International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation

Vol. 3(4), Oct-Dec 2015, pp. 76-84

Doi: 10.51976/ijari.341514
www.gla.ac.in/journals/ijari
© 2015 IJARI, GLA University
Article Info
Received: 25 Sept 2015 | Revised Submission: 20 Oct 2015 | Accepted: 28 Nov 2015 | Available Online: 15 Dec 2015

Thermodynamic Performance Comparison using HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze in the High

Temperature Cascade Refrigeration Systems and Ecofriendly Refrigerants in Low
Temperature Applications

R. S. Mishra*

ABSTRACT

The present paper relates to a cascade refrigeration system which circulates a HFO refrigerant in the high
temperature circuit and HFC-134a in the low temperature (173K) circuit for cryogen applications .The
thermodynamic analysis using entropy generation for finding exergy destruction ratio indicating that R1234ze
(GWP=6) gives better performance than R-1234yf (GWP=4) in the high temperature circuit. The numerical
computation has been carried out for 173 K evaporator temperature for ten ecofriendly refrigerants in the low
temperature circuit and HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze, R152a and R717 in the high temperature circuit. The effect
of condenser temperature from temperature (303K to 333K), cascade evaporator range (253K to 293K) and
evaporator temperature range 173K to 223K and temperature overlapping (Approach) rages from zero to 10 on
thermodynamic performance have been investigated. It was observed that R1234ze in high temperature circuit
and R 134a in lower temperature circuit is a best alternative than R1234yf in high temperature circuit and R
134a in lower temperature circuit.

Keywords: HFO-1234ze/HFO-1234yf; Cascade Refrigeration System; Ecofriendly Refrigerants; Alternative

Refrigerants.

1.0 Introduction hydrocarbons such as butane or propane, in the low

temperature refrigerants for maintaining 173”K” for
Low global warming potential refrigerants crygen applications. These replacements are found,
R1234ze and R1234yf are anticipated to be the new uses of such alternative refrigerants are being
refrigerants of choice for high-temperature sought in order to take advantage of their low or zero
refrigeration systems and heat pump in the industrial ozone depletion potential and lower global warming
applications. HFO-1234ze is a global warming potential.
potential (GWP) rating one 225th and HFO-1234yf is
the first in a global warming potential (GWP) rating 2.0 Literature Review
one 335th that of R-134a [1] Cascade refrigeration
systems for Low-Temperature are typically uses a The cascade refrigeration system has at least
refrigerant such as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) two refrigeration loops, each circulating a ecofriendly
or blends thereof with HFC-125 and HFC-143a (i.e., refrigerant there comprising: a first expansion device
R404A) and carbon dioxide (C02) in the low for reducing the pressure and temperature of a HFO
temperature loop in the low temperature loop to refrigerant and evaporator having an inlet and an
provide cooling at 173K for crygen applications. outlet, wherein the first refrigerant liquid from the
HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf & HFO1234ze being the first expansion device enters the evaporator through
most widely used now a day , have zero ozone the evaporator inlet and is evaporated in the
depletion potential and thus are not affected by the evaporator to form a HFO refrigerant vapor, thereby
current regulatory phase out as a result of the producing cooling, and circulates to the outlet;
Montreal Protocol. The first compressor having an inlet and an
This paper mainly deals with HFO refrigerants outlet, wherein the first refrigerant vapor from the
used in HTC and HFC-134a include pure evaporator circulates to the inlet of the first
_________________
*Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India
(E-mail: [email protected])
77 International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation, Vol 3(4), Oct-Dec 2015

