The cooling rate of the heated vapor compression cycle in case of using refrigerants R134a, R22, and R600a

The most power consuming part in the vapor compression cycle (VCC) is the gas compressor. Heating the refrigerant under constant volume after the compressor increases the condenser pressure, which consequently increases the cooling rate of the VCC. This study examined the influence of heating different refrigerants, i.e. R143a, R22, and R600a on the cooling rate of the VCC. Four experiments have been performed: the first experiment is a normal VCC, i.e. without heating, while in the second, third, and fourth experiments were carried out to raise the temperature of the refrigerant to 50 degrees C, 100 degrees C, and 150 degrees C. It has been found that heating raises the refrigerant pressure in VCC and thereby improves the refrigerant's mass flow rate resulting in an improvement in the cooling power for the same compressor power. Heating the refrigerant after the mechanical compressor increases the temperature of the condenser as well as the temperature of the evaporator when using refrigerant R134a, which prevents the refrigeration cycle to be used in freezing applications, however using refrigerant R22 or refrigerant R600a promotes the heated VCC to be used in freezing applications. Refrigerant R600a has the lowest operating pressure compared to R134a and R22, which promotes R600a to be used rather than R134a and R22 from a leakage point of view.