Evaluation applicability of trans-critical CO2 refrigeration system using field data of an ammonia based plant

Abstract

The study evaluates the potential of a trans-critical CO2 refrigeration system as replacement of an ammonia system in a milk refrigeration plant for a warm climate condition in northern India where the annual range of temperature is 48ºC to -2 ºC. Twenty-four months of field data from the ammonia based plant is collected. An ideal thermodynamic model of the same is built and operated with field data and the performance is compared. A co-relation factor is developed that relates ideal and actual performance encompassing the practical consideration that contribute towards reduction of plant performance from ideal. The performance is next compared with that of hypothetical replacement plant based on CO2 transcritical cycle with booster system, weighing up practical consideration. A few possible COP improvement strategies are also evaluated.