Complete Evaluation of Vapour Compression Refrigeration System using R407C and R507

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 04 Issue: 07 | July -2017 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
© 2017, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 5.181 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 377
Complete Evaluation of Vapour Compression Refrigeration System Using
R407C and R507
Rahul V. Ikhar1 H.S. Farkade2
M. Tech student (Thermal Engineering)1, Asst. Professor 2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Govt. College of Engineering, Amravati, Maharashtra, India.
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Abstract: For the existence of refrigerant current
requirements are, system performance should not be
compromised, refrigerant and lubrication interaction should
be as required, it should be energy efficient, environment
friendly etc. CFC and HCFC have high ozone depleting
potential (ODP) therefore after Montreal protocol their use
has been banned. So it is a need of time to find out a
refrigerant which is environment friendly, such as HFC
refrigerants as working fluids in refrigeration and air
conditioning systems and which can be used long term
substitute for existing refrigerants. The most important
qualification for refrigerants is low ozone depleting
potential (ODP).CFF and HCFC refrigerants can be replaced
by hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) as they have similar vapour
pressure also HFC is nonflammable and stable compound
more over HFC has zero ODP. After use of HFC refrigerants
in many applications, it is found that we don’t need to
change the design of refrigeration system. So we can look
forward to HFC refrigerants. R407C and R507 are HFC
refrigerants which are studied in this paper. Thus, the aim of
the present work is to compare refrigerants R407C and
R507 with R134a refrigerant using different parameters
such as COP Vs Ambient Air Temperature, Refrigeration
Capacity Vs Ambient Air Temperature, and Compressor
Discharge Temperature Vs Ambient Air Temperature etc.
KEYWORDS: Refrigeration system, VCR, Refrigerant,
Environment.
1. INTRODUCTION
Refrigerants are classified as CFC: CFC is a molecule having
carbon, fluorine and chlorine atoms. CFC is stable
compound hence it reaches stratosphere and contribute to
the destruction of ozone layer. E.g. R11, R113, R12, R500,
R502 etc. HCFC: HCFC is a molecule having Hydrogen,
Carbon, Fluorine and chlorine atoms. HCFC affect Ozone
layer by lesser extent as they are less stable. E.g. R22,
R123, R124, R401a etc. HFC: It is a molecule having
hydrogen, fluorine and carbon. As HFC does not contain
Chlorine, it does not affect ozone layer.
1.1Standard Vapour Compression Refrigeration
System (VCRS)
T-S and P-V diagrams of standard, saturated, single stage
(SSS) vapour compression refrigeration system are shown
in fig.1 and fig.2 respectively. Standard VCRS consist of
following four processes:
Process 1-2: Compressor Work (Isentropic compression of
saturated vapour)
Process 2-3: Condensation (Isobaric heat rejection)
Process 3-4: Throttling (Isenthalpic expansion of saturated
liquid)
Process 4-1: Evaporation (Isobaric heat extraction)
Figure-1: T-S diagram of VCRS.
Figure-2: P-V diagram of VCRS.

The VCR cycle is useful in most of the
refrigerators, deep freezers and water coolers. In this cycle
the refrigerant entering the compressor at low pressure is
compressed to high pressure superheated vapour. Now
this refrigerant in superheated vapour form travels to
condenser which has coils or tubes. Here the refrigerant is
cooled and liquefied. After condenser the liquid refrigerant
passes through throttling device (Expansion valve or
capillary tube). In the throttling device there is sudden
decrease in refrigerant pressure which results in flash
evaporation of one third of liquid refrigerant. The latent
heat required for this flash evaporation is absorbed mostly
from adjacent liquid refrigerant; this phenomenon is called
auto refrigeration. Now this liquid – vapour mixture of
refrigerant enters the evaporator section. The evaporator
section consist of a storage tank which has evaporator coil
soldered on its outer walls. When refrigerant leaves
evaporator, it is fully vaporized and slightly heated as it
absorbs heat from evaporator section. Finally the
refrigerant returns to the compressor to continue the
cycle.
2. EXPERIMENT SET-UP
Figure-3: Experimental Setup
The setup composed of five main components
which are a compressor, a condenser, capillary tubes, a
filter-drier, an evaporator as shown in figure. A 220V,
reciprocating compressor with input power varied
between 230 to 300W was used. Compressor lubricant is
polyol ester oil. A silica gel drier filter is used for
absorption of moisture. Condenser is air cooled type.
Capillary tubes used have different internal diameter.
Evaporator section has a steel tank and copper tubes that
means it is shell and tube type. Puff insulation is applied to
evaporator tank to avoid heat transfer. The refrigerants
used were R407C, R507 and R134a.
The other components used were a voltmeter, an
ampere meter, an energy meter, a digital thermostat, an
electrical switch, bourdon tube type low pressure and high
pressure gauges, J type thermocouple and indicator and
control valve.
Table.1. Specifications of Experimental Set-up
Notation Component Description
V Voltmeter Range 0-300
A Ampere Meter Range 0-10
Pd Discharge
Pressure Gauge
Range 0-300 Psi
Ps Suction
Pressure Gauge
Range 0-150 psi
Ts Thermocouple J and T type
1 Energy meter
Electronic
Range 0-20A
2 Temperature
Indicator
J Type range 0-750c
3 Thermometer Digital Controller
4 Switch 15A
5 Evaporator
Tank
Steel tank insulated by
Puff
6 Water Drainage
Valve
Plastic Valve
7 Gas Charging
Line
¼ inch diameter line
8 Compressor MA72LHEG,
Hermetically sealed,
Reciprocating Type
9 Condenser Fan
Motor
1/83 HP
10 Condenser 10inch*11inch*3row
11 Filter Drier DM 50type containing
Silica gel
12 Expansion
Valve
Capillary tube of
different diameter

