Thermoeconomic Simulation of Transcript and Subcrytical Cycle Refrigeration Systems Using CO2
Transcritical system. subcritical system. thermoeconomic analysis. R744. refrigeration.
The development of new technologies and the improvement of the efficiency of the refrigeration systems becomes important in a scenario in which the climatic conditions of the planet is worrisome. The use of CO2 in transcritical refrigeration cycles represents an alternative to the problem of global warming. In this context, this work carried out a thermoeconomic analysis of a subcritical cycle and a transcritical cycle, both containing CO2. The mathematical models for such analysis of both cycles were developed in the EES (Engineering Equation Solver) software. A multiobjective optimization method was used to find the point of best efficiency and cost of both cycles. Analyzing the optimum points for some ambient temperatures, the exergy efficiency and the cost of the subcritical cycle operating with R404A in the high temperature region are on average 15.2% and 17.9% higher than the transcritical cycle, that is, the transcritical cycle has lower total cost. The subcritical cycle operating with R1234yf in the high temperature region has, on average, COP 6.23% higher and cost 3.1% lower than the subcritical cycle operating with R404A. The results show that in deciding which of the cycles is best for a given ambient temperature range, one must always take into account the relationship between cost and efficiency. Replacing the R404A subcritical cycle with the R1234yf in addition to reducing the GWP from 3800 to 6 increases the COP and decreases the total cost of the system.