Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of novel ejector-expansion TRCC (transcritical CO2) cascade refrigeration cycles (Novel transcritical CO2 cycle)

In this paper, two new CO2 cascade refrigeration cycles are proposed and analyzed. In both these cycles the top cycle is an ejector-expansion transcritical cycle and the bottom cycle is a sub-critical CO2 cycle. In one of these proposed cycles the waste heat from the gas cooler is utilized to drive a supercritical CO2 power cycle making the plant a combination of three cycles. Using the first and second laws of thermodynamics, theoretical analyses on the performance characteristics of the cycles are carried out. Also a parametric study is conducted to optimize the performance of each cycle under various operating conditions. The proposed cycles exhibit a reasonable value of COP (coefficient of performance) with a much less value of compressor discharge temperature, compared to the conventional cycles.

► Two new high performance configurations of ejector-expansion TRCC (transcritical CO2) cascade refrigeration cycles using constant-area mixing model were presented. ► A parametric study was also conducted to optimize the performance of plant under various operating conditions. ► The range of increase in COP (coefficient of performance) values of Layouts 1 and 2 is about 10.8–31.5%.