IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF COLD ROOM REFRIGERATION SYSTEM BY DESUPERHEATING ENERGY RECOVERY USING PCMs

The paper aims to investigate how to improve the performance of a refrigeration system (Rs) that equips a cold room, by incorporating phase change materials (Phase Change Materials - PCMs) in these systems, a study that has not yet been extended experimentally. The study is carried out on a cold room within the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest - Faculty of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Department of Thermodynamics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment. This room is equipped with a refrigeration system with mechanical vapour compression (VCRs), which uses R404A as refrigerant. Mechanical vapour compression refrigeration system (VCRs) with an evaporation temperature below 0 oC causes ice to form on the evaporator leading to reduced performance. Currently, the widely used methods for defrosting are the standard methods, the most used being the electric one, which of course consumes energy. This paper aims to evaluate the availability of heat that could be used in the defrosting process by means of PCMs. The study was made using the Engineering Equation Solver software, several types of PCMs and also different refrigerants (R600a, R600, R1234yf, R1234ze, R152a, R290, R32) and in this way it was intended to identify the right agent to be used for a particular type of PCM. Faculty of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Department of Thermodynamics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment