International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 5, Issue 3, March 2015)
Energy and Exergy Analysis of Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System with R12, R22, R134a
Md. Nawaz Khan1, Md. Mamoon Khan2, Mohd. Ashar3, Aasim Zafar Khan4
1
Assistant Professor, 3,4Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,
India
2
Faculty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract- This paper provides a detailed exergy analysis
for theoretical vapour compression refrigeration cycle using
R12, R22 and R134A. The equations of exergetic efficiency
and exergy destruction for the main system components
such as compressor, condenser expansion device and
evaporator are developed. The relations for total exergy
destruction in the system, the overall exegetic efficiency of
the system and Exergy Destruction Ratio (EDR) related to
exergetic efficiency are obtained. Also, an expression for
Coefficient of Performance (COP) of refrigeration cycle is
developed. The investigations shows that various results are
obtained for the effect of evaporating temperatures on
COP, exergetic efficiency and EDR of theoretical vapour
compression refrigeration cycle.
Keywords- Exergy, Subcooling, R12, R22 and R134A
I. INTRODUCTION
Energy consumption in buildings and in industries has
become an important aspect on a global scale. There in
energy efficiency is a prime mover in reducing global
warming emissions. The rapid escalation in energy costs,
the issues of security of supply, the emission of polluting
substances as well as global climate change, have all
made refrigerating methods in their current forms
unsustainable at present and in the future. Therefore to
overcome these problems, alternative solutions must be
studied which focus on the reduction of energy
consumption and the improvement of heating
performance while reducing adverse effects on the
environment. Various researches have suggested different
HC, HFC and HCFC blends as potential substitutes for
CFCs and compared the performance of these substitutes
either theoretically or experimentally.
The growing awareness of the need to sustain the
ecology of the planet has resulted in the phase out of the
harmful refrigerants containing chlorine atoms, such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydro-
chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Although a replacement
for CFCs has been found, the search for good alternatives
for HCFCs especially R-22 is still on.
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II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Lovelin Jerald et al. (2014) in his study investigate the
performance analysis of vapour compression
refrigeration system with zeotropic refrigerant R404a.
Mohammad Nawaz khan et al. (2014) in his paper
explained the comparative performance analysis of four
different configuration of a vapour compression
refrigeration system with four different refrigerants R12,
R134a, R407 and R717. The four configurations are
Simple Vapour Compression system , Multiple
Compression System with flash chamber, Multiple
compression system with water intercooler and liquid
subcooler and Multiple compression system with Flash
intercooling and multiple expansion valve, The results
showed that the refrigerant R717 have highest COP for
Simple Vapour Compression system , Multiple
Compression System with flash chamber and MCS with
Flash intercooling and multiple expansion valve followed
by the R12 in Simple VCS, R134a in Multiple
Compression System with flash chamber and R407 in
Multiple compression system with Flash intercooling and
multiple expansion valve but in Multiple compression
system with water intercooler and liquid subcooler the
highest COP is of R12 followed by R717.
Jyoti soni et al. (2013) in his paper presents the
simulation result of vapour compression refrigeration
system with R404A, 407C, 410A as refrigerants and
conclude that the COP and exergetic efficiency of R407C
are better than that of R404A and R410A. The EDR of
R410A is higher than that of R407C and R404A.
Bilal et al. (2011) investigated performance
degradation due to fouling in a vapour compression cycle
for various applications. For the analysis consider the two
sets of refrigerants depending upon the assumption and
their some properties. Considering the first set of
refrigerants R134a, R410A and R407C while second set
include the refrigerants of R717, R404A and R290.
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 5, Issue 3, March 2015)
Venkataramanamurthy et al. (2010) conducted an
experimental test for the analysis the comparisons of
energy, exergy flow and second law efficiency of R22
and its substitutes R-436b in vapour compression
refrigeration system. The investigations present the
effects of the evaporating temperatures on the exergy
flow losses and second law efficiency and coefficient of
performance of a vapour compression refrigeration cycle.
Comakli et al. (2009) experimentally investigated the
effects of gas mixture rate, evaporator air inlet
temperature (from 24 to 32), evaporator air mass flow
rate (from 0.58 to 0.74), condenser air inlet temperature
(from 22 to 34) and condenser air mass flow rate (from
0.57 to 0.73) on the COP and the exergetic efficiency
values of vapour compression heat pump systems. The
investigation has been done for refrigerants R22 and
R404A five of their binary mixtures which contain about
0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% mass fractions of R404A
were tested.
Akhilesh et al. (2008) present a detailed exergy
analysis of an actual vapour compression refrigeration
