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Design and optimization of refrigeration cassettes for light commercial applications.

Author(s) : WALTRICH M., HERMES C. J. L., MELO C.

Summary

A novel design methodology based on a model-driven optimization algorithm for sizing the components of light commercial refrigeration cassettes (i.e. cooling capacities ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 kW) is presented herein. Mathematical models were obtained for each of the system components. A first-principles steady-state tridimensional model was developed to simulate the thermo-hydraulic performance of fan-supplied tube-fin heat exchangers (condenser and evaporator). Furthermore, a semi-empirical sub-model for the compressor was devised and combined with the heat exchanger sub-models in order to predict the thermodynamic performance of the entire refrigeration system. The numerical results were compared with experimental data taken with different cassettes in a specially constructed calorimeter testing facility. It was found that the model predictions for the working pressures, power consumption, cooling capacity and COP were very close to the experimental data with maximum deviations of plus or minus 10%. In addition, a genetic optimization algorithm was used to design the condenser and evaporator and also to select the compressor model based on an objective function which considers both the COP and overall cost. The optimization led to two improved cassette configurations, which were assembled and tested. One of the optimized cassettes showed a COP/cost ratio approximately two times higher than that of the original (baseline) cassette.

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Details

  • Original title: Design and optimization of refrigeration cassettes for light commercial applications.
  • Record ID : 2011-0213
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 2010/07/12
  • Source: Source: Proc. 2010 int. Refrig. Air Cond. Conf., Purdue Univ.
    n. 2109; 8 p.; fig.; photogr.; tabl.; 15 ref.

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