Advances in Energy Research

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Effects of the electronic expansion valve and variable velocity compressor on the performance of a refrigeration system

  • Lago, Taynara G.S. (Department of Energy, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP) ;
  • Ismail, Kamal A.R. (Department of Energy, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP) ;
  • Nobrega, Claudia R.E.S. (Department of Energy, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP) ;
  • Moura, Luiz F.M. (Department of Energy, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP)
  • Received : 2019.04.03
  • Accepted : 2019.11.21
  • Published : 2020.03.25
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Abstract

Energy consumption of air-conditioning and refrigeration systems is responsible for about 25 to 30% of the energy demand especially in hot seasons. This equipment is mostly electricity dependent and their use in principle affects negatively the environment. Enhancing the energy efficiency of the existing equipment is important as one of the measures to reduce environment impacts. This paper reports the results of an experimental study to evaluate the impacts of the use electronic expansion valve and variable velocity compressor on the performance of vapor compression refrigeration system. The experimental rig is composed of two independent circuits one for the vapor compression system and the other is the secondary fluid system. The vapor compression system is composed of a forced air condenser unit, evaporator, hermetic compressor and expansion elements, while the secondary system has a pump for circulating the secondary fluid, and an air conditioning heat exchanger. The manufacturer's data was used to determine the optimal points of operation of the system and consequently tests were done to evaluate the influence of variation of the compressor velocity and the opening of the expansion device on the performance of the refrigeration system. A fuzzy logic model was developed to control the rotational velocity of the compressor and the thermal load. Fuzzy control model was made in LabVIEW software with the objective of improving the system performance, stability and energy saving. The results showed that the use of fuzzy logic as a form of control strategy resulted in a better energy efficiency.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : ELDORADO Institute

The authors acknowledge the support given to this investigation by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) and the second author wishes to thank the CNPq for the PQ Research Grant. The authors also would like to extend their gratitude to EMBRACO, CAREL and NOVUS for offering the compressor, electronic expansion valve and data acquisition system, respectively. Finally, we thank the ELDORADO Institute for the support and contribution to the realization of this project.

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