compressor and is compressed, thereby increasing the second outlet of the first cascade heat exchanger to
pressure and the temperature of the first refrigerant the first inlet of the second cascade heat exchanger
vapour, and the compressed first refrigerant vapour and to the first outlet of the second cascade heat
circulates to the outlet of the first compressor. The exchanger and rejects the heat absorbed from the first
cascade heat exchanger system having:(i) a first inlet refrigerant. The second refrigerant liquid circulates
and a first outlet, wherein the first refrigerant vapour from the second inlet to the second outlet of the
circulates from the first inlet to the first outlet and is second cascade heat exchanger and absorbs the heat
condensed in the heat exchanger system to form a rejected by the heat transfer fluid and forms a second
first refrigerant liquid, thereby rejecting heat, and (ii) refrigerant vapour. In accordance there is provided a
a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein a second method of exchanging heat between at least two
refrigerant liquid circulates from the second inlet to refrigeration loops, comprising:
the second outlet and absorbs the heat rejected by the (a) absorbing heat from a body to be cooled in
first refrigerant and forms a second refrigerant a first refrigeration loop and rejecting this heat to a
vapour; and second compressor having an inlet and second refrigeration loop; and (b) absorbing the heat
an outlet, wherein the second refrigerant vapour from from the first refrigeration loop in the second
the cascade heat exchanger system is drawn into the refrigeration loop and rejecting heat to ambient, as
compressor and is compressed, thereby increasing the discussed in literature[2-3]
pressure and temperature of the second refrigerant
vapour; The condenser having an inlet and an outlet 3.0 System Description
for circulating the second refrigerant vapour there
through and for condensing the second refrigerant The object of the present study is to provide
vapour from the compressor to form a second cascade refrigeration systems which use HFO-1234yf
refrigerant liquid, wherein the second refrigerant and HFO-1234ze refrigerant in the high temperature
liquid exits the condenser through the condenser circuit which have unique characteristics to meet the
outlet; and (g) a second expansion device which demands of low or zero ozone depletion potential and
reduces the pressure and temperature of the second lower global warming potential as compared to R11,
refrigerant liquid exiting the condenser and entering R12 and R22 refrigerants.
the second inlet of the cascade heat exchanger In addition to lower global warming potential
system. The cascade heat exchanger system may advantages, using R-1234yf and R1234ze in the high
include a first and a second cascade heat exchanger, temperature circuit and R134a in the low temperature
and a secondary heat transfer loop which extends cascade refrigeration circuit the present investigation
between the first and the second cascade heat may have several advantages than currently used
exchanger. In this system, the second refrigerant cascade refrigeration systems.
liquid indirectly absorbs the heat rejected by the first
refrigerant vapour through a heat transfer fluid which 4.0 Results and Discussions
circulates between the first cascade heat exchanger
and the second cascade heat exchanger through the Table-1a and Table-2a showing the effect of
secondary heat transfer loop. The first cascade heat ecofriendly refrigerants on first law efficiency (i.e.
exchanger has a first inlet and a first outlet, and a Overall system COP) and exergetic efficiency of
second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the first cascade refrigeration system using R1234yf (of GWP
refrigerant vapour circulates from the first inlet to the 6) in the high temperature circuit and it was found
first outlet and rejects heat and is condensed, and a that both thermal efficiencyies (i.e. overall first law
secondary heat transfer fluid circulates from the efficiency and also second law efficiency) have
second inlet to the second outlet and absorbs the heat highest values in case , when R123 is used in the low
rejected from the first refrigerant vapour and temperature circuit and R407c is used in the low
circulates to the second cascade heat exchanger. The temperature circuit. Similarly system exergy
second cascade heat exchanger has a first inlet and a destruction ratio (EDR) is lowest when R600
first outlet, and a second inlet and a second outlet, hydrocarbon is used in the low temperature circuit.
wherein the heat transfer fluid circulates from the The low temperature circuit first law performance is
 Thermodynamic Performance Comparison using HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze in the High 78
Temperature Cascade Refrigeration Systems and Ecofriendly Refrigerants in Low Temperature
Applications

lowest when R407c is used in the low temperature increases while low temperature circuit first law
circuit. However high temperature circuit frist law efficiency (COPLTC ) decreases.
performance does not affect. The temperature The performance of cascade refrigeration
variation of high temperature circuit condenser with system using various ecofriendly refrigerants in the
thermodynamic performances of cascade refrigeration high temperature circuit and R134a in the also shown
system is also shown in Table-1(b) and Table-2(b) in Table-3 respectively and it was observed that First
respectively and it is found that by increasing law efficiency in terms of overall system COP and
condenser’s temperature in the high temperature second law efficiency (i.e. exergetic efficiency) is
circuit, the first law thermodynamic efficiency highest with lowest exergy destruction ratio using
(overall system COP) second law efficiency R717 which is toxic in nature and performance of R-
(exergetic efficiency) is decreases Similarly system 152a is nearly approaching the same value which is
exergy destruction ratio is increases. also flammable in nature.
The temperature overlapping (Difference of Therefore the next alternative is R1234ze a (of
temperature between cascade condenser and cascade GWP=4) and R1234yf (of GWP=6) for high
evaporator) is known as approach is greatly temperature circuit gives better options after 2030 in
influencing the thermodynamic performances of terms of environmental aspects and it was found that
cascade refrigeration system using R1234ze/R1234yf R1234ze gives better thermodynamic performance
in the high temperature circuit and R134a in the low than using R1234yf in the high temperature circuit.
temperature circuit as shown in Table-1(c) and Table-
2(c) respectively. The best performance of the Table 1.a (i): Effect of ecofriendly refrigerants on
cascade refrigeration system is achieved without thermal performance of cascade Refrigeration
temperature overlapping. system using R-1234yf in High Temperature
As increasing approach, the first and second Circuit and following ecofriendly refrigerants in
law efficiency have ben decreasing and system the Low Temperature Circuit (CompressorEfficiency-
exergy destruction ratio is increasing. 1=0.80,Teva2=173K, Tcond=333K, Tcascade-
The temperature variation of low temperature evaporator=253K, CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
circuit evaporator with thermodynamic performances Approach=temperature overlapping=10
of cascade refrigeration system is also shown in
Table-1(d) and Table-2(d) respectively and it is found
that by increasing evaporator’s temperature in the low
temperature circuit, the first law thermodynamic
efficiency (overall system COP) second law
efficiency (exergetic efficiency) is increases Similarly
system exergy destruction ratio is decreases. Effect of
variation in temperature of cascade evaporator on
thermal performance of cascade Refrigeration system
using R-1234yf/R1234ze in HighTemperature Circuit
and R134a ecofriendly refrigerant in the Low
Temperature Circuit is shown in Table-1(e) & Table-
2(e) respectively and it was observed that by
increasing cascade evaporator temperature, the first
law efficiency (overall system COP) increases and
reached to a optimum (maximum) value at 268K
temperature and then decreases significantly and it
strongly affecting circuit first law efficiency as high
temperature circuit first law efficiency (COP HTC )
79 International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation, Vol 3(4), Oct-Dec 2015

