The substitution of R134a with R744: An exergetic analysis based on experimental data

• An experimental based exergetic comparison between R744 and R134a refrigeration cycles.
• Substitution of R134 with R744 working in a transcritical cycle.
• Optimization of the transcritical cycle exergetic performances.
• The exergetic performances of R134a are better than that of R744 (from +20 to +44%).
• In the transcritical cycle the gascooler and the lamination process must be optimized.

This paper deals with the problem of R314a substitution with a natural refrigerant fluid. A comparison is performed between R134a and R744 (CO2). R134a is a hydrofluorocarbon with a large direct warming impact (GWP), whereas the R744 contribution is negligible. A comparative exergetic analysis, carried out with experimental tests, has been presented. This paper compares a commercial R134a refrigeration plant and a prototype R744 system working in a trans-critical cycle. Based on the experimental data an exergetic analysis has been carried out on the overall plant and on each device. The overall exergetic performances of the classical vapour compression plant working with R134a are consistently better than that of R744 (from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 44%). The performance of the individual components of the plant has been analyzed, in order to pinpoint those contributing most to the decrease in the exergetic performance of R744.