Abstract:
Vapor compression refrigeration system was studied as it is the most widely used
refrigeration system especially in small scale of refrigeration application such as in
domestic application. Performance of the system becomes main issue and many
researches are still ongoing to evaluate and improve efficiency of the system. In this
modern age, various refrigerants are used like R-12, R-22,R-134a etc. All these
refrigerants are of CFC/HCFC group. These refrigerants contain high Global Warming
Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). It has become a crying need to
use such a refrigerant that is highly efficient as well as environment friendly. We have
chosen Liquefied Petroleum Gas as our experimental object. We have investigated the
result of an experimental study carried out to determine the performance of domestic
refrigerator when a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which is locally available which
comprises of 80% propane, 20% butane which is varied from company to company is
used as a Refrigerant. The LPG is cheaper and possesses an environmental friendly
nature with no Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and no Global Warming Potential
(GDP). It is used in world for cooking purposes. The refrigerator used in the present
study is designed to work on LPG. The performance parameters investigated is the
refrigeration effect in certain time. The refrigerator worked efficiently when LPG was
used as a refrigerant instead of R134a. The evaporator temperature reached -2.2ᵒC
with an ambient temperature of 28ᵒC. Also from the experiment which done in
atmospheric condition, we can predict the optimum value of cooling effect with the
suitable operating condition of regulating valve and capillary tube of the system.
