Performance analysis of a solar-driven domestic refrigerator working with eco-friendly refrigerants in continuous power outage areas

摘要

ABSTRACTEnvironmental impacts of refrigerants and global renewable energy transition policies necessitated research on small-scale solar domestic refrigerators (SDRs) and their working fluids in order to address energy efficiency, flammability limits, and acceptable global warming potential. This study analyses the performance of an SDR operating with R290/R600a blend (CARE30), R1234yf, R1234yf/R134a blend (90:10), and CARE30/R1234yf/R134a blend (60:30:10) as R134a substitutes. In addition, a full year of daily meteorological data was analyzed to determine how solar intensity and air temperature affected performance metrics such as the solar co-efficient of performance (COP), PV array size, and compressor power for the selected refrigerants. The entire system was modeled using MATLAB, SAM-2022, and REFPROP-10.0 software. The experimental COP was used to validate the simulation. The seasonal ranges for the average solar COP and system COP were found to be 0.28 to 2.60 and 0.53 to 0.90, respectively. The PV energy generation and actual energy demand were 57.9–78.6 and 35.36–53.09 kWh/month, respectively, ensuring that the system can operate solely on solar energy. The weather data of the place, PV technologies, capacities of widely used SDRs, excess energy utilization, and economic parameters can be looked at for the successful implementation of the system.KEYWORDS: Renewable energysolar refrigeratoralternative refrigerantssolar COPR1234yfglobal warming potential Nomenclature µ=Dynamic viscosity (Pa s)A=Area (m2)b=bulkC=Capillarycomp=Compressorcon=Contractioncond=Condensercyl=cycleD=Coil mean diameter (m)d=dischargeevap=EvaporatorF=Empirical constantf=fluidfg=fluid-gasG=Mass flux (kg m −2 s −1)g=gasGWP=Global Warming Potentialh=Specific enthalpy (J kg−1)i=inletinit=initialL=Length (m)l=liquidṁ=Mass flow rate (kg s−1)Mo=Molecular weight (g kmol−1)n=Polytropic indexNu=Nusselt numberP=Pressure (kPa)Pr=Prandtl numberPV=PhotovoltaicQ=Heat (J)q=Heat flux (kW m−2)R=Radius (m)Ra=Rayliegh numberRe=Reynolds numbers=suctiont=time (s)T=TemperatureV=Volume (m3)W=Work (W)w=wallX=Refrigerant qualityω=Angular velocity (rad s−1)Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsJoseph Sekhar SanthappanDr. Joseph Sekhar Santhappan is presently working in the department of engineering at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Shinas, Oman. He has obtained his PhD and M.E. degrees in the field of thermal engineering from the College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai, India, and his B.E. in mechanical engineering from the Govt. College of Technology in Coimbatore, India. He has more than three decades of experience in teaching, research, and administration at different institutions in India and overseas. Nine students received their PhDs from Chennai's Anna University while working under his supervision. He has examined hundreds of technical articles and authored more than 90 research papers in reputable international journals. His current research focuses on low-temperature PCM, CFD for thermal and energy systems, hybrid renewable energy systems, eco-friendly refrigeration technologies, and the techno-economic analysis of renewable energy applications. With funding from numerous government organizations like the AICTE, TRC, DST, and others, he has created numerous research-level experimental facilities and finished research projects in India and overseas. Besides being a resource person for several technical gatherings, webinars, short-term courses, seminars, and workshops, he has organized international conferences in the fields of energy and environment. He is currently a fellow of the Indian Institute of Engineers (FIE) and a member of the IET (UK), SAE, ISHRAE, and ISTE.Saji Raveendran PadmavathyDr. Saji Raveendran Padmavathy is a highly accomplished academician with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, an M.E. in Thermal Engineering, and