Integrated thermodynamic, experimental, and environmental assessment of low-GWP refrigerants in vertical display cabinets
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10973-026-15947-w
- Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, Index Islamicus, INSPEC, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study evaluates the performance, safety, and environmental impacts of various refrigerants used in vertical commercial display cabinets. Thermodynamic (energy and exergy) and environmental (TEWI) analyses were conducted for seven refrigerants (R404A, R290, R1270, R454C, R455A, R1234yf, and R1234ze(E)). In contrast, experimental investigations were conducted only for R1270 and R454C in accordance with ISO 23953. Thermodynamic analyses are conducted at various evaporation temperatures for a fixed condensation temperature and at various condensation temperatures for a fixed evaporation temperature. The theoretical results show that R1234ze(E) exhibits the best performance, with a COP of 4.94 at a condensation temperature of 30 degrees C, whereas blended refrigerants such as R455A and R454C show relatively lower performance, which may be influenced by temperature glide effects. Experimental results reveal that the cabinet using R454C consumed approximately 34% more energy (22.80 kWh/24 h) compared to R1270 (17.00 kWh/24 h), resulting in a lower actual COP (1.94 vs. 2.60). Environmental analysis based on TEWI indicates that indirect emissions dominate total emissions for all refrigerants. Hydrocarbons (R1270, R290) and HFOs (R1234yf, R1234ze(E)) achieved the lowest TEWI values (approximately 18.9-20.0 t CO2-eq), while blended refrigerants exhibited higher values due to reduced energy efficiency. These findings emphasize that refrigerant selection should not rely solely on GWP values; thermodynamic performance, indirect emissions, and safety classification must also be considered to ensure efficient and environmentally responsible refrigeration system design. Among the evaluated options, R1234ze(E) and R1234yf showed favorable performance, offering a balance between thermodynamic efficiency, safety, and low environmental impact under the investigated conditions.