Integrated energy, advanced exergy, environmental, and enviroeconomic assessment of azeotropic and zeotropic refrigerants in vapor compression refrigeration systems

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive and original evaluation of CFC, HCFC, HFC, and HFO-type refrigerants using energy, exergy, advanced exergy, environmental, enviroeconomic, and total equivalent warming impact (TEWI) analyses within a single integrated framework. While previous studies have typically focused on limited refrigerant categories or used only one type of evaluation method, this research combines advanced exergy analysis with TEWI and enviroeconomic assessments to examine performance, environmental impact, and economic cost together. This combination allows the study to identify where system improvements are possible, to measure total environmental impact over the system's lifetime, and to estimate the related environmental costs in one consistent approach. The refrigerants were selected based on their historical significance, current applications, and future potential, ensuring a broad and relevant analysis. R-12 is included as a benchmark to highlight the efficiency and environmental trade-offs associated with older refrigerants. R-410A and R-32, widely used in modern air-conditioning systems, are analyzed to assess their performance and sustainability. Additionally, R-513A, an HFO-based alternative with lower global warming impact, is evaluated for its potential to replace high-GWP refrigerants while maintaining efficiency. The results reveal that R-12 achieves the highest coefficient of performance (COP) at 3.525 and the lowest exergy destruction rate (1.505 kW), with only a slight margin from other refrigerants. R-410A exhibits the highest exergy destruction rate (1.781 kW), more than half of which is avoidable (55.05%). Enviroeconomic analysis identifies R-513A (66.47 kg-1) as the most cost-effective option, closely followed by R-32 (78.53 kg-1). TEWI analysis highlights R-32 (70,152 kgCO2-eq) as the refrigerant with the lowest environmental impact, slightly outperforming R-513A (72,280 kgCO2-eq). However, the system operating with R-513A requires 50% more refrigerant charge than R-32. This integrated approach provides a clearer and more complete basis for selecting sustainable refrigerants by linking performance results with environmental and economic considerations.