Optimizing Refrigerant Selection in the Food Industry Using Multi-criteria Decision-Making (MADM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis

The modern food sector is facing a growing demand for fresh food. Refrigeration systems play a very important role in the food industry. It secures both the efficiency and productivity of materials. The refrigeration system is facing significant challenges and requires increased flexibility and efficiency to function effectively in the food sector. Choosing the ideal refrigerant for that particular condenser will help us achieve better functioning and efficiency of the refrigeration cycle. The decision-makers need to be aware of several factors that will impact the performance of the refrigeration process of the refrigeration cycle performance because selecting the ideal refrigerant is a challenging task. For that purpose, combining CAD simulation results with Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Methods(MADM) results, a thorough study is planned to improve comprehension and optimize the refrigeration process. The refrigerant used for the study are R-32, R-454B, R-452B, R-454C, R-1234yf, R-449A, R-448A, R-134A, R-744.CAD simulations evaluate thermodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of refrigerants in a food industry refrigeration system, by considering a few crucial and fundamental refrigerant specifications, such as critical temperature, critical density, GWP, boiling temperatures, vapour heat capacity (25 ℃), liquid heat capacity (25 ℃), and critical pressure, in the multi-attribute decision-making process. The current work provides the most optimal method for choosing refrigerants, using methods like CAD simulation, TOPSIS, AHP and MOORA.