3. DATA REDUCTION
1. Initially vacuum was created in the VCRS setup with the
help of vacuum pump.
2. Refrigerant was charged within the system by charging
line and charging valve.
3. To the storage tank of the evaporator tank 7kg of water
was supplied.
4. Start the system and note the temperature of water,
initial energy meter reading and system pressure.
5. Note the final pressure at suction and discharge section,
temperature at all silent points, final energy meter reading.
6. With the help of relations, readings, observation table is
prepared.
7. Given procedure was repeated for the working fluids
R407C, R507 and R134a.
8. COP of the system was calculated by using the given
relation.
9. Heat abstracted in evaporator : Qa = mev × Cpw × _Tew
10. Work input in compressor: Win = Energy meter
reading
11. Coefficient of performance: COP = Qa/Win
Where, mev = Mass of evaporator tank water in kg. Tew =
Evaporator water temperature difference in K
Cpw = Specific heat of water in kJ/kg-K, Qa = Heat
abstracted in evaporator in kJ
Win = Work input in compressor in kJ
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The series of experiments were carried out on the
experimental test rig. The experiments were first carried
out with R134a then R407C and finally R507. All
experiments were performed with three different capillary
tube diameters (0.036, 0.04, 0.05 inches) at three different
ambient air temperatures which are 32, 36 and 40ᵒC.
4.1. COP Vs Ambient Air Temperature
Following are graphs showing COP against Ambient air
Temperature for respective capillary diameters.
Chart –1: COP Vs Ambient Air Temperature for capillary
diameter 0.036 inch
diameter 0.040 inch
diameter 0.050 inch
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
32 36 40
COP
Ambient Air Temperature (ᵒC)
R134a
R407C
R507
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
32 36 40
COP
R134a
R407C
R507
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
32 36 40
COP
R134a
R407C
R507

Above figures show the COP of different refrigerants at
different ambient air temperature.
By observing these three graphs of COP v/s Ambient Air
Temperature, we can define the following results
1. COP of all refrigerants decreases with increase in
ambient air temperature.
2. COP of R134a is more than R407C and R507.
4.2. Compressor Discharge Temperature Vs Ambient
Air Temperature
Chart –4: Discharge Temperature Vs Ambient Air
Temperature for capillary diameter 0.036 inch
Above figures show the compressor discharge
temperature at different ambient air temperature. By
observing these three graphs of Discharge Temperature
v/s Ambient Air Temperature, we can define the following
results,
1. Discharge temperature increases with increase in
ambient air temperature for all refrigerants.
2. For R134a discharge temperature is lowest.
4.3. Refrigeration Capacity Vs Ambient Air
Temperature
Chart –7: Refrigeration capacity Vs Ambient Air
0
20
40
60
80
100
32 36 40
Discharge
Temperature(ᵒC)
R134a
R407C
R507
0
50
100
32 36 40
Discharge
Temperature(ᵒC)
R134a
R407C
R507
0
20
40
60
80
100
32 36 40
Discharge
Temperature(ᵒC)
R134a
R407C
R507
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
32 36 40
RefrigerationCapacity(kW)
R134a
R407C
R507
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
32 36 40
RefrigerationCapacity(kW)
R134a
R407C
R507

Above figures show the refrigeration capacity at different
ambient air temperature. By observing these three graphs
of Refrigeration capacity v/s Ambient Air Temperature, we
can define the following results,
1. Refrigeration capacity decreases with increase in
ambient air temperature.
2. Refrigeration capacity of R134a is more than R407C
and R507 for all ambient air temperatures.
5. CONCLUSIONS
Performance evaluation of vapour compression
refrigeration system by using different refrigerants was
studied, based on the experimental study; the effect of
different working parameters such as ambient air
temperature, dimensions of capillary tube etc. was studied.
R134a is one of the important refrigerants used in air-
conditioning and refrigeration systems all over the world.
R134a, R407C and R507 all are HFC refrigerants and all of
them have zero ozone depletion potential (ODP).
The results obtained showed that as ambient air
temperature increases, discharge temperature and energy
consumption increase, while the COP and refrigeration
capacity reduce for all the investigated refrigerants.
Discharge temperature of R134a was lowest, followed by
R407C with average value of 11.34% higher, while that of
R507 was 13.65% higher than that of R134a. The
refrigeration capacity obtained from R134a is more than
those obtained from R407C and R507. The average
refrigeration capacity of both R407C and R507 are lower
by around 43%.
The result of COP showed that R134a has the highest COP
than those of R407C and R507 at any ambient
temperature. Compared with R134a, the average COP of
R507 is decreased by 32.79% and that of R407C is
decreased by 37.19%. Refrigerant R134a has the highest
energy consumption. Compared with R134a, the average
energy consumption of R407C is decreased by 12.77% and
that of R507 is decreased by 15.45%. R407C gave optimum
performance at 0.036 inch capillary diameter. R507 gave
optimum performance at 0.040 inch capillary diameter.
Performance of R134a was similar at 0.040 and 0.050 inch
capillary diameter. Finally, the overall assessment of the
results showed that R134a has the best performance as
compared to R407C and R507 in all aspects.
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0
20
40
60
80
100
32 36 40
Discharge
Temperature(ᵒC)
R134a
R407C
R507

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