Authors: Clito Afonso

In this work it is analysed the thermal behaviour of a refrigeration system based on the simple vapor compression cycle. The influence of two types of condensers on the performance of the system was compared: in one, the simulation was performed with an air condenser and in a second one with an evaporative condenser. The influence of different working fluids on the energy performance of the system was also analysed. The fluids tested were R410A, R134a and R22. For each of them, the two types of condensers were simulated. The dynamic simulation of the two systems (annual basis), to be implemented in the city of Bragança, was carried out using the Pack Calculation Pro code. It was also concluded that the compression power of the system with evaporative condenser is systematically lower when compared to air condensers. This is true for any working fluid. It is also concluded that with air condensers, the fluid R134a is the one with the highest total electrical consumption, the average consumption of R410A and R22 being practically identical. With evaporative condensers, and in decreasing order, the one with the best performance is R22, followed by R410A and R134a. The equivalent CO2 emissions were also calculated with the fluid R410A, and with condensers of both types. It was concluded that the total CO2 emissions are approximately identical in both systems, being 2.8% higher in the system with evaporative condenser.

Clito Afonso
Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto