Smart working fluid selection in refrigeration systems

Abstract

The choice of trade-off working fluid in the reverse Rankine cycle was studied as a problem of fuzzy optimization. Three main criteria were chosen as objective functions: thermodynamic (COP – coefficient of performance), economic (LCC – cost of life cycle) and ecological (GWP - global warming potential). The control variables (X) were considered as information characteristics of the working fluid. Critical parameters and a normal boiling point represented the latter. A sustainable solution that implements a compromise between the criteria based on information technology, defines a "smart" working fluid. The local criteria were expressed through the thermodynamic properties restored from the information characteristics of the working fluid X. The life cycle cost of the refrigeration system was calculated according to standard economic ratios. GWP values were selected from the refrigerant database. The class of substances considered is represented by possible alternative refrigerants for replacing R410A.