Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

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Materials Today: Proceedings

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matpr

Performance analysis of refrigerants with various expansion valves in

vapour compression refrigeration and air-conditioning system
N. Sivaraman ⇑, R. Muthu Vaidyanathan, Mahaboob Patel, Mebratu Markos
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The primary role of expansion devices in Vapour Compression Refrigeration System (VCRS) are dropping
Received 13 October 2020 the pressure, temperature and regulates the mass flow rate of refrigerant gas concerning with evaporator
Received in revised form 27 October 2020 load conditions. Also, proper selection of expansion devices helps to control the degree of super heat to
Accepted 1 November 2020
protect the compressor from liquid slugging. The performance of the vapour compression system par-
Available online xxxx
tially depends on the expansion devices. The different predictions such as theoretical, experimental
and simulation which are carried out by various researchers on basis of design, development and selec-
Keywords:
tion of the expansion devices concerning with different flow conditions. The present study is describes
Refrigerants
Capillary tube
the performance of different expansion devices involving various refrigerants gases like as R134a, hydro-
Thermostatic expansion valve carbon LPG, R600a, and R22 etc. It is also discussed with proper understanding about the recent devel-
Electronic expansion valve opment of various expansion devices using for different refrigerant gases.
Vapour compression system Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-
ence on Advances in Materials Research.

1. Introduction tal impact, power consumption and Coefficient of Performance

Numerous electrical and electronics equipments are invented
by the researchers for making the peoples life as comfortable con-
ditions. Therefore it is indeed of generating adequate electrical
power to drive all these equipments. Energy is generated in so
many ways, especially thermal plants were provided enormous
power by burning of the fossil fuels. The main drawback of the
burning of fossil fuel can leads the global warming effect. Environ-
ment is affected by the global warming effect. The different refrig-
eration and air-conditioning systems are performed through
vapour compression system. Hence, VCRS plays an important role
in the entire field such as drugs storage, cooling of devices, food
preservation and thermal comfort etc. In all refrigeration pro-
cesses, removal of heat from the body cannot be possible without
external energy [6]. Electrical driven machines are used to drive
the VCRS and consumes more energy. Nearly 25 30% of the energy
consumed for Heat Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) sys-
tem. Hence, all researchers have been started towards making an
efficient HVAC with less power consumption [23]. Mainly design
of VCRS based on three important parameters such as environmen-
(COP). In VCRS, environmental factors, Global Warming Potential
(GWP) and Ozone Depletion potential (ODP) are mainly depends
on the type of refrigerant gas used in the system.
In the earlier stage, refrigerant (R12) was used as an ideal refrig-
erant because of its excellent properties such as non-toxic, non-
flammable, and non-explosives. It was used in domestic as well
as in industrial VCRS. Later on, it was found that CFC started
depleting ozone layers slowly and it’s produced harmful effect on
environment. The research focus on to make eco-friendly and
desirable properties of refrigerants which has low GWP & ODP val-
ues and its some refrigerant gases have been increased the COP
value and reduces the power consumption. The thermal perfor-
mance was analyzed through developing an analytical model [25].
The precise design was improved the performance and reduces
the power consumption in compressor. Recently variable fre-
quency controller was used to vary the speed of the compressor
based on the different load conditions and also the speed of the
compressor can be controlled through inverter technology. Mainly
it is understood that the performance of VCRS has been improved
through change of its design, modifications of compressor; update
the design concept of condenser and evaporators.

⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: siva.nila80@gmail.com (N. Sivaraman).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.11.025
2214-7853/Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Advances in Materials Research.

