Análise experimental de fluidos refrigerantes alternativos ao R410A em sistema de ar condicionado

Abstract

This research presents an experimental analysis among candidates substitute fluids for R410A, currently the most used refrigerant in stationary air conditioning systems and which has a high influence on environmental problems. Refrigerant, an essential part of air conditioning systems, make up the list of greenhouse gases, which causes the warming of the planet. Since the Montreal Protocol the elimination of fluids that harm the environment has been promoted. The analysis by practical tests carried out on an experimental bench collaborates to determine the R410A substitute. The experimental apparatus consists of a compressor with a cooling capacity of 17.5 kW driven by a frequency inverter, plate heat exchangers, electronic expansion valve and proper instrumentation for measuring the results. The environmental impact analysis methodology used in this work allows comparing the effect of each fluid, not only by refrigerant properties but also through energy performance, which indirectly harms the environment, associated with the primary process of electrical energy generation. During the execution of the tests, two alternative fluid was proposed, which can be added to the other fluids that have been tested by different methodologies. It can be checked that the alternative fluids underperformed when R410A in the thermodynamic results but present less environmental impact on the application of this work. The research highlights the R454B result, had the lowest overall environmental impact and proposed fluid N2, which reached similar results to the other tested refrigerants and the lowest amount of flammable fluids in its composition.