Autores UPV
Llopis Doménech Rodrigo,
Sanz Marín Carlos,
RAMÓN CABELLO,
Sanchez -Garcia-Vacas Daniel ,
Torrella Alcaraz Enrique
Abstract
We present the experimental evaluation of an internal heat exchanger or suction-line/liquid-line heat
exchanger in a CO2 subcritical refrigeration plant with gas-cooler. The plant, driven by a 1.5 kW CO2 semi
hermetic compressor, uses brazed plate heat exchangers as condenser, evaporator and internal heat
exchanger, an air finned tube gas-cooler and an electronic expansion valves. The evaluation (77 steadystates)
covers evaporating temperatures from 40 to 25 C and condensing temperatures from 15 to
0 C, always at the nominal speed of the compressor. Here, the effect of the internal heat exchanger on
the main energy parameters is analysed, i.e., cooling capacity, COP and heat rejection at gas-cooler and
condenser. Also, the effect of the internal heat exchanger in a cascade cycle is analysed theoretically. It
has been concluded that the internal heat exchanger does not improve the performance of the subcritical
cycle, but it could improve the energy performance if it is used inside a cascade refrigeration system.
