A Comparison of R-454C, R-449A, and R-744 in Food Retail Refrigeration Systems: Energy Efficiency and System Performance

This comparison evaluates the energy efficiency and system performance of low GWP refrigerants R-454C, R-449A, and R-744, in refrigeration systems for food retail, for two locations, with mild and hot climate.
The results show that R-454C and R-449A perform significantly better than R-744.

Description

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Speaker

south_east

When & Where

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Thu, 10.10.2024, 11:40 – 12:00

place

Hall 8 / 8-516

Details

Format: Lecture

Language: English

Description

Lowering energy use and increasing energy efficiency are key for reducing carbon emissions and achieving productivity and energy independence. The food storage and distribution is a strategic infrastructure that consumes a lot of energy and has growing demand. A smart choice of technology used in food retail systems could lead to long-term energy savings, functionality, ease of maintenance, and high energy efficiency.

In this work by Politecnico di Milano, the layout of an existing store has been used to model the commercial refrigeration system for three Low GWP refrigerants: R-454C, R-449A, and R-744. Energy consumption and seasonal efficiency have been examined for two locations in Europe, representing mild and hot ambient temperatures. Results show that systems based on R-454C and R-449A perform significantly better than R-744 architectures, improving SCOP by up to +12.7 % and +17.4 % respectively, even with a simpler equipment design. This indicates how important is to adapt the design to the specificities of the refrigerant, store size and climatic conditions to obtain the best results. ... read more