Thermodynamic analysis of a solar-driven vapor compression refrigeration system using R1234ze for cooling applications in Ghardaïa region (Southern Algeria)

Abstract

This study presents a thermodynamic analysis of a solar-driven vapor compression refrigera-tion (VCR) system designed for use in the region of Ghardaïa (Southern Algeria) which is lo-cated in a desert with a semi-arid climate where the demand for cooling is high, and the solar radiation is abundant. Two working fluids are tested and compared, the HFC high GWP going to phased out, R134a and the low GWP, HFO refrigerant recently introduced R1234ze. The performance of the solar VCR system was evaluated using a numerical model developed in MATLAB software, based on thermodynamic properties of R1234ze and R134a refrigerants. The results showed that coefficient of performance (COP) and thermodynamic efficiency of the solar VCR system increased with decreasing ambient temperature due to the increase in the compressor power consumption. The COP during the 21st day of July month is obtained in the range of 4.37–5.77 for R1234ze refrigerant which are close and more than 90% of the maximum COP value, while it is in the range of 2.56–3.17 for R134a fluid. The lowest COP values are found around noon hours during 12:00 AM and 15:00 PM. In addition, the greatest amount of the PV power production for R134a and R1234ze refrigerants occurs in the middle of the day (12:00 PM) as 2.8 and 1.6 kWh, respectively.