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Initial parametric results using CYCLEZ---An LMTD-specified, Lorenz-Meutzner cycle refrigerator-freezer model

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7174269

A computer model representing a two-evaporator, two-intercooler refrigerator-freezer operating at steady-state with nonazeotropic refrigerant mixtures (CYCLEZ) has been developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This model is being used to assess the effects of system design and operating parameters on the cycle performance of a refrigerator-freezer designed around the Lorenz- Meutzner (L-M) circuit. Separate evaporators for the freezer and fresh-food compartments are modeled, as well as two intercoolers that subcool liquid refrigerant from the condenser by heat transfer with low-pressure refrigerant. The CYCLEZ refrigerator/freezer model is derived form the CYCLEZ heat-pump model developed originally by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). CYCLEZ currently uses the Carnahan-Starling-DeSantis (CSD) equation-of-state to compute refrigerant thermodynamic properties , so that new refrigerants can easily be added. Condenser and evaporator heat-exchanger performance are defined by user-specified overall LMTDs which allow equivalent heat-exchanger sizing per unit refrigeration load to be maintained for different refrigerant mixtures. A more consistent formulation of overall heat-exchanger LMTD is applied across the condenser superheated and two-phase regions as well as over the two evaporators. Source and sink conditions are specified in terms of inlet and outlet temperatures of the external fluid streams. Intercooler high-side (subcooling) {delta} Ts and relative fresh-food-to-freezer load ratio are also user-specified. These features make this model well suited for evaluating the optimal thermodynamic cycle requirements of the five heat exchangers used in the L-M refrigerator/freezer circuit. 13 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/CE; EPA
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
7174269
Report Number(s):
CONF-900742-1; ON: DE90010146
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English