Please cite this article as: N. Sivaraman, R. Muthu Vaidyanathan, M. Patel et al., Performance analysis of refrigerants with various expansion valves in
vapour compression refrigeration and air-conditioning system, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.11.025
N. Sivaraman, R. Muthu Vaidyanathan, M. Patel et al.
Nomenclature
CT Capillary Tube
SCT Serpentine Capillary Tube
TEV Thermostatic Expansion Valve
NEV Needle Expansion Valve
EEV Electronic Expansion Valve
2. Performance of VCRS
The internal performance parameters such as refrigerant pres-
sure, refrigerant temperature, refrigerant mass flow rate, refriger-
ant quality (dryness fraction) and External performance
parameters such as cooling capacity, coefficient of performance,
electricity consumption have been considered and analysed in
VCR system [8]. The simple VCR system was shown in Fig. 1.The
refrigerant flow conditions were investigated from saturated liquid
phase into gaseous vapour phase through throttling process. The
inadequate supply of vapour refrigerant causes the low efficiency
of the system and its excess supply may causes damage of com-
pressor. The proper choice of expansion devices controls the refrig-
erant flow and degree of superheat. Several types of expansion
devices were used in VCRS such as manual expansion valve, auto-
matic expansion valve, float expansion valve, capillary tube, ther-
mostatic expansion valve, and electronic expansion valve. Every
expansion valve has its own significant performances in cooling
load, electrical consumption and COP under different conditions
[8,11]. The various factors which affect the performance of VCRS
such as evaporating temperature, condensing temperature, type
of refrigerant used, type of equipment used, system controls and
proper maintenance of the system.
3. Performances of expansion different valves in VCRS
3.1. Needle valve
A needle valve was an effortless expansion device and it con-
tains adjusting knob, needle, and orifice. The refrigerant flow can
be controlled through adjustment of knob. It was suitable only
for the evaporator with constant load and it’s not suitable for the
variable load. The effect of R134a (CF3CH2F) refrigerant on the
transient cooling performance was discussed in simple VCRs chil-
lers with three different expansion devices such as Needle Expan-
Fig 1. Simple VCR system [24].
2
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AEV Automatic Expansion valve
VCR Vapour Compression Refrigeration
HVAC Heating-Ventilation and air-conditioning
sion Valve (NEV), Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TEV) and
Capillary Tube (CT). The impact of changes has been observed in
expansion devices with respect to both internal and external per-
formance parameters. It’s concluded that R134a refrigerant gas
has been provided more COP [8].
3.2. Constant pressure expansion valve
The constant pressure expansion valve or automatic expansion
valve consistent components such as adjusting screw, spring, dia-
phragm and needle with seat. Due to pressure of the refrigerant,
the diaphragm has been moved up and down along with a needle.
Also, the needle movement was used to opens and closes the ori-
fices. This type of valve was maintained only definite pressure
inside the evaporator by adjusting the screw, not to load. Three dif-
ferent expansion devices such as constant pressure expansion
valve, TEV and CT were studied in VCRs test rig, which operates
by the hermetically sealed compressor. The examination focused
on the behaviour of R134a refrigerant gas towards COP, refrigera-
tion effect, compressor power. The experiment recorded that the
refrigeration effect of thermostatic expansion device was 13% of
greater than a constant pressure expansion valve and 20% greater
than a capillary tube [16,17]. There are two types of float valves
used in VCRs such as high-pressure side and low-pressure side
float valve. There is a float is used to regulate refrigerant.
3.3. Capillary tube
The Capillary tube was a simple and immovable expansion
device which has made by copper material. Its length and internal
diameter were 2 to 6 m and 0.5 to 2 mm respectively according to
the cooling capacity. The pressure drop depends on the length and
diameter of the CT [12]. It was used in the domestic refrigeration
and air-conditioning system due to its low cost. The capillary tube
was winding into a helical or seraphine tubes to obtaining a system
compact. Tube internal diameter, gauge diameter, length and pitch
are essential parameters in CT. The simple VCRS has been analyzed
through straight, serpentine, spiral capillary tubes with three dif-
ferent lengths 3,3.5, and 4 feet and its diameter was 0.036 in..
R134a was used as a refrigerant gas. Test experiments were con-
ducted with three different load conditions 2000 ml, 4000 ml,
and 6000 ml. The refrigeration effect was the maximum in the heli-
cally coiled capillary tube than the straight and serpentine capil-
lary tubes. The compressor performance was reduced with
increase of evaporator load, and the COP value depends upon the
length of the capillary tubeShashank shekhar pathak, Prakhar
shukla, Sanjeev chauhan, A.K. Srivastava, IOSR Journal of Mechan-
ical and Civil Engineering 11 [21]. The performance of R600A and
LPG under varied charge of 40gm and 60 gm were studied with dif-
ferent length CT. The various measured the parameters were
accounted such as cooling capacity, Power Per Ton of Referent
(PPTR), pressure ratio, pull downtime and COP. The R600a refriger-
ant which flows in 1.5 m CT with the charge of 40 g was provided
better compressor power consumption. LPG refrigerant with
600gm which flows in 0.9 m CT was provided better cooling capac-
 N. Sivaraman, R. Muthu Vaidyanathan, M. Patel et al.
Table 1
Performances of refrigerants with various expansion valves.

Refrigerant Types Expansion devices Specification & Sizes Test Rig Result & Remarks References

LPG &R600A with two different
CT CT with various length 0.9 m,1.2 m, and 1.5 m Refrigerator Highest COP achieved by 1.5 m C.T. with a 60-gram charge [1]
charges 40 g,60 g of LPG
R22, R407C, and R410A
SCT SCT pitch variation from 10 mm to 30 mm Air
COP increases in SCT up to the pitch of 18 mm and after [2]

CT conditioner it starts reducing.

