Ecological Refrigerant Cascade Systems Replacement in Accordance with the EU Regulations.

Abstract

The paper analyses ecological refrigeration cascade systems in accordance with Regulation (EU) no. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 April 2014. In present the cascade refrigeration plants work with refrigerants R23/ R404A. In accordance with the Regulation F-gas we will replace R23(GWP=14800) refrigerant with the new refrigerant gas R472A with the lowest GWP value (GWP=353) and R404A refrigerant with R448A. The refrigerant R472A is perfectly compatible with the commercial elements used in cascade refrigeration plants charged with R23. R472A [CO2/R32/134A] refrigerant can be used for ULT (Ultra Low Temperature) applications must reach a temperature lower than or equal to -70°C. The determination of the thermodynamic properties was performed with the help of the Refprop program. The TEWI factor analysis was performed for a cascade refrigeration installation which is located in the Laboratory of the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer Department.