An Experimental Investigation of Thermodynamic Performance of R-22 Alternative Blends

R-410a and R-407c which have the best potential among R-22 alternatives were tested as drop-in refrigerants against a set of R-22 baseline tests. The performance evaluations were carried out in a psychometric calorimeter test facility using the residential spilt type air conditioner under the ARI rating conditions. Except the lubricant and hand-operated expansion valve, the other parts of the air conditioner were the same with the commercial system. Performance characteristics were measured; compressor power, capacity, VCR, mass flow rate and COP. The tests showed that R-407c can be directly charged into the current refrigeration system because its vapor pressure and other thermochemical properties are similar to those of R-22. However, it is required to change the volume flow rate of compressor in order to achieve the volumetric capacity of R-22. This results from its relatively small VCR and capacity. Meanwhile, R-410a has vapor pressure values too high to be substituted for the current system and this resulted relatively low COP of R-410a compared to that of R-22.