Blends with HFOs as alternative to R-600a. Theoretical and experimental evaluation for domestic appliances

摘要

Different worldwide regulations limiting the use of high GWP refrigerants have forced the refrigerationindustry to reinvent itself in recent years and look for new low-GWP refrigerants that can meet today'senergy requirements.In Europe, from 2015, EU Regulation No. 517/2014 limits the use of refrigerants that can be used indomestic refrigeration to those with a GWP below 150. Isobutane (R-600a) has become the most widely usedrefrigerant in Europe in domestic appliances, due to its low-GWP of 3 and its great energy performance.However, literature suggests that there may be refrigerant mixtures that can improve the energy performanceof this refrigerant.This paper presents the results of a thermodynamic screening, on which the refrigerants R-290, R-600a, R-600, R-1270, R-152a, R-32, R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E), R-1233zd, R-134a and CO2 were considered to formthe mixtures. It also presents the experimental results in a domestic fridge and freezer of the most promisingobtained mixtures.