Table 1.a: (ii). Effect of ecofriendly refrigerants on Table 1.b(ii): Effect of High temperature
thermal performance of cascade Refrigeration condenser on thermal performance of cascade
system using R-1234yf in High Temperature Refrigeration system using R-1234yf in High
Circuit and following ecofriendly refrigerants in Temperature Circuit and following ecofriendly
the Low Temperature Circuit (CompressorEfficiency- refrigerants in the Low Temperature Circuit
1=0.80,Teva2=173K, Tcond=333K, Tcascade- (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
evaporator=253K, CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80, Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10 CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
Approach=temperature overlapping= 10

Table: 1c(i). Effect of Temperature overlapping on

thermal performance in cascade temperature-
Table: 1.b. (i). Effect of High temperature
evaporator on Thermal Performance of cascade
condenser on thermal performance of cascade
Refrigeration system using R-1234yf in High
Refrigeration system using R-1234yf in High
Temperature Circuit and R134a ecofriendly
Temperature Circuit and following ecofriendly
refrigerant in the Low Temperature Circuit
refrigerants in the Low Temperature Circuit
(CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
(CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10
Approach=temperature overlapping=10
 Thermodynamic Performance Comparison using HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze in the High 80
Temperature Cascade Refrigeration Systems and Ecofriendly Refrigerants in Low Temperature
Applications

Table: 1c(ii). Effect of Temperature overlapping Table: 1. d(ii). Effect of low temperature
on thermal performance in cascade temperature- evaporator on thermal performance of cascade
evaporator on Thermal Performance of cascade Refrigeration system using R-1234yf in High
Refrigeration system using R-1234yf in High Temperature Circuit and following ecofriendly
Temperature Circuit and R134a ecofriendly refrigerants in the Low Temperature Circuit
refrigerant in the Low Temperature Circuit (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
(CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K, Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K, CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80, Approach=temperature overlapping=10
Approach=temperature overlapping=10

Table: 1.d(i). Effect of low temperature

evaporator on thermal performance of cascade
Table: 1.e(i). Effect of variation in temperature of
Refrigeration system using R-1234yf in High
cascadeevaporator on thermal performance of
Temperature Circuit and following ecofriendly
cascadeRefrigeration system using R-1234yf in
refrigerants in the Low Temperature Circuit
HighTemperatureCircuit and R134a ecofriendly
(CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
refrigerant in the LowTemperature Circuit
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
(CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
Approach=temperature overlapping= 10
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80, Approach=temperature
overlapping=10
81 International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation, Vol 3(4), Oct-Dec 2015

Table 1: e(ii). Effect of variation in temperature of Table 2:a(ii). Effect of ecofriendly refrigerants on
cascade evaporator on thermal performance of thermal performance of cascade Refrigeration
cascade Refrigeration system using R-1234yf in system using R-1234ze in High Temperature
HighTemperature Circuit and R134a ecofriendly Circuit and following ecofriendly refrigerants in
refrigerant in the Low Temperature Circuit the Low Temperature Circuit (CompressorEfficiency-
(CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K, 1=0.80,Teva2=173K, Tcond=333K, Tcascade-
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K, evaporator=253K, CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80, Approach=temperature Approach=temperature overlapping=10
overlapping=10

