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<p>Enhancing the energy efficiency of refrigeration systems is a key challenge in achieving sustainable cooling solutions and reducing environmental impact. This study presents an innovative and unique configuration that integrates a microtube evaporator with an expander to simultaneously improve heat transfer performance and recover expansion work losses. A steady-state thermodynamic model with a nominal refrigeration capacity of 14&#xa0;kW was developed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) with REFPROP thermophysical data. Parametric simulations were conducted over evaporating temperatures (− 10 to 10&#xa0;°C), condensing temperatures (30 to 45&#xa0;°C), and microtube inner diameters (0.3 to 5.2&#xa0;mm) to evaluate system performance. Four configurations were analyzed: base cycle, expander cycle, microtube evaporator cycle, and combined cycle. Results show that R454B achieved a 13.8% higher COP than R454C, while the expander reduced compressor power consumption by 27.1% compared to the base cycle. The combined configuration delivered the best performance, achieving a 52% increase in COP relative to the microtube cycle and a 32% reduction in total power consumption compared to the base configuration. Additionally, reducing the microtube diameter from 5.2 to 0.3&#xa0;mm decreased power consumption by 11.1% in the combined cycle. Exergy analysis showed that the combined microtube–expander configuration reduced expansion losses and minimized cycle irreversibilities, enhancing overall thermodynamic efficiency. The study demonstrates that integrating a microtube evaporator with an expander enhances refrigerant velocity, increases the heat transfer coefficient, suppresses film boiling, and minimizes expansion irreversibility, offering a practical and energy-efficient solution for modern refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems utilizing low-GWP refrigerants. The developed model was validated against data from the literature, showing excellent agreement with a very small tolerance of 1.6%.</p>

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Optimizing Refrigeration System Performance through Combined Use of Microtube Evaporator and Expander

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月24日

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  • Mohammad Tarawneh

摘要

Enhancing the energy efficiency of refrigeration systems is a key challenge in achieving sustainable cooling solutions and reducing environmental impact. This study presents an innovative and unique configuration that integrates a microtube evaporator with an expander to simultaneously improve heat transfer performance and recover expansion work losses. A steady-state thermodynamic model with a nominal refrigeration capacity of 14 kW was developed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) with REFPROP thermophysical data. Parametric simulations were conducted over evaporating temperatures (− 10 to 10 °C), condensing temperatures (30 to 45 °C), and microtube inner diameters (0.3 to 5.2 mm) to evaluate system performance. Four configurations were analyzed: base cycle, expander cycle, microtube evaporator cycle, and combined cycle. Results show that R454B achieved a 13.8% higher COP than R454C, while the expander reduced compressor power consumption by 27.1% compared to the base cycle. The combined configuration delivered the best performance, achieving a 52% increase in COP relative to the microtube cycle and a 32% reduction in total power consumption compared to the base configuration. Additionally, reducing the microtube diameter from 5.2 to 0.3 mm decreased power consumption by 11.1% in the combined cycle. Exergy analysis showed that the combined microtube–expander configuration reduced expansion losses and minimized cycle irreversibilities, enhancing overall thermodynamic efficiency. The study demonstrates that integrating a microtube evaporator with an expander enhances refrigerant velocity, increases the heat transfer coefficient, suppresses film boiling, and minimizes expansion irreversibility, offering a practical and energy-efficient solution for modern refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems utilizing low-GWP refrigerants. The developed model was validated against data from the literature, showing excellent agreement with a very small tolerance of 1.6%.