Performance evaluation of hydrocarbon and its blend in split packaged inverter operated air conditioner

Hydrocarbons are being considered as an energy efficient alternative substance to HCFC-22 in ACs. Better thermo physical properties of HCs results higher energy efficiency in split air conditioners than HCFC-22. However, safety of HC substances needs to be addressed when it is used in ACs. This paper focus on a typical inverter operated SAC with 5.2 kW nominal cooling capacity for performance evaluation. Various tests have been carried out on SAC in well-equipped psychrometric test chamber maintaining test conditions as prescribed in Indian Standard (BIS 1391 part-1) for full capacity and half capacity of test unit. Initially HCFC-22 was tested to establish baseline performance. HCs chosen are HC-290 and its blend (50% HC-290 and 50% HC-1270 by weight) were tested for as a drop-in replacement for HCFC-22. Indian SEER of SAC with HC-290/HC-1270 blend achieved was 4.91 as against 5.11 for HC290. For HC-290 and HC-290/HC-1270 blend, ISSER is about 20.2% and 15.5% higher respectively than HCFC-22. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 3rd International e-Conference on Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering and nanoTechnology.