Energetic evaluation of an internal heat exchanger in a CO2 transcritical refrigeration plant using experimental data

The performance of an Internal Heat Exchanger (IHX) operating in a CO2 transcritical refrigeration plant is analysed, from an energetic point of view, in this work. The evaluation is based on experimental data by contrasting the performance of the plant working with (44 tests) and without the IHX (46 tests) at the same operating conditions. The experimental evaluation covers three evaporating levels (-5, -10 and -15 degrees C), at two different gas-cooler outlet temperatures each (31, 34 degrees C), for a wide range of gas-cooler operating pressures (74.5-105.9 bar). The thermal effectiveness of the IHX is empirically analysed for the different operating conditions in the first part of the paper. Moreover, the relation of its effectiveness with the operating parameters is presented. The second part is devoted to analyse the modification of the energetic performance of the plant caused by the IHX. The results show a maximum increment on cooling capacity of 12%, an increment of the efficiency of the plant up to 12% and a maximum increase on discharge temperature of 10 degrees C at -15 degrees C of evaporating temperature. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.