Performance evaluation of two azeotropic refrigerant mixtures of HFC-134a with R-290 (propane) and R-600a (isobutane)

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2906020· OSTI ID:7249819

Kim, M S; Mulroy, W J; Didion, D A ^[1]

---

1. National Inst. of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (United States). Building and Fire Research Lab.

The reduction in chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) production and the scheduled phase-out of these ozone-depleting refrigerants require the development and determination of environmentally safe refrigerants for use in heat pumps, water chillers, air conditioners, and refrigerators. This paper presents a performance evaluation of a generic heat pump with two azeotropic refrigerant mixtures of HFC-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane) with R-290 (propane) and R-600a (isobutane); R-290/134a (45/55 by mass percentage) and R-134a/600a (80/20 by mass percentage). The performance characteristics of the azeotropes were compared with pure CFC-12, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, and R-290 at the high temperature cooling and heating conditions including those using liquid-line/suction-line heat exchange. The coefficient of performance of R-290/134a is lower than that of HCFC-22 and R-290, and R-134a/600a shows higher coefficient of performance than CFC-12 and HFC-134a. The capacity for R-290/134a is higher than that for HCFC-22 and R-290, and R-134a/600a exhibits higher system capacity than CFC-12 and HFC-134a. Experimental results show that the discharge temperatures of the studied azeotropic mixtures are lower than those of the pure refrigerants, CFC-12 and HCFC-22.

• OSTI ID: 7249819
• Journal Information: Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States), Vol. 116:2; ISSN 0195-0738
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
REFRIGERANTS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
2-METHYLPROPANE
AZEOTROPE
BINARY MIXTURES
PROPANE
ALKANES
DISPERSIONS
FLUIDS
HYDROCARBONS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
TESTING
WORKING FLUIDS
320106* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Building Equipment- (1987-)
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)