Experimental and theoretical investigation of propane-butane and propane-isobutane mixtures as an alternative to R134a in a domestic refrigerator

Abstract EN

In the present work, theoretical and experimental investigation have been carried out with two hydrocarbon refrigerant mixtures as a possible alternatives to R134a.

Theoretical performance of an ideal vapor compression refrigeration cycle using R290 / R600 and R290 / R600a was studied and the results were compared with those of R134a.

The performance of the hydrocarbon mixtures of R290 / R600 and R290 / R600a were experimentally investigated as a drop-in alternatives to replace R134a in 297 liter domestic refrigerator designed to work with R134a.

The results showed a lower freezer air temperature, lower cabinet air temperature, lower discharge temperature, higher coefficient of performance, lower pressure ratio and lower electrical power by about 3.2°C, 2.3°C, 3.1°C, 4.9 %, 7 % and 9.4 %, respectively, for R290 / R600 (60/40) % with 60g mass charge and 50 % longer capillary tube compared with those of R134a with 120g mass charge.