Refrigerant performance analysis for ice rink cooling systems : thermodynamic and environmental considerations

Abstract

Ice rink refrigeration systems face significant transitions due to environmental regulations phasing out high-GWP refrigerants, necessitating comparative performance analysis of viable alternatives. Limited research addresses the unique operating requirements of ice rinks, which create distinct performance challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the thermodynamic performance of five refrigerants (R134a, R404A, R507A, R410A, and R717) under ice rink operating conditions. This thesis includes research with CoolPack software to model a one-stage vapor compression cycle with direct expansion evaporator. Performance metrics including COP, power consumption, mass flow rates, and discharge temperatures were calculated across multiple operating conditions.

Ammonia (R717) demonstrated superior efficiency with the highest COP (3.274). All refrigerants showed similar sensitivity to evaporation temperature variations, while condensing temperature sensitivity varied more substantially. The results affirm the thermodynamic advantage of ammonia. In applications where safety factors make synthetic refrigerants a priority, R134a and R410A provide efficient substitutes to standard R404A. The study shows there are several performance criteria to consider beyond efficiency.