Performance Analysis of R600a as a Replacement for R134a in a Household Refrigeration System

Andi Firdaus Sudarma, Henry Carles, Azmi Azhar, Muhammad Akmal, Alfa Firdaus Sirait

Abstract


This study evaluates the performance of a 50-liter mini refrigerator using R600a as an alternative to the factory-default refrigerant, R134a. The experimental setup included pressure gauges and digital thermometers to measure key parameters such as temperature and pressure at critical points in the refrigeration cycle. Tests were conducted under two scenarios: no-load and a 4 kg chicken meat load. Initially, the system operated with R134a at 16 bar and 20 g charge before being evacuated and recharged with R600a at the same pressure. Data was collected over a 10-minute period under stable conditions and analyzed using a P-h (Pressure-Enthalpy) diagram to determine enthalpy, refrigeration effect, compressor work, and coefficient of performance (COP). The effect of using R600a, efficiency increased 4% without load and 7% with load operation compared to R134a system. While COP actual has increased 5% and 10% respectively. The results indicate that R600a offers comparable performance to R134a while presenting potential advantages in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact. These findings contribute to the ongoing evaluation of R600a as a sustainable replacement for R134a in household refrigeration applications.


Keywords


Refrigeration Efficiency; R134a vs. R600a; Coefficient of Performance (COP); Energy Consumption; Pressure-Enthalpy Analysis

Full Text:

PDF

References


T. Makumbi, Investigating the application of environmentally friendly solutions in refrigeration applications of Uganda. 2013.

M. Arman, K. Sumeru, A. Setyawan, L. M. Simbolon, and M. F. Sukri, “Energy and Exergy Analysis of R600a as a Substitute for R134a in Automotive Air Conditioning System,” Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences, vol. 119, no. 1, pp. 105–116, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.37934/arfmts.119.1.105116.

L. Zhao, W. Cai, X. Ding, and W. Chang, “Model-based optimization for vapor compression refrigeration cycle,” Energy, vol. 55, pp. 392–402, Jun. 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.02.071.

S. W. Hadi, Y. T. Wijaya, I. R. Elysabeth, N. Aisyah, R. D. D. Putra, and H. M. Ariyadi, “ENERGY PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF R32 AND R134A REFRIGERANT FOR SPRING POOL WATER HEATER,” Advanced Engineering Letters, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 88–95, 2023, doi: 10.46793/adeletters.2023.2.3.2.

N. AİSYAH and H. M. ARİYADİ, “Performance Evaluation of R1224yd as Alternative to R123 and R245fa for Vapor Compression Heat Pump System,” International Journal of Thermodynamics, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 13–21, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.5541/ijot.1310329.

M. Mohanraj, S. Jayaraj, C. Muraleedharan, and P. Chandrasekar, “Experimental investigation of R290/R600a mixture as an alternative to R134a in a domestic refrigerator,” International Journal of Thermal Sciences, vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 1036–1042, May 2009, doi: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2008.08.001.

K. S. Hmood, V. Apostol, H. Pop, V. Badescu, and E. Pop, “Drop-in and retrofit refrigerants as replacement possibilities of R134a in domestic/commercial refrigeration and automobile air conditioner applications,” Journal of Thermal Engineering, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 1815–1835, 2021, doi: 10.18186/thermal.1027435.

Taiwo O. Babarinde, S.A. Akinlabi, D.M. Madyira, O.S. Ohunakin, D.S. Adelekan, and Sunday Olayinka Oyedepo, “COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EXERGETIC PERFORMANCE OF A HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATOR USING R134a AND R600a,” International Journal of Energy for a Clean Environment, vol. 19, no. 1–2, pp. 37–48, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.1615/InterJEnerCleanEnv.2018021258.

S. S. Hastak and J. M. Kshirsagar, “Comparative performance analysis of R600a and R436a as an alternative of R134a refrigerant in a domestic refrigerator,” in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Physics Publishing, Jul. 2018. doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/377/1/012047.

X. Fang, M.-C. Chiong, X. Jiang, and X. Chen, “Thermodynamic analysis of a linear compressor vapour compression system,” J Phys Conf Ser, vol. 2591, no. 1, p. 012004, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/2591/1/012004.

K. S. HMOOD, V. APOSTOL, H. POP, V. BADESCU, and E. POP, “Drop-in and retrofit refrigerants as replacement possibilities of R134a in domestic/commercial refrigeration and automobile air conditioner applications,” Journal of Thermal Engineering, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 1815–1835, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.18186/thermal.1027435.

F. Toapanta, W. Quitiaquez, and C. Tamay, “Numerical analysis by CFD for the forced boiling process with isobutane circulating through square tubes,” Revista Técnica “energía,” vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 110–118, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.37116/revistaenergia.v19.n2.2023.534.

R. Radermacher and K. Kim, “Domestic refrigerators: recent developments,” International Journal of Refrigeration, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 61–69, Jan. 1996, doi: 10.1016/0140-7007(95)00069-0.

M. Rasti, S. Aghamiri, and M. S. Hatamipour, “Energy efficiency enhancement of a domestic refrigerator using R436A and R600a as alternative refrigerants to R134a,” International Journal of Thermal Sciences, vol. 74, pp. 86–94, 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2013.07.009.

M. Ghanbarpour, A. Mota-Babiloni, B. E. Badran, and R. Khodabandeh, “Energy, Exergy, and Environmental (3E) Analysis of Hydrocarbons as Low GWP Alternatives to R134a in Vapor Compression Refrigeration Configurations,” Applied Sciences, vol. 11, no. 13, p. 6226, Jul. 2021, doi: 10.3390/app11136226.

