Predicting the impact of heat exchanger fouling in refrigeration systems

•A model is presented to predict refrigeration systems under fouled conditions.•The change in both system and performance parameters are presented.•By applying the Buckingham Pi theorem, important dimensionless groups are established.•The variations with respect to heat exchanger degradation are found to be logarithmic.

In this paper, a model is presented to predict properties and performance parameters of refrigeration systems under fouled conditions. This was based on the fact that the majority of the heat transfer in these systems occurs in the phase-change region. By applying the Buckingham Pi theorem, it was established through the use of the reversed Curzon–Ahlborn cycle that the effect of fouling on thermodynamic properties and performance parameters can be predicted but that this is possible through combining data under specific conditions. The fact that real refrigeration systems are based upon these cycles pointed to the conclusion that this can be used on actual industrial and residential systems. Therefore, this was demonstrated through application upon the simulated model of a simple vapor compression cycle. The advantage provided by the fouling prediction model is the saving of time and money as it will reduce the amount of simulations and/or experimental work needed.