STUDIES ON BLENDING OF REFRIGERANTS FOR COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION AND COOLING.

The study focuses on evaluating various refrigerants used in the Indian market, analysing their thermodynamic and transport properties. This study includes synthetic refrigerants like R134a, R152a, R143a, R125, R227ea, and R1234yf, as well as the natural refrigerant R744 (CO2). Both pure and blended form of gaseous and vapour states are selected for its low Global Warming Potential (GWP) and zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) respectively. The primary objective is to assess refrigerant performance based on key parameters such as Volumetric Cooling Capacity (VCC) and Coefficient of Performance (COP), analyse their environmental impact, and provide insights to guide the selection and optimization of refrigerant solutions in refrigeration in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. To achieve these objectives, the research employs various computational tools, including NIST CYCLE-D and NIST REFPROP to calculate performance indicators and analyse the thermodynamic and transport properties of different refrigerants. Practical experiments complement the computational analysis to validate findings in practical uses scenarios. Specific heat capacity at constant volume (Cv) comparisons for various pure refrigerants and blends offer insights into their thermodynamic behaviour, which is crucial for efficient system design. Additionally, the study evaluates thermal conductivity (K) values for liquid and vapor phases across different blend compositions to understand their thermal transport properties and impact on system heat efficiency (COP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]