Energy and Exergy Analysis of Vapor Compression Refrigeration System with Flooded Evaporator

Abstract

In this study, energy and exergy analysis was used to evaluate the performance of a vapor compression refrigeration system with a flooded evaporator and the causes of high temperatures of beverage during the production process determined. Subsequently, the components of the operation that require modification were identified in order to improve the system performance. The actual operating parameters related to energy and exergy analysis of the investigated beverage manufacturing plant were measured, the thermal properties of the beverage were determined from a calorimeter experiment, and mathematical models were developed based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics from the literature. The system energy and exergy efficiencies were 57.46% and 21.17%, respectively, whereas the system exergy destruction was 695.71[Formula: see text]kW. The highest exergy destruction among the components of the refrigeration system occurred at the cooling plate, followed by the ammonia compressor. The cooling plate also experienced a loss in the refrigerating effect of 43.59[Formula: see text]kW. Therefore, the cooling plate is the area with the highest potential for improvement. The ammonia compressor presents another potential area of improvement, which includes operating the compressor at a high compression ratio and high superheated temperature. However, the reduction of beverage inlet mass flow rate at the cooling plate offers the best opportunity to achieve a low beverage temperature between 1.00∘C and 2.00∘C and decreasing the system exergy destruction without incurring additional investment costs.