• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.534-541
• /
• 2008

This paper deals with the heat transfer characteristics of R-290 (Propane), R-600a (Iso-butane) and R-1270 (Propylene) as an environment friendly refrigerant and R-22 as a HCFC's refrigerant for evaporating. The experimental apparatus has been set-up as conventional vapor compression type refrigeration and air-conditioning system. The test section is a horizontal double pipe heat exchanger. Evaporating heat transfer measurements were performed for smooth tube with the outer diameters of 12.70, 9.52 and 6.35 mm and micro-fin tube 12.70 mm, respectively. For the smooth and micro-fin tubes measured in this study, the evaporating heat transfer coefficient was enhanced according to the increase of the mass flux and decrease of the tube diameter. The local evaporating heat transfer coefficients of hydrocarbon refrigerants were superior to those of R-22 and the maximum increasing rate of heat transfer coefficient was found in R-1270. The average evaporating heat transfer coefficients in hydrocarbon refrigerants showed 20 to 28% higher values than those of R-22. Also, the evaporating heat transfer coefficients of R-22 in the tube diameter of the 12.70 mm smooth and micro-fin tube were compared. Generally, the local heat transfer coefficients for both types of tubes increased with an increase of the mass flux. The heat transfer enhancement factor (EF) between smooth and micro-fin tube varied from 1.9 to 2.7 in all experimental conditions.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.726-734
• /
• 2007

In this study, lower flammability limits (LFLs) of three hydrocarbon refrigerants (R600a, R290, R1270) and two hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (R152a, R32) and DME (RE170) are measured by the method proposed by ASTM E681-04 Standard. Flammability tests are carried out at three temperatures of $23^{\circ}C,\;60^{\circ}C\;and\;100^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity 50%. Test results show that the present data for isobutane and propane obtained at $23^{\circ}C$ are similar to those found in the literature, confirming indirectly the reliability of the present test method and facility. For propylene, R152a, and R32, LFLs found in the literature differ considerably. Especially, the deviation of LFL of propylene is more than 30% among the literature data. The present data for propylene, R152a, and R32 agree with either of the data sets available. As the temperature increases from $23^{\circ}C\;to\;100^{\circ}C$, LFLs of all refrigerants tested decrease. LFLs of most refrigerants tested in this study at $60^{\circ}C$ decrease by $0.1{\sim}0.3%$ as compared to those at $23^{\circ}C$. Also LFLs of most refrigerants tested in this study at $100^{\circ}C$ decrease by $0.1{\sim}0.3%$ as compared to those at $60^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
• /
• 2006.06a
• /
• pp.58-63
• /
• 2006

In this study, performance of 2 pure hydrocarbons and 3 mixtures was measured in an attempt to substitute R22 under 3 different temperature conditions. The mixtures were composed of R1270(propylene), R290(propane) and R152a. They were tested in a refrigerating bench tester with a hermetic rotary compressor The test bench provided about 3.5 kW capacity and water and water/glycol mixture were employed as the secondary heat transfer fluids. All tests were conducted under the same external conditions resulting in the average saturation temperatures of $7^{\circ}C/45^{\circ}C$ and $-7^{\circ}C/41^{\circ}C$ and $-21^{\circ}C/28^{\circ}C$ in the evaporator and condenser, respectively. Test results show that the coefficient of performance (COP) of these refrigerants is up to 11.54% higher than that of R22 in all temperature conditions. Compressor discharge temperatures were reduced by $14{\sim}31^{\circ}C$ with these fluids. There was no problem with mineral oil since the mixtures were mainly composed of hydrocarbons. The amount of charge was reduced up to 58% as compared to R22. Overall, these fluids provide good performance with reasonable energy savings without any environmental problem and thus can be used as long term alternatives for residential air-conditioning and heat pumping application.