Article Sidebar

Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 903 Download : 846

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Main Article Content

Abstract

Most of the food transport trucks in Sothern Africa are equipped with refrigeration and air conditioning systems filled with fluorocarbon refrigerants such as R404A to facilitate the heat transfer process. These refrigerants are synthetic chemicals and have high potential to cause global warming and damage to the ozone layer. Currently, natural refrigerants are considered as alternatives to these man-made refrigerants to mitigate some of the environmental risks. The natural refrigerants are the substances that occur in nature such as hydrocarbons (HC), ammonia, and carbon dioxide. These type of refrigerants have been in the market for many years, but in some applications such as domestic refrigerators, heat pumps, chillers, and air conditioners, whereas fluorocarbons are the mostly used in the food transport refrigeration systems. Natural refrigerants such as propane (HC – 290) are now penetrating the market in food transport refrigeration systems where previously fluorocarbons were the favoured option. Therefore, this work reports the possibilities of using non-fluorinated hydrocarbon/natural refrigerant (propane – R290) in the food transport refrigerated systems in Southern Africa; a case study of South Africa. R290 has the potential to lower greenhouse gases emissions compared to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are widely used in most of the existing food transport refrigeration systems in South Africa. R290 has negligible Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3 which is well below the global threshold value of 150. The review revealed that refrigeration capacity of R290 is in the average of 10 – 30% higher than commonly used fluorocarbon refrigerants such as R404A and R134A. Since R290 is labeled as a flammable refrigerant, the present study also reviews its flammability safety measures.

