Design and optimization of a novel hybrid ejector-based refrigeration system for enhanced energy and cost efficiency.

This study introduces and investigates a novel hybrid refrigeration system that integrates vapor-vapor ejector refrigeration (VVER) with two-phase liquid-vapor ejector refrigeration (LVER), termed the VVER-LVER cycle. Utilizing environmentally friendly refrigerants—R600a for the VVER cycle and R152a for the LVER cycle—the system demonstrates significant advancements in energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and environmental sustainability. A systematic design methodology is developed to optimize the dimensions of the two-phase ejector based on operational parameters, ensuring enhanced performance and pressure recovery. Through multiobjective genetic algorithm optimization, the study simultaneously maximizes exergy efficiency and minimizes total annual cost, achieving a Pareto-optimal solution with an exergy efficiency of 25.5 %, a total annual cost of $1011.61/year, and a coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.40 for a 5-kW cooling capacity system. Comparative analysis reveals substantial improvements over conventional hybrid ejector-compressor refrigeration cycles, including a 12 % increase in exergy efficiency, a 19 % reduction in annual costs, and an 11 % enhancement in COP. The integration of two-phase LVER and vapor-liquid separator technologies highlights the system’s potential to address critical challenges in sustainable cooling applications. This research provides a comprehensive framework for the design, optimization, and evaluation of hybrid ejector-based refrigeration systems, contributing to the advancement of energy-efficient and cost-effective cooling technologies for industrial, commercial, and transportation applications.