Performance analysis of a CO2/NH3 cascade refrigeration system with subcooling for low temperature freezing applications

CO2/NH3 cascade refrigeration system is an all-natural refrigeration option which can be specifically designed and gainfully operated for low temperature applications in warm ambient conditions. In the present study, a novel CO2/NH3 cascade refrigeration system with subcooling is proposed and evaluated as an alternative to the HFC-404A refrigeration system, which is typically used for blast freezer applications in the seafood processing industry. The performance of the proposed system is also compared with a conventional CO2/NH3 cascade refrigeration system without any subcooling arrangement. Real compressor specific equations were used to simulate the performance of the systems under various conditions. The proposed system yields 26% higher performance ratio (COP) than the conventional HFC-404A system at the design condition. In addition, the proposed subcooling arrangement enhances COP of the conventional CO2/NH3 cascade unit by around 5%. The system performance is investigated theoretically under various condensing temperatures and subcooling degrees. The annual energy demand and total equivalent warming impact (TEWI) of the proposed system are 15% and 48% lower than for the conventional HFC-404A system which results in significant economic and environmental benefits. Overall, the proposed system exhibits superior energy efficiency and offers a climate and environmental friendly alternative to the conventional environmentally harmful systems within the seafood industry. Adoption of such energy efficient all natural and clean refrigerant technology is crucial for the future phase out of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) fluids, as ratified in accordance with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in India and other tropical countries.