Small cooling capicity hybrid refrigeration system using R723

Completed

Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial)
Not Energy Related

Basic and strategic applied research

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions)

Dr Z Tamainot-Telto
School of Engineering
University of Warwick

Standard

EPSRC

01 January 2012

30 April 2015

40 months

£390,372

Process engineering

West Midlands

Energy : Engineering

Dr Z Tamainot-Telto, School of Engineering, University of Warwick

Professor RE Critoph, School of Engineering, University of Warwick

In the past two decades, concern about the impact of CFCs, HCFCs or CO2 emissions on the environment and in particular on the ozone layer and global warming phenomena has reactivated interest in Sorption Technology applied to heat pumps and refrigerating systems. This is for two main reasons: the refrigerants used (ammonia, water or alcohols) are less harmful to the environment (zero Global Warming Potential - GWP and zero Ozone Depletion Potential - ODP) and the systems are heat driven therefore could use 'free' or low cost heat sources such as solar energy, biomass or waste heat (domestic or industrial). With EU regulations aimed at enforcing the Kyoto Protocol and the rising cost of the primary sources of energy (Oil and Gas) worldwide, the need for environmentally friendly and highly efficient heat pumps and refrigerating systems is required. The current project proposes a Hybrid Refrigeration System using the environmentally friendly refrigerant R723 (azeotropic mixture: 40% DME and 60% Ammonia) that is compatible with conventional refrigeration copper alloy (CuNi10) It is a Combined Sorption-Vapour Compression Refrigeration System driven by a dual source (heat and/or electricity). Both the use of this refrigerant in an adsorption cycle and the hybrid energy source are key novelties. Numerous Hybrid Refrigeration System layouts are to be modeled in association with the development of system control strategy. A proof of concept prototype of 10 kW cooling capacity will be designed, built and its performance (COP and cooling power) evaluated

16/02/12