Improving the Efficiency of Refrigerators and Heat Pumps by Using a Nonazeotropic Mixture of Refrigerants

摘要

Main conclusions of previous papers qualitatively explaining why refrigerant mixtures have a potential for energy savings are summarized. The current status of the applications of refrigerant mixtures is examined. An experimental facility designed to compare quantitatively the performance of refrigerant mixtures of varying composition while getting relevant data (e.g. heat transfer coefficients) is described and a computer simulation of this facility including an optimization study is presented. Although no experimental evidence is available at this time the possibility of energy conservation by the use of refrigerant mixtures is confirmed analytically. The optimization study shows that optimal use of a mixture can be achieved with a system somewhat simpler than what was originally expected. (ERA citation 07:004536)