cycle. A computational model has been developed for
calculating the COP, exergetic efficiency, exergy
destruction and efficiency defects for R502, R404A and
R507A. The results of this investigations revealed that
R507A is a better substitutes to R502 than R404A.
Reddy et al. (2012) performed numerical analysis of
vapour compression refrigeration system using R134a,
R143a, R152a, R404A, R410A, R502 and R507A, and
discussed the effect of evaporator temperature, degree of
subcooling at condenser outlet, superheating of
evaporator outlet, vapour liquid heat exchanger
effectiveness and degree of condenser temperature on
COP and exergetic efficiency. They reported that
evaporator and condenser temperature have significant
effect on both COP and exergetic efficiency and also
found that R134a has the better performance while
R407C has poor performance in all respect.
Selladurai and Saravana kumar (2013) compared the
performance between R134a and R290/R600a mixture on
a domestic refrigerator which is originally designed to
work with R134a and found that R290/R600a
hydrocarbon mixture showed higher COP and exergetic
efficiency than R134a. In their analysis highest
irreversibility obtained in the compressor compare to
condenser, expansion valve and evaporator.
Nikolaidis and Probert (1998) studied analytically that
change in evaporator and condenser temperatures of two
stage vapour compression refrigeration plant using R22
add considerable effect on plant irreversibility. They
suggested that there is need for optimizing the conditions
imposed upon the condenser and evaporator.
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Padilla et al. (2010) exergy analysis of domestic
vapour compression refrigeration system with R12 and
R413A was done. They concluded that performance in
terms of power consumption, irreversibility and exergy
efficiency of R413A is better than R12, so R12 can be
replaced with R413A in domestic vapour compression
refrigeration system.
Getu and Bansal (2008) had optimized the design and
operating parameters of like condensing temperature,
subcooling temperature, evaporating temperature,
superheating temperature and temperature difference in
cascade heat exchanger R744-R717 cascade refrigeration
system. A regression analysis was also done to obtain
optimum thermodynamic parameters of same system.
Spatz and Motta (2004) had mainly focused on
replacement of R12 with R410a through experimental
investigation of medium temperature vapour compression
refrigeration cycles. In terms of thermodynamic analysis,
comparison of heat transfer and pressure drop
characteristics, R410a gives best performance among
R12, R404a and R290a.
Mohanraj et al. (2009) concluded through
experimental investigation of domestic refrigerator they
arrived on conclusions that under different environmental
temperatures COP of system using mixture of R290 and
R600a in the ratio of 45.2: 54.8 by weight showing up to
3.6% greater than same system using R134a, also
discharge temperature of compressor with mixture of
R290 and R600a is lower in the range of 8.5-13.4K than
same compressor with R134a.
Han et al. (2007) Under different working conditions
experimental results revealed that there could be
replacement of R407C in vapour compression
refrigeration system having rotor compressor with
mixture of R32/R125/R161 showing higher COP, less
pressure ratio and slightly high discharge compressor
temperature without any modification in the same
system.
Halimic et al. (2003) had compared performance of
R401A, R290 and R134A with R12 by using in vapour
compression refrigeration system, which is originally
designed for R12.Due to similar performance of R134a in
comparison with R12, R134A can be replaced in the
same system without any medication in the system
components. But in reference to greenhouse impact R290
presented best results.
Xuan and Chen presented in this manuscript about the
replacement of R502 by mixture of HFC-161 in vapour
compression refrigeration system and conducted
experimental study it was found that mixture of HFC-161
gives same and higher performance than R404A at lower
and higher evaporative temperature respectively on the
vapour compression refrigeration system designed for
R404A.
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 5, Issue 3, March 2015)
Cabello et al. (2007) had studied about the effect of The refrigerant enters the expansion devise where it
operating parameters on first law efficiency (COP), work experiences a sudden drop in the pressure and
input and cooling capacity of single-stage vapour superheated vapour refrigerant is converted into partial
compression refrigeration system. There is great wet vapour. The liquid vapour mixture of the refrigerant
influence on energetic parameters due change in suction enters the evaporator at state 4 where it absorbs latent
pressure, condensing and evaporating temperatures. heat of vaporization from the medium which is to be
cooled. The heat that is absorbed by the refrigerant at this
III. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION stage is called the refrigeration effect. The refrigerant
The typical lay out of the Vapour compression system leaves the evaporator at low pressure, low temperature
in shown in Fig.1. Refrigerant leaves the evaporator, now and saturated vapour at point 1 and the cycle is
fully vaporized and slightly heated and returns to the completed. The main characteristics of the tested
compressor inlet to continue the cycle refrigerants as shown in Table 1.
Table 1.
Properties of Different Refrigerants used for the Analysis

