IIR document

R290 leakage mass flow rate from a refrigerating system.

Number: pap. n. 311

Author(s) : COLBOURNE D., LIU Z. X.

Summary

The flow rate of a leak from refrigeration systems is an important factor in terms of understanding and characterising the flammability risks associated with the use of hydrocarbon (HC) and other flammable refrigerants. Often, flow rates from a specific leak hole size are estimated using equations for steady flow through orifices, based on sub-critical or choked flow. However, the case of a refrigeration system has a number of particular characteristics that further need to be taken into consideration. These include accounting for a finite mass of refrigerant, transition between two-phase and single (vapour) phase discharge and the effect of internal evaporation of refrigerant on diminishing upstream pressure. This paper presents a model for estimating the transient leak rate of R290 following an instantaneous occurrence of a leak hole, based on a system at standstill (off-mode operation). The model is compared against a series of measurements taken for simulated releases from an air conditioner. Example results are presented alongside considerations for further study.

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Pages: 8 p.

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Details

  • Original title: R290 leakage mass flow rate from a refrigerating system.
  • Record ID : 30004690
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 10th IIR-Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Working Fluids (GL2012). Proceedings. Delft, The Netherlands, June 25-27, 2012.
  • Publication date: 2012/06/25

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