Advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low-GWP refrigerants and variable-frequency compressor

This study investigates the performance of a vapor compression refrigeration system equipped with three different expansion devices (capillary tube, thermostatic valve and an electronic valve) along with a variable-frequency compressor. The primary objective is to optimize system efficiency and iden...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rahul Deharkar, Parth Prajapati, Bansi D. Raja, Vivek K. Patel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:International Journal of Thermofluids
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202725003209
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849226880176095232
author Rahul Deharkar
Parth Prajapati
Bansi D. Raja
Vivek K. Patel
author_facet Rahul Deharkar
Parth Prajapati
Bansi D. Raja
Vivek K. Patel
author_sort Rahul Deharkar
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the performance of a vapor compression refrigeration system equipped with three different expansion devices (capillary tube, thermostatic valve and an electronic valve) along with a variable-frequency compressor. The primary objective is to optimize system efficiency and identify a viable alternative to the high-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R134a. Conventional exergy analysis reveals that the electronic expansion valve minimizes exergy destruction across all alternative refrigerants compared to both a capillary tube and a thermostatic valve. Further insights are gained through advanced analysis, indicating that the R1234yf system exhibits 3.53 % lower exergy destruction than the R134a system. Notably, the evaporator emerges as the most sensitive component across all refrigerants, contributing the highest average exergy loss (0.88 kW) which can be substantially reduced to 0.67 kW (23.57 %) through pressure ratio optimization. These findings strongly suggest that the low-GWP refrigerant R1234yf presents the most promising alternative to R134a, offering both improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
format Article
id doaj-art-927eb5d0803b4bc3b2fd2b9f0a396526
institution Kabale University
issn 2666-2027
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series International Journal of Thermofluids
spelling doaj-art-927eb5d0803b4bc3b2fd2b9f0a3965262025-08-24T05:14:39ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Thermofluids2666-20272025-09-012910137410.1016/j.ijft.2025.101374Advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low-GWP refrigerants and variable-frequency compressorRahul Deharkar0Parth Prajapati1Bansi D. Raja2Vivek K. Patel3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Indus University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India; Corresponding author.This study investigates the performance of a vapor compression refrigeration system equipped with three different expansion devices (capillary tube, thermostatic valve and an electronic valve) along with a variable-frequency compressor. The primary objective is to optimize system efficiency and identify a viable alternative to the high-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R134a. Conventional exergy analysis reveals that the electronic expansion valve minimizes exergy destruction across all alternative refrigerants compared to both a capillary tube and a thermostatic valve. Further insights are gained through advanced analysis, indicating that the R1234yf system exhibits 3.53 % lower exergy destruction than the R134a system. Notably, the evaporator emerges as the most sensitive component across all refrigerants, contributing the highest average exergy loss (0.88 kW) which can be substantially reduced to 0.67 kW (23.57 %) through pressure ratio optimization. These findings strongly suggest that the low-GWP refrigerant R1234yf presents the most promising alternative to R134a, offering both improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202725003209Vapor compression refrigeration systemExergy distractionAdvanced exergy analysisOptimization
spellingShingle Rahul Deharkar
Parth Prajapati
Bansi D. Raja
Vivek K. Patel
Advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low-GWP refrigerants and variable-frequency compressor
International Journal of Thermofluids
Vapor compression refrigeration system
Exergy distraction
Advanced exergy analysis
Optimization
title Advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low-GWP refrigerants and variable-frequency compressor
title_full Advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low-GWP refrigerants and variable-frequency compressor
title_fullStr Advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low-GWP refrigerants and variable-frequency compressor
title_full_unstemmed Advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low-GWP refrigerants and variable-frequency compressor
title_short Advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low-GWP refrigerants and variable-frequency compressor
title_sort advanced exergy analysis of vapor compression systems using low gwp refrigerants and variable frequency compressor
topic Vapor compression refrigeration system
Exergy distraction
Advanced exergy analysis
Optimization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202725003209
work_keys_str_mv AT rahuldeharkar advancedexergyanalysisofvaporcompressionsystemsusinglowgwprefrigerantsandvariablefrequencycompressor
AT parthprajapati advancedexergyanalysisofvaporcompressionsystemsusinglowgwprefrigerantsandvariablefrequencycompressor
AT bansidraja advancedexergyanalysisofvaporcompressionsystemsusinglowgwprefrigerantsandvariablefrequencycompressor
AT vivekkpatel advancedexergyanalysisofvaporcompressionsystemsusinglowgwprefrigerantsandvariablefrequencycompressor