A feasibility analysis of replacing the standard ammonia refrigeration device with the cascade NH3/CO2 refrigeration device in the food industry

Abstract

The thermodynamic analysis demonstrates the feasibility of replacing the standard ammonia refrigeration device with the cascade NH3/CO2 refrigeration device in the food industry. The main reason for replacement is to reduce the total amount of ammonia in spaces like deep-freezing chambers, daily chambers, working rooms, and technical passageways. An ammonia-contaminated area is hazardous to human health and the safety of food products. Therefore, the preferred reduced amount of ammonia is accumulated in the central refrigeration engine room, where the cascade NH3/CO2 device is installed as well. Furthermore, the analysis discusses and compares two Carnot's refrigeration cycles, one for the standard ammonia device and the other for the cascade NH3/CO2 device. Both cycles are processes with two-stage compression and two-stage throttling. The thermodynamic analysis demonstrates that the selected refrigeration cycle is the most cost-effective process because it provides the best numerical values for the total coefficient of performance with respect to the observed refrigeration cycle. The chief analyzed influential parameters of the cascade device are: total refrigeration load, total compressor power, mean temperature of the heat exchanger, evaporating and condensing temperature of the low-temperature part.