Next Generation Environmentally Sustainable Refrigeration System

这项研究计划将调查低全球变暖潜能制冷剂在汽车和住宅应用中的使用情况。臭氧消耗潜势和全球变暖潜势是衡量制冷剂排放对环境的直接影响的两个众所周知的指标。最近，欧盟宣布了一项指令，禁止在移动空调(MAC)中使用GWP超过150的制冷剂。MAC指令将在2017年前逐步淘汰所有车辆中使用的氟化温室气体，如R-134a(全球变暖潜能值=1410)。对低全球升温潜能值制冷剂的偏爱导致了最近对氢氟烯烃(HFO)制冷系统等替代品的兴趣。美国环保局已最终批准在汽车空调中使用HFO-1234yf(GWP=4)。这种制冷剂的主要优点包括零消耗臭氧潜能值、低全球升温潜能值和低可燃性，其压力曲线与R-134a相似。初步研究已确定氢氟辛烷作为潜在的全球汽车制冷剂替代品的适用性。 本研究的主要目的是开发一种具有多种循环改型的高性能、先进的HFO制冷系统。这些改进包括使用多流体微通道热交换器，分阶段压缩和膨胀过程，以及将压缩机与独立的垂直轴风力涡轮机耦合以独立供电。这项工作将在温莎大学现有的多功能、最先进的制冷研究设施中进行。该研究计划的目的是通过对实验数据和数值数据的分析，为下一代原型制冷系统建立设计和控制策略。这项研究中提出的技术开发对于满足我们在环境可持续性、增强车辆性能和客户满意度方面的加拿大严格标准至关重要。根据最近的文献回顾，这项研究在加拿大将是第一次。拟议中的研究项目将为加拿大暖通空调、环境、能源和交通运输行业培养高素质的人才。

This research program will investigate the use of low global warming potential refrigerants in automotive as well as residential applications. Ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP) are the two well known indicators of the direct environmental impact of the release of refrigerants. Recently, the European Union has announced a directive that bans refrigerants having a GWP exceeding 150 in mobile air conditioners (MAC). The MAC directive will phase out the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases, such as R-134a (GWP=1410) in all vehicles by 2017. A preference for low GWP refrigerants has led to recent interest in such alternatives as the hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigeration system. The US Environmental Protection Agency has issued final approval for the use of HFO-1234yf (GWP=4) in MAC. The key advantages of this refrigerant include zero ODP, low GWP, and low flammability with similar pressure curves to R-134a. Initial research has identified the applicability of HFOs as a potential global automotive refrigerant alternative. The main focus of this research is to develop a high performance advanced HFO refrigeration system with various cycle modifications. These modifications include using multi-fluid microchannel heat exchangers, staging compression and expansion processes, and coupling the compressor with a stand-alone vertical axis wind turbine for independent power usage. This work will be carried out in an existing versatile, state of the art refrigeration research facility at the University of Windsor. The intent of the research program is to establish design and control strategies for next-generation prototype refrigeration systems through the analysis of the experimental and numerical data obtained from this work. The technological developments proposed in this research are essential to meeting our stringent Canadian standards for environmental sustainability, enhanced vehicle performance, and customer satisfaction. Based on the recent review of literature, this research will be the first of its kind in Canada. The proposed research project offers training of highly qualified personnel, which will benefit the Canadian HVAC, environmental, energy and transportation industries greatly.