Thermodynamic simulation of transcritical organic rankine vapor compression refrigeration system using low GWP refrigerants

Due to critical level of greenhouse gas emissions and rising petroleum prices, governments have issued strict regulations for internal combustion engine emissions and fuel economy standarts. Organic Rankine cycle is a promising way to recover engine exhaust waste heat and reduce fuel consumption. In this thesis, parametric thermodynamic analysis of transcritical organic Rankine vapor compression (T-ORVC) refrigeration cycle using internal combustion engine exhaust waste heat is investigated. Two low Global Warming Potential (GWP) fluids are considered as refrigerants for the potential replacement of high GWP refrigerant R134a. Throughout the theoretical study, refrigerant boiler pressure, cycle component efficiencies and temperature of condenser/evaporator and the degree of subcooling/superheating are used as parameters to simulate all possible scenarios. Results revealed that both low GWP working fluids have cooling performance close to R134a. Moreover, T-ORVC refrigeration system with R1234ze(E) presented slightly higher thermodynamic performance throughout the operation conditions. Study indicated that, R134a can be replaced by studied low GWP working fluids for the proposed system.