Advanced R744 technology applied to a multi-temperature refrigerated container

Neal Lawrence, Stefan Elbel, Pega Hrnjak

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

R744 is an attractive refrigerant for medium- (MT) and low-temperature (LT) refrigeration but suffers from reduced capacity and energy efficiency at high ambient temperatures, which is of particular concern for applications such as transport refrigeration. This paper describes the design of a multi-temperature refrigerated container, with a subcritical scroll compressor used to provide the LT capacity. To improve unit performance at the high ambient conditions, recent advances in R744 technology have been implemented, including multi-stage transcritical compression with intercooling, improved gas cooler design to minimize approach temperature, and ejector expansion work recovery. Details of the system design and component selection are presented and discussed. The experimental results show that the for ambient temperatures between 25 and 50°C, the prototype R744 container achieves MT capacity in the range of 5.4 to 3.4 kW, LT capacity in the range of 4.1 to 2.3 kW, and unit COP in the range of 1.60 to 0.75.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication14th IIR Gustav-Lorentzen Conference on Natural Fluids, GL 2020 - Proceedings
PublisherInternational Institute of Refrigeration
Pages622-627
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9782362150401
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
Event14th IIR Gustav-Lorentzen Conference on Natural Fluids, GL 2020 - Virtual, Kyoto, Japan
Duration: Dec 7 2020Dec 9 2020

Publication series

NameRefrigeration Science and Technology
Volume2020-December
ISSN (Print)0151-1637

Conference

Conference14th IIR Gustav-Lorentzen Conference on Natural Fluids, GL 2020
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityVirtual, Kyoto
Period12/7/2012/9/20

Keywords

  • Multi-stage compression
  • R744 technology
  • Refrigerated container
  • Refrigeration cycle design
  • Two-phase ejector

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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