Thermodynamic analysis of usage of R134a, R1234yf, R450A, R513A and R515B in the mechanical vapor compression refrigeration system

R134a, which is used as a working fluid in Vapor Compression Refrigeration Systems (VCRS), is one of the refrigerants that is planned to be discontinued the usage due to the global warming. For this reason, researchers have tended to developing alternatives to R134a. In this context, in this study, the usage of R134a and its alternatives R1234yf, R450A, R513A, and R515B refrigerants were theoretically examined with the help of a theoretical model developed in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) program using experimental data in terms of first and second laws of thermodynamics in a mechanical vapor compression refrigeration system. Analyses were performed for constant cooling capacity at various evaporation and condensation temperatures. In this study, the effects of the refrigerant type on the compressor power, heat rejection rate from the condenser, Coefficient of Performance (COP), second law efficiency, and mass flow rate of the refrigerant were determined. In addition, the results obtained under the same conditions for R134a and its alternatives were compared. As a result, compressor power increased by 5.62% for R1234yf, 2.35% for R450A, 3.41% for R513A, and 2.88% for R515B compared to R134a. Thus, it was observed that COP decreased by 5.32% for R1234yf, 2.30% for R450A, 3.30% for R513A, and 2.80% for R515B compared to R134a. Similarly, it was observed that the second law efficiency decreased by 5.32% in case of the usage of R1234yf, 2.30% in case of the usage of R450A, 3.29% in case of the usage of R513A, and 2.80% in case of the usage of R515B compared to R134a. Hence, it has been determined that the closest refrigerant to R134a in terms of the COP and the second law efficiency is R450A.