J. Bull, J. M. Buick, and J. Radulovic, “Investigation of Working Fluid Performance through a Centrifugal Compression System,” Applied Mechanics, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 815–829, Jul. 2022, doi: 10.3390/applmech3030048.

M. M. Joybari, M. S. Hatamipour, A. Rahimi, and F. G. Modarres, “Exergy analysis and optimization of R600a as a replacement of R134a in a domestic refrigerator system,” International Journal of Refrigeration, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 1233–1242, Jun. 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.02.012.

M. Karthick, S. Karuppiah, and V. Kanthan, “Performance investigation and exergy analysis of vapor compression refrigeration system operated using R600a refrigerant and nanoadditive compressor oil,” Thermal Science, vol. 24, no. 5 Part A, pp. 2977–2989, 2020, doi: 10.2298/TSCI180527024M.

S. J. Alqaisy et al., “Experimental COP evaluation of a 65-litre household refrigerator running with R600a,” E3S Web of Conferences, vol. 286, p. 01008, Jul. 2021, doi: 10.1051/e3sconf/202128601008.

Yogesh Joshi, Dinesh Zanwar, and Sandeep Joshi, “Performance investigation of vapor compression refrigeration system using R134a and R600a refrigerants and Al2O3nanoparticle based suspension,” in Materials Today: Proceedings, Elsevier Ltd, 2021, pp. 1511–1519. doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2020.11.732.

A. Katoch, F. A. Razak, A. Suresh, B. BS, and E. Gundabattini, “Performance analysis of nano-refrigerants used in the vapor compression refrigeration system using MATLAB-Simulink,” Proc Inst Mech Eng C J Mech Eng Sci, vol. 236, no. 12, pp. 6948–6966, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1177/09544062211069886.

D. Irwansyah, R. Sundari, R. Anggraini, and K. Arifin, “EFFECT OF SiO2 AND ZnO NANOPARTICLES TO INCREASE REFRIGERATION MACHINE PERFORMANCE,” International Journal of Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Advanced Materials, vol. 5, no. 2, p. 63, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.22441/ijimeam.v5i2.21859.

J. Bull, J. M. Buick, and J. Radulovic, “Investigation of Working Fluid Performance through a Centrifugal Compression System,” Applied Mechanics, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 815–829, Jul. 2022, doi: 10.3390/applmech3030048.

R. Ragavendiran et al., “Experimental Analysis of Alternate Refrigerant Mixtures in Refrigeration System,” E3S Web of Conferences, vol. 529, p. 02007, May 2024, doi: 10.1051/e3sconf/202452902007.

O. O. Ajayi, M. Ogbonnaya, O. Ogo-Ozegbe, and P. A. Popoola, “Agricultural Waste Valorization for Nanoparticles Synthesis and Enhancement of Vapour Compression Refrigeration System’s Performance,” Journal of Nano Research, vol. 82, pp. 1–20, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.4028/p-N0YmvC.

D. M. Madyira and T. O. Babarinde, “Experimental evaluation of a vapour compression refrigeration system using a nano-oil mixture of TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and SiO 2,” J Phys Conf Ser, vol. 2754, no. 1, p. 012004, May 2024, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/2754/1/012004.

K. S. HMOOD, V. APOSTOL, H. POP, V. BADESCU, and E. POP, “Drop-in and retrofit refrigerants as replacement possibilities of R134a in domestic/commercial refrigeration and automobile air conditioner applications,” Journal of Thermal Engineering, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 1815–1835, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.18186/thermal.1027435.

D. Sánchez, R. Cabello, R. Llopis, I. Arauzo, J. Catalán-Gil, and E. Torrella, “Energy performance evaluation of R1234yf, R1234ze(E), R600a, R290 and R152a as low-GWP R134a alternatives,” International Journal of Refrigeration, vol. 74, pp. 267–280, Feb. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2016.09.020.

E. Keegan and J. K. Breadsell, “Food Waste and Social Practices in Australian Households,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 6, p. 3377, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.3390/su13063377.

A. Cholik, N. Ruhyat, and S. Novianto, “Performance Evaluation of Ammonia Refrigeration Systems in a Texturizing Plant,” International Journal of Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Advanced Materials, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 161–172, Oct. 2024, doi: 10.22441/ijimeam.v6i3.27476.

M. Boles and Y. Cengel, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach. 2014.

I. B. Gde Widiantara, I. G. A. Negara, and K. Bangse, “Embracing the Evaporative System in Air Conditioning Technology for Efficient Cooling Solutions,” INVOTEK: Jurnal Inovasi Vokasional dan Teknologi, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 129–136, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.24036/invotek.v23i2.1133.

M. Abuzar Qureshi and Shikha Bhatt, “Comparative Analysis of Cop Using R134a & R600a Refrigerant in Domestic Refrigerator at Steady State Condition,” International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), vol. 3, no. 12, pp. 935–939, Dec. 2014, doi: 10.21275/SUB14603.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22441/jtm.v14i2.32326

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 Jurnal Teknik Mesin (Journal Of Mechanical Engineering)

Jurnal Teknik Mesin (JTM)
Program Studi Teknik Mesin, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Mercu Buana
Jl. Meruya Selatan No. 01, Kembangan, Jakarta Barat 11650, Indonesia
Email: [email protected]
Telp.: 021-5840815/ 021-5840816 (Hunting)
Fax.: 021-5871335

JTM is indexed by the following abstracting and indexing services:

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

View My Stats