Keywords

Propane Refrigerant Transport refrigeration system Greenhouse gases Hydrocarbons

Article Details

Creative Commons License

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

References

  1. J. H. Wu, L. D. Yang, and J. Hou, “Experimental performance study of a small wall room air conditioner retrofitted with R290 and R1270,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 35, no. 7, pp. 1860–1868, 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2012.06.004.
  2. M. Mohanraj, S. Jayaraj, and C. Muraleedharan, “Environment friendly alternatives to halogenated refrigerants-A review,” Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 108–119, 2009, doi: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.07.003.
  3. J. H. Koh, Z. Zakaria, and D. Veerasamy, “Hydrocarbons as Refrigerants ― A Review,” ASEAN J. Sci. Technol. Dev, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 35–50, 2016.
  4. B. Palm, “Hydrocarbons as refrigerants in small heat pump and refrigeration systems - A review,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 552–563, 2008, doi: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2007.11.016.
  5. S. A. Tassou, G. De-Lille, and Y. T. Ge, “Food transport refrigeration – Approaches to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts of road transport,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 29, no. 8, pp. 1467–1477, 2009, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2008.06.027.
  6. K. Harby, “Hydrocarbons and their mixtures as alternatives to environmental unfriendly halogenated refrigerants: An updated overview,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 73, no. Supplement C, pp. 1247–1264, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.02.039.
  7. P. Maina and Z. Huan, “A review of carbon dioxide as a refrigerant in refrigeration technology,” S. Afr. J. Sci., vol. 111, no. 9/10, pp. 1–10, 2015.
  8. D. Colbourne, P. Solomon, R. Wilson, L. de Swardt, R. Nosbers, and M. Schuster, “Development of R290 Transport Refrigeration System,” in Presented before the IOR on 2nd March 2017, 2017.
  9. M. Mohanraj, S. Jayaraj, C. Muraleedharan, and P. Chandrasekar, “Experimental investigation of R290/R600a mixture as an alternative to R134a in a domestic refrigerator,” Int. J. Therm. Sci., vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 1036–1042, 2009, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2008.08.001.
  10. T. Kivevele and Z. Huan, “A review on opportunities for the development of heat pump drying systems in South Africa. South African Journal of Science,” South African J. Sci., vol. 110, no. 5/6, pp. 37–47, 2014.
  11. B. Wilson, D. Colbourne, and M. Schuster, “Development of climate friendlier truck refrigeration systems with R290 in South Africa,” in Side Event MOP Dubai 2015, 2015.
  12. S. Devotta, A. S. Padalkar, and N. K. Sane, “Performance assessment of HC-290 as a drop-in substitute to HCFC-22 in a window air conditioner,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 594–604, 2005, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2004.09.013.
  13. J. T. Siang and A. Sharifian, “Effect of Inlet Pressure, Size and Wind Speed of an Evaporator on Amount of Refrigerant Charge and Performance of a Portable Propane Air Conditioner,” in 4th International Conference on Science and Technology (ICST), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 7 – 8th August 2018., 2018, p. DOI: 10.1109/ICSTC.2018.8528623.
  14. M.-Y. Lee, D.-Y. Lee, and Y. Kim, “Performance characteristics of a small-capacity directly cooled refrigerator using R290/R600a (55/45),” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 734–741, 2008, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2007.11.014.
  15. A. S. Padalkar, K. V Mali, and S. Devotta, “Simulated and experimental performance of split packaged air conditioner using refrigerant HC-290 as a substitute for HCFC-22,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 277–284, 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.09.017.
  16. G. Zhou, Y. Zhang, Y. Yang, and X. Wang, “Numerical model for matching of coiled adiabatic capillary tubes in a split air conditioner using HCFC22 and HC290,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 30, no. 11, pp. 1477–1487, 2010, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2010.03.009.
  17. J. F. Urchueguia, J. M. Corberan, J. Gonzalvez, and J. M. Diaz, “Experimental characterization of a commercial–size scroll and reciprocating compressor working with R22 and propane (R290) as refrigerant,” Ecobibrium J. AIRAH, pp. 23–25, 2004.
  18. L. Tingxun, Y. Jiumin, Z. Zhaoshun, and Z. Zhang, “Experiment on R290 Substituting for R22 in A Room Air-conditioner,” J. Refrig., pp. 2010–04, 2010.
  19. S. Jain and P. K. Jain, “The rise of Renewable Energy implementation in South Africa,” Energy Procedia, vol. 143, pp. 721–726, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.12.752.
  20. M. Ramaube and Z. Huan, “Testing and Performance Evaluation of a R404A Transport Refrigeration System Retrofitted With R290,” in AIUE Proceedings of the 17th Industrial and Commercial Use of Energy (ICUE) Conference, Cape Town - South Africa, 2019, p. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3658977.
  21. A. Grzebielec, A. Rusowicz, and A. Szelagowski, “Safety aspects for the R290 (propane) as working medium in small air conditioning installations,” Saf. Eng. Anthropog. Objects, vol. 2, pp. 22–29, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.37105/iboa.110.
  22. S. Wongwises, A. Kamboon, and B. Orachon, “Experimental investigation of hydrocarbon mixtures to replace HFC-134a in an automotive air conditioning system,” Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 47, no. 11, pp. 1644–1659, 2006, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2005.04.013.
  23. G. Mahmoud, “An investigation of R152a and hydrocarbon refrigerants in mobile air conditioning.,” SAE Int., p. paper no. 01-0874, 1999.
  24. E. Halimic, D. Ross, B. Agnew, A. Anderson, and I. Potts, “A comparison of the operating performance of alternative refrigerants,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 23, no. 12, pp. 1441–1451, 2003, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-4311(03)00081-4.
  25. S. Devotta and M. . Kulkarni, “Use of hydrocarbon blends in Indian Household Refrigerators,” in International Conference on Ozone Protection Technologies, Washington DC, USA, 1996, pp. 367–376.
  26. L. Wang, H. Li, J. Wu, and K. Qiu, “Feasibility of using near-azeotropic refrigerant mixture R290/R1234ze(E) as substitute for R22,” Env. Prog Sustain. Energy, vol. 2021;40:e1, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.13574.