S.No Property R12 R22 R134a

Chemical formula / blend
1 CCl₂F₂ CHCLF₂ CH₂FCF₃
composition
2 Molar Mass (kg/kmol) 120.914 86.47 102.03
3 Critical Point Temperature Tc (°C) 113.23 96.15 101.06
4 Critical Pressure (Pc) (bar) 42 49.9 40.593
5 Critical Density (kg/m³) 565 523.842 511.9
6 Boiling Point -21.6 -42 -26.074
7 ODP 1 0.05 0
Fig. 1: Schematic Diagram of System Layout
IV. P ERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
For analysis the performance of vapour compression
refrigeration system, following assumption are made:
 Degree of subcooling of liquid refrigerant in liquid-
vapour heat exchanger (Tsub) = 5K.
 Mechanical efficiency of compressor ( ) =
80%.
 Difference between evaporator and space
temperature (Tr – Te) = 20 °C.
 Evaporator temperature Tevap (in °C) ranging from
–40 °C to -10 °C.
 Condenser temperature Tcond = 40 °C.
 Dead state temperature (To) = 27 °C.
Fig. 2. Pressure Enthalpy Diagram of Vapour Compression System  There is no pressure loss in pipelines.
 In all components steady state operations are
The above Fig. 2 represents the pressure-enthalpy
considered.
(p-h) diagram of a theoretical vapour compression
refrigeration cycle. In this cycle, the refrigerant enters the The energy analysis based on first law of
compressor at state 1 at low pressure, low temperature thermodynamic, the performance of vapour compression
and is compressed isentropically to dry saturated vapour refrigeration system can be predicted in terms of
state. The compressed dry saturated refrigerant is Coefficient of Performance (COP), which is defined as
discharged at state 2 as a high pressure, high temperature the ratio of net refrigerating effect produced by the
and superheated vapour. The superheated vapour enters refrigerator to the work done by the compressor. It is
the condenser where it gives out the latent heat to the expressed as:
surrounding condensing medium.

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 5, Issue 3, March 2015)
Exergetic Efficiency
| ⁄ | (8)

Exergy Destruction Ratio (EDR)

The modern approach based on second law of
thermodynamic, i.e., exergy analysis can be used to
measures the performance of the vapour compression
refrigeration system. This analysis derives the concept of
exergy, which is always decreasing due to
thermodynamic irreversibilities. Exergy is the maximum
useful work that could be obtained from the system at a
given state in a specified environment. Exergy balance
for a control volume undergoing steady state process is
expressed as:
( ) ( )
( ( ⁄ ) ) ( (
Exergy Destruction (ED) in the System Components
Exergy destruction in each component of the cycle is
calculated as:
Exergy destruction in Evaporator
( ⁄ )
( ) ( ⁄ )
)
(3)
Exergy destruction in Compressor
(1) Exergy destruction ratio is the ratio of the total exergy
destruction in the system to the exergy in the product and
it is given by
EDR related to the exergetic efficiency given by:
(9)
V. RESULTS AND D ISCUSSIONS
Performance analysis of vapour compression
refrigeration system has been carried out and figure 3
⁄ ) ) shows the effects of evaporating temperatures on
(2) coefficient of performance.
With increase in evaporator temperature, the pressure
ratio across the compressor decreases, causing work done
by the compressor decrease and cooling capacity
increases due to increase in refrigerating effect. Hence,
the combined effect of these two factors increases the
COP of the vapour compression refrigeration system.
R12 shows better C.O.P than R22 and R134a followed by
the R22 with increase in evaporator temperature.
(

( ( )) (4)
Exergy destruction in Condenser

( ) ( ) (
⁄ ) (5)

Exergy destruction in Throttle valve

Figure 3. Variation of C.O.P with Evaporator Temperature

Figure 4 shows the variation of C.O.P with subcooling

( ) ( ) (6)
of liquid refrigerant at the exit of condenser. It is evident
Total Exergy Destruction that increase in degree of subcooling increases the
cooling capacity because of increase in refrigerating
(7) effect and there is no change in compressor work, hence
COP increases.

