Investigation of the use of waste heat recovery systems in fishing vessel refrigeration system

Objective: In the study, it was aimed to analyze the waste heat recovery of three different-capacity fishing vessels in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea by examining them with three different refrigeration systems and to make energy and environmental analyses. Material and Methods: Thermodynamic calculations and methods were used while performing energy and environmental analyses of the systems. A three-dimensional drawing program was used while sizing the refrigeration system. Results: The efficiency of hybrid refrigeration systems, absorption refrigeration systems, and combined energy production refrigeration systems were investigated, and the energy savings were calculated compared to the conventional vapor compression refrigeration system. In the analysis, three fishing vessels of different sizes with different capacities (250 kW, 500 kW, and 630 kW) in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean were evaluated. The feasibility of the configurations of three different systems is examined, and the possible benefits in terms of fuel and CO2 savings are evaluated. Conclusion: The quality of the fish, which is abundant in the hunting season, should reach the consumer without deteriorating. Quality can be protected by the cold chain under suitable conditions. As soon as the seafood is taken to the ship from the sea, it is important to put it in cold storage at 0–4°C and freeze it at –21°C to maintain the quality. The analysis also took into account the carrying capacity due to the extra fuel required to carry the equipment in the refrigeration process. By preventing CO2 emissions of up to 171 tons per year, it has been indicated that a stable, working refrigeration system can operate with energy savings of 60% to 75%. Key Words: Fishing Vessels, Refrigeration System, Waste Heat, Fisheries