A and R404A are the refrigerants in which the model fits better, even though R448A and R134a predictions are also accurate.
AB - When retrofitting new refrigerants in an existing vapour compression system, their adaptation to the heat exchangers is a major concern. R450A and R448A are commercial non-flammable mixtures with low GWP developed to replace the HFCs R134a and R404A, fluids with high GWP values. In this work the evaporator performance is evaluated through a shell-and-microfin tube evaporator model using R450A, R448A, R134a and R404A. The accuracy of the model is first studied considering different recently developed micro-fin tube correlations for flow boiling phenomena. The model is validated using experimental data from tests carried out in a fully monitored vapour compression plant at different refrigeration operating conditions. The main predicted operational parameters such as evaporating pressure, UATP, and cooling capacity, when compared with experimental data, fit within ±10% using the Akhavan-Behabadi et al. correlation for flow boiling. Results show that R450A and R404A are the refrigerants in which the model fits better, even though R448A and R134a predictions are also accurate.
KW - Evaporator model
KW - Flow boiling heat transfer correlations
KW - R134a
KW - R404A
KW - R448A
KW - R450A
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84954051096&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.12.064
DO - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.12.064
M3 - Artículo
SN - 1359-4311
VL - 98
SP - 330
EP - 339
JO - Applied Thermal Engineering
JF - Applied Thermal Engineering
ER -