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Second parameter is the compressor work required by
R12 R22 R134A compressor W which decreases with increase in
evaporator temperature. Both terms Qe and W have
3.7 positive effect on increase of exergetic efficiency
3.6 whereas the term ( ⁄ ) has negative effect on
3.5
increase of exergetic efficiency. The combined effects of
C.O.P

3.4 these two parameters, increases exergetic efficiency till

3.3 the optimum evaporator temperature and beyond the
3.2
optimum temperature decrease. Because of exergetic
efficiency is inversely proportional to EDR; the curves
3.1 trend for EDR almost reverses to curves of exergetic
3 efficiency. With increases in evaporating temperatures,
0 3 5 7 10 EDR decreases till the optimum evaporator temperature
Degree of Subcooling (C) and beyond this optimum temperature it increase. The
optimum evaporator is the temperature at which
minimum EDR is obtained.
Figure 4. Variation of C.O.P with Degree of Subcooling

Figures 5 shows the effect of evaporator temperatures

R12 R22 R134a
on exergetic efficiency ( ex) and with increase in
evaporator temperatures exergetic efficiency decreases. 5.5
The optimum evaporator is the temperature at which 5
maximum exergetic efficiency is obtained. R12 has the
4.5
highest exergy efficiency followed by R22 and R134A.
EDR

4
R12 R22 R134A 3.5
0.35 3
0.3 2.5
Exergy Efficiency

0.25 2
0.2 -40 -30 -20 -10
0.15 Evaporator Temp. (C)
0.1
0.05 Figure 6. Variation of EDR with Evaporator Temperature

0 Figures 7 & 8 presents the effect of degree of

-40 -30 -20 -10 subcooling on exergetic efficiency and EDR. It is evident
that increase in degree of subcooling increases the
Evaporator Temp.(C)
cooling capacity because of increase in refrigerating
effect and there is no change in compressor work, hence
Figure 5. Variation of Exergy Efficiency with Evaporator COP increases. From the study, it is evident that increase
Temperature
in COP increases the exergetic efficiency and reduces the
Figure 6 shows the curves trend for EDR almost EDR. The R12 has the highest exergy efficiency on
reverses to curves of exergetic efficiency. The rise and different ranges of subcooling which are 0.2173, 0.212,
fall of the exergetic efficiency, depends upon the two 0.208, 0.205 & 0.1999 0n 10C, 7C, 5C, 3C & 0 C
parameters. First parameter is the exergy of cooling followed by the R22 and R134A except on 10C of
effects, i.e. ( ⁄ ) with increase in evaporator subcooling on which R134A has maximum exergetic
efficiency than R22.
temperature Qe increases whereas the term ( ⁄ )
reduces.

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3.9
3.8
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3.6
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3.4
3.3
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Figure 8. Variation of EDR with Degree of Subcooling
VI. CONCLUSION
A computational model based exergy analysis is
presented for the investigation of the effects of
evaporating temperatures and degree of subcooling on
the COP, exergetic efficiency and EDR of the vapour
compression refrigeration cycle for R12, R22 and
R134A. The conclusions present in this analysis are
given as follows:
 The COP and exergetic efficiency of R12 are better
than that of R22 and R134A. The EDR of R134A is
higher than that of R22 and R12. This analysis
performed at condenser temperature on 40 C and
evaporator temperatures ranges from -10C to -40C.
 For all refrigerants R12, R22 and R134A COP and
exergy efficiency increases with increase in degree of
subcooling.
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[18] Yongmei Xuan, Guangming Chen, “Experimental study on HFC- Ex Exergy of Refrigerant (kW)
161 mixture as an alternative refrigerant to R502”, Int J
Refrigeration, Article in Press. h Enthalpy (kJ/kg)
NOMENCLATURE T Temperature (K)
COP Coefficient of Performance exergy Exergy Efficiency
W Work Rate (kW) To Temperature of Dead State
EDR Exergy Destruction Ratio Tr Temperature of space
S Entropy (kJ/kgK) Tc Temperature of condenser
Ed Exergy destruction (kW)

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