  27. T. Okolo and O. . Ajayi, “Thermal Performance and Energy Consumption Analyses of R290 and R22 Refrigerants in Air-conditioning System,” in IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 2018, p. 413:012072, doi: doi:10.1088/1757-899X/413/1/012072.
  28. K. S. Kumar and K. Rajagopal, “Computational and experimental investigation of low ODP and low GWP HCFC-123 and HC-290 refrigerant mixture alternate to CFC-12,” Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 48, no. 12, pp. 3053–3062, 2007, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2007.05.021.
  29. C.-C. Yu and T.-P. Teng, “Retrofit assessment of refrigerator using hydrocarbon refrigerants,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 507–518, 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.02.050.
  30. S. Wongwises and N. Chimres, “Experimental study of hydrocarbon mixtures to replace HFC-134a in a domestic refrigerator,” Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 85–100, 2005, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2004.02.011.
  31. M. A. Hammad and M. A. Alsaad, “The use of hydrocarbon mixtures as refrigerants in domestic refrigerators,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 19, no. 11, pp. 1181–1189, 1999, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-4311(98)00116-1.
  32. D. Jung, C.-B. Kim, K. Song, and B. Park, “Testing of propane/isobutane mixture in domestic refrigerators,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 517–527, 2000, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-7007(99)00084-5.
  33. W. . Yun, “Performance Characteristics of Propane/Isobutane Mixtures in a Small Refrigeration System,” Korea University, 2001.
  34. K. A. Joudi and Q. R. Al-Amir, “Experimental Assessment of residential split type air-conditioning systems using alternative refrigerants to R-22 at high ambient temperatures,” Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 86, no. Supplement C, pp. 496–506, 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.05.036.
  35. S. Cheng, S. Wang, and Z. Liu, “Cycle performance of alternative refrigerants for domestic air-conditioning system based on a small finned tube heat exchanger,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 64, no. 1, pp. 83–92, 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.12.022.
  36. C. Chaichana, L. Aye, and W. W. S. Charters, “Natural working fluids for solar-boosted heat pumps,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 637–643, 2003, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-7007(03)00046-X.
  37. J. M. Corberán, I. O. Martínez, and J. Gonzálvez, “Charge optimisation study of a reversible water-to-water propane heat pump,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 716–726, 2008, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2007.12.011.
  38. T.-P. Teng, H.-E. Mo, H. Lin, Y.-H. Tseng, R.-H. Liu, and Y.-F. Long, “Retrofit assessment of window air conditioner,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 32, no. Supplement C, pp. 100–107, 2012, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2011.08.036.
  39. D. Colbourne and K. O. Suen, “Appraising the flammability hazards of hydrocarbon refrigerants using quantitative risk assessment model. Part II. Model evaluation and analysis,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 27, no. 7, pp. 784–793, 2004, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2004.07.002.
  40. D. Colbourne and L. Espersen, “Quantitative risk assessment of R290 in ice cream cabinets,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 1208–1219, 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2012.10.036.
  41. D. Colbourne, R. Hühren, and A. Vonsild, “Safety concept for hydrocarbon refrigerants in split air conditioner,” in 10th IIR-Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Working Fluids (GL2012). Delft, The Netherlands, 2012.
  42. W. Zhang, Z. Yang, X. Zhang, D. Lv, and N. Jiang, “Experimental research on the explosion characteristics in the indoor and outdoor units of a split air conditioner using the R290 refrigerant,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 67, no. Supplement C, pp. 408–417, 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2016.03.018.
  43. W. Tang, G. He, D. Cai, Y. Zhu, A. Zhang, and Q. Tian, “The experimental investigation of refrigerant distribution and leaking characteristics of R290 in split type household air conditioner,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 115, no. Supplement C, pp. 72–80, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.12.083.
  44. I. L. Maclaine-cross, “Usage and risk of hydrocarbon refrigerants in motor cars for Australia and the United States,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 339–345, 2004, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2004.01.003.
  45. K. A. Joudi, A. S. K. Mohammed, and M. K. Aljanabi, “Experimental and computer performance study of an automotive air conditioning system with alternative refrigerants,” Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 44, no. 18, pp. 2959–2976, 2003, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(03)00051-7.
  46. D. Colbourne and K. O. Suen, “Comparative evaluation of risk of a split air conditioner and refrigerator using hydrocarbon refrigerants,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 59, no. Supplement C, pp. 295–303, 2015, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2015.06.026.
  47. L. Jia, W. Jin, and Y. Zhang, “Experimental study on R32 leakage and diffusion characteristic of wall-mounted air conditioners under different operating conditions,” Appl. Energy, vol. 185, no. Part 2, pp. 2127–2133, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.01.041.
  48. Z. Roy and G. Halder, “Replacement of halogenated refrigerants towards sustainable cooling system: A review,” Chem. Eng. J. Adv., vol. 3, p. 100027, 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceja.2020.100027.
  49. D. Colbourne, R. Hühren, and D. Rajadhyaksha, “Refrigerant leakage control for R-290 in split type refrigeration and air conditioning systems,” in 8th IIF-IIR International Conference on Compressors and Coolants, Častá - Papiernička, 2013.
  50. Y. Zhang et al., “Leakage analysis and concentration distribution of flammable refrigerant R290 in the automobile air conditioner system,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 110, pp. 286–294, 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2019.11.001.
  51. T. Li, “Indoor leakage test for safety of R-290 split type room air conditioner,” Int. J. Refrig., vol. 40, pp. 380–389, 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.11.023.