The Use of Water Vapor as a Refrigerant: Impact of Cycle Modifications on Commercial Viability

Technical Report · Mon Aug 30 04:00:00 EDT 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/833361· OSTI ID:833361

Lachner, Jr, Brandon F ^[1]; Nellis, Gregory F; Reindl, Douglas T

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1. Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute

This project investigated the economic viability of using water as the refrigerant in a 1000-ton chiller application. The most attractive water cycle configuration was found to be a flash-intercooled, two-stage cycle using centrifugal compressors and direct contact heat exchangers. Component level models were developed that could be used to predict the size and performance of the compressors and heat exchangers in this cycle as well as in a baseline, R-134a refrigeration cycle consistent with chillers in use today. A survey of several chiller manufacturers provided information that was used to validate and refine these component models. The component models were integrated into cycle models that were subsequently used to investigate the life-cycle costs of both an R-134a and water refrigeration cycle. It was found that the first cost associated with the water as a refrigerant cycle greatly exceeded the savings in operating costs associated with its somewhat higher COP. Therefore, the water refrigeration cycle is not an economically attractive option to today's R-134a refrigeration system. There are a number of other issues, most notably the requirements associated with purging non-condensable gases that accumulate in a direct contact heat exchanger, which will further reduce the economic viability of the water cycle.

• Research Organization: Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE) (US)
• DOE Contract Number: FC05-99OR22674
• OSTI ID: 833361
• Report Number(s): DOE/OR22764/611-10080-01; ARTI-21CR/611-10080-01
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21CR
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AIR-CONDITIONING
ARTI
CENTRIFUGAL
CHILLER
COMPRESSORS
CONFIGURATION
COP
DIRECT CONTACT HEAT EXCHANGERS
ECONOMICS
GASES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
INTERCOOLING
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MANUFACTURERS
MODIFICATIONS
MULTI-STAGE COMPRESSOR
OPERATING COST
R-134A
R-718
REFRIGERANT
REFRIGERANTS
REFRIGERATION
VIABILITY
WATER
WATER VAPOR