EFFECT OF FOULING ON PERFORMANCE OF VAPOUR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

Abstract

In the present work effect of fouling on performance of a simple vapour compression system has been evaluated by varying condenser coolant inlet temperature Tin,cond (i.e. 35oC, 37.5 oC and 40 oC), and also by varying condenser and evaporator conductances individually, and simultaneously between 0% to 50% for refrigerants R134a, R1234yf, and R1234ze, While keeping the Tin,evap, efficiency of compressor constant. A computer program has been made in EES for simulation purpose. The same has been validated with literature available before calculating the results. The effect of condenser and evaporator fouling simultaneously with variation in condenser coolant temperature decreases the COP more as compared to condenser and evaporator fouling individually, while condenser fouling has larger effect on compressor power with variation of condenser coolant inlet temperature Tin,cond. The second law efficiency also decreases with decrease in condenser and evaporator conductances of the system. The data generated and presented reduces the amount of experimentation and helps to reliably predict relevant quantities for the vapour compression refrigeration system by combining data from each of the heat exchangers at fouled conditions to predict those same quantities in more complex fouled condition.