Table: 2.a(i). Effect of ecofriendly refrigerants on Table: 2.b(i). Effect of High temperature
thermal performance of cascade Refrigeration condenser on thermal performance of cascade
system using R-1234ze in High Temperature Refrigeration system using R-1234ze in High
Circuit and following ecofriendly refrigerants in Temperature Circuit and following ecofriendly
the Low Temperature Circuit (CompressorEfficiency- refrigerants in the Low Temperature Circuit
1=0.80,Teva2=173K, Tcond=333K, Tcascade- (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
evaporator=253K, CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80, Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10 CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10
 Thermodynamic Performance Comparison using HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze in the High 82
Temperature Cascade Refrigeration Systems and Ecofriendly Refrigerants in Low Temperature
Applications

Table: 2.b(ii). Effect of High temperature Table: 2c(ii). Effect of Temperature overlapping
condenser on thermal performance of cascade on thermal performance in cascade temperature-
Refrigeration system using R-1234ze in High evaporator on Thermal Performance of cascade
Temperature Circuit and following ecofriendly Refrigeration system using R-1234ze in High
refrigerants in the Low Temperature Circuit Temperature Circuit and R134a ecofriendly
(CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K, refrigerant in the Low Temperature Circuit
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K, (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80, Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10 CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10

Table: 2d(i). Effect of low temperature

evaporator on thermal performance of cascade
Table: 2c(i). Effect of Temperature overlapping on
Refrigeration system using R-1234ze in
thermal performance in cascade temperature-
HighTemperature Circuit and following
evaporator on Thermal Performance of cascade
ecofriendly refrigerants in the Low Temperature
Refrigeration system using R-1234ze in High
Circuit (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
Temperature Circuit and R134a ecofriendly
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
refrigerant in the Low Temperature Circuit
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
(CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10
83 International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation, Vol 3(4), Oct-Dec 2015

Table: 2.e(ii). Effect of low temperature

evaporator on thermal performance of cascade
Refrigeration system using R-1234ze in
HighTemperature Circuit and following
Table: 2d(ii). Effect of low temperature
ecofriendly refrigerants in the Low Temperature
evaporator on thermal performance of cascade
Circuit (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
Refrigeration system using R-1234ze in
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
HighTemperature Circuit and following
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
ecofriendly refrigerants in the Low Temperature
Approach=temperature overlapping=10
Circuit (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10

Table: 3. Effect of ecofriendly refrigerants in High

temperature circuit on thermal performance of
cascade refrigeration system using R-134a in
Table 2:e(i). Effect of low temperature evaporator LowTemperature Circuit and following
on thermal performance of cascade Refrigeration ecofriendly refrigerants in the High Temperature
system using R-1234ze in HighTemperature Circuit (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K,
Circuit and following ecofriendly refrigerants in Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K,
the Low Temperature Circuit (CompressorEfficiency- CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80, Approach=temperature
1=0.80,Teva2=173K, Tcond=333K, Tcascade-
overlapping=10
evaporator=253K, CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80,
Approach=temperature overlapping=10
 Thermodynamic Performance Comparison using HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze in the High 84
Temperature Cascade Refrigeration Systems and Ecofriendly Refrigerants in Low Temperature
Applications

Table: 3. Effect of ecofriendly refrigerants in High (ii) The ecofriendly HFO-1234ze gives better first
temperature circuit on thermal performance of and second law performance than HFO-1234yf
cascade refrigeration system using R-134a in in high temperature circuit applications
LowTemperature Circuit and following (iii) The use of HFC-134a gives better performance
ecofriendly refrigerants in the High Temperature in the low temperature circuit of cascade
Circuit (CompressorEfficiency-1=0.80,Teva2=173K, refrigeration systems
Tcond=333K, Tcascade-evaporator=253K, (iv) R-1234ze in high temperature circuit and R 134a
CompressorEfficiency-2=0.80, Approach=temperature in lower temperature circuit is a best alternative
overlapping=10 than R1234yf in high temperature circuit and R
134a in lower temperature circuit.
(v) The use of pure hydrocarbons (R-290(propane) ,
R600 (Butane) and R600a (isobutene) and R152a
is limited use due to flammable nature.

References

[1] Honeywell Novel Low-Global-Warming,

Honeywell press, 2008

[2] M. Kanoglu, Exergy analysis of the multistage

cascade refrigeration cycle used for natural gas
liquefaction, Int J Energy Res, 2002
5.0 Conclusions
[3] C. Nikolaidis, D. Probert, Exergy method
The following conclusions have been drawn analysis of a two stage vapour compression
from present investigations; refrigeration-plants performance, Applied
(i) The use of HFO in the high temperature circuit is energy, 60, 1998, 241-256
promising feature in the cascade refrigeration
systems