Exploring the performance of a multi–evaporator cascade refrigeration system with R515B/R170 refrigerants: An experimental study

Abstract

This study presents the experimental analysis of the energy and environmental performance of a Multiple Evaporator Cascade Refrigeration System (MECRS) employing an azeotropic refrigerant called R515B for the high temperature cycle (HTC) and natural refrigerant called R170 (Ethane) for the low temperature cycle (LTC) to promote Green Cooling Initiatives (GCI) phase II as a sustainable development goals (SDGs) in refrigeration sector. In MECRS's low temperature cycle, three distinct evaporators are deployed, each featuring unique cooling effects and temperatures while utilizing the same refrigerant. The MECRS have been tested based on thermo-physical properties of alternative refrigerants to ultra-low temperature (ULT) in LTC evaporator. Each MECRS compressors exerts work ranging from 0.252 kW to 1.784 kW, while the system's overall power consumption ranges from 0.605 kWh to 0.715 kWh. Experimental analysis demonstrates a COP for the MECRS ranging from 1.06 to 1.662. As a result of Total equivalent warming impact (TEWI) analysis, a 15 % reduction in carbon emissions realised compared to conventional refrigerants. This study gives promising output of GCI and enhanced energy parameter through experimentation. This study indicates that R515B as the suitable replacement for HTC refrigerant and R170 for LTC refrigerant when compared to traditional refrigerants.