A mixture of carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether as a refrigerant for ground air conditioning system

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The selection of refrigerants for modern air conditioning systems (ACS) in ground facilities is a multidisciplinary task. Particularly, meeting the required energy efficiency of the refrigeration cycle as well as ensuring ecological safety of production, operation, and utilization of the refrigeration system. Herein, the working pressure levels of the refrigeration cycle considerably affect the availability, cost, and safety of the refrigeration equipment. The fire safety of the working substance is also important.

AIM: To investigate the feasibility of a mixture of dimethyl ether and carbon dioxide as refrigerant for energy efficient and safe application of ACS in ground facilities.

METHODS: Comparative analysis of a simple one-stage vapor–compression cycle using traditional working substances (R22 and R410A) and the proposed working substance, which is in the form of a mixture of dimethyl ether and carbon dioxide, using packages, such as Mathcad, HYSYS, CoolPack, and REFPROP, was performed.

Results: An ecofriendly mixture of dimethyl ether and carbon dioxide with low global warming potential and zero ozone depletion potential was proposed as refrigerant. Increasing the percentage of dimethyl ether in the blend reduces the temperature glide in the gas cooler, a property of CO₂, and pressures at which the blend operates. The mixture has limited operational properties due to the flammability of dimethyl ether, but its environmental performance makes the material of some practical interest.

CONCLUSION: Fire safety of the proposed working substance was calculated. The concentration of dimethyl ether in the mixture at which it becomes flammable and unsafe for ACS was determined to be 8.3%.

With an increase in the dimethyl ether content in the mixture with CO₂ from 4% to 8%, the refrigeration coefficient of the cycle increases from 2.53 to 2.88, but it is 1.57 times less than that of R410A.

The difference in operating pressures between the used non-ecological refrigerants and proposed mixture was determined. Results indicate that the mixture of dimethyl ether and carbon dioxide is currently inapplicable to mass production compressors, which use R410A as refrigerant. The condensation pressure of the most effective and nonflammable mixture of dimethyl ether and CO₂ (with dimethyl ether concentration of 8%) is 101 bar against 30 bar for R410A.

Therefore, we intend to evaluate test mixtures of dimethyl ether with other substances in the future.

Keywords

environmentally safe working substance / energy efficient and environmentally safe air conditioning system / refrigerant

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