18 mm pitch SCT Achieved max COP value with R22

R134a
C.T. CT-Diameter 0.48 mm Length 1200 mm TEV- 3/80000 , 1/40000 VCRS Chiller
NEV recorded the highest COP than TEV [8]

TEV (Danfoss TN2) NEV- 1/400 (Fida SS316)
C.T. produced the lowest performance compare with

NEV TEV & NEV.
R134a
C.T.Helical Helical CT with varying Gauge Diameter 31 mm, 36 mm, and VCRS Refrigeration effect is maximum in helically coiled CT [3]

C.TStraight 40 mm compare with other Straight &serpentine C.Ts

S C.T

R134a & HC R134a
C.T.
C.T. with variable length 1.25 m, 1.5 m, and 2.7 m. VCRS
COP is more in TEV than all CTs [12]

TEV
TEV
Better flow regulation achieved by TEV

Performance of 1.25 m & 1.5 m CTs were quite

R134a,CARE &R436A (R290/ C.T C.T. with variable length 4 m, 4.5 m, 5 m, 5.5 m, 6 m with Domestic 4.5 m C.T. gives good result than other lengths CTs with [14]
3

R600a)60, 70, 80, 90,100 gm constant internal diameter 0.036 in. Refrigerator R436A

R407C (R32 + R125 + R134a)
CT CT with various internaldia0.50 mm, 0.55 mm VCRS COP of TEV is 65% more than other two CTs [10]

TEV
TEV(Danfoss)
R12
C.T. VCRS Overall performance of TEV is good [19]

TEV

R134a
CT Helical CT with various lenth 4,4.5,5,5.5,6 feets VCRS 4.5 feet CT record more COP value [9]
R134a
C.T. VCRS Carnot, Theoretical & actual COP of TEV is greater value [7,15]

TEV than C.Ts and Const pressure expansion valves

A constant Pressure
Expansion valve

R12 & R600aWith charge of
C.T. CT with various length 0.9 m,1.2 m, and 1.5 m Domestic Cooling capacity is more in 0.9 m CT with R600a [18,20]
40&100gm VCRS

Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

N. Sivaraman, R. Muthu Vaidyanathan, M. Patel et al.
ity [1]. The experimental study was conducted on the serpentine
capillary tube by varying the capillary pitch range from 10 mm
to 30 mm with three different refrigerants R22, R407C, and
R410a. Finally, it was confirmed that R410a was a better alterna-
tive refrigerant for R22 with the capillary pitch of 18 mm [3]. The
simple VCRS with variable gauge dimensions of 31 mm, 36 mm
and40mm and different shape of CT have been studied. It was pro-
cessed under different measured parameters such as varying evap-
orator loads and without load conditions. The overall performance
of SCT was intermediate with more in helically coiled CT and less in
straight CT [4]. The varying capillary tube size such as 0.9, 1.2, and
1.4 mm diameter was employed with different evaporator loads in
VCRS with R12 refrigerant. The theoretical (7.26) and actual COP
(1.08) was obtained in 0.9 mm diameter of CT under 25 kW.
3.4. Thermostatic expansion valve
TEV was a high-quality throttling device and it consists of brass
body, diaphragm, power cap, capillary tube, pin, superheat setting
spring and sensing bulb. If the cooling load was more in the evap-
orator, refrigerant has evaporated quickly, and bulb senses the
superheat [12]. The capillary tube which connected with the bulb
was filled with the same refrigerant called power refrigerant as it
is circulating in the VCRS circuit. This pressure force travelled
through the power refrigerant and it’s moved up and down along
with a pin through diaphragm. Initially, the valve remains open
position due to the spring pressure force, less refrigerant when
the diaphragm moves upward direction. The more amount of cur-
rent and refrigerant supplied to evaporator when the diaphragm
moves downward direction. The control of degree of superheat
with the aid of TEV and flow of current refrigerant under evapora-
tor load conditions were analyzed. The performance analysis of CT
and TEV with water chiller VCRS have been discussed. The Investi-
gation was shown that R22 refrigerant has produced 21.4% higher
coefficient of performance in TEV than CT [4].
3.5. Electronic expansion valve
An electronic expansion valve was little more sophisticated and
precise than other expansion valves mostly used for non-
flammable, non-toxic refrigerants. EEV replaces all other types of
expansion valves, and it contains the stepper motor, sensor, regu-
lator, actuator, valve, and microprocessor based electronic con-
troller. Two different types of EEV Valves are in practice, such as
proportional and pulsating type. In the proportional type, the flow
of refrigerant was controlled by adjusting the orifice. The pulsating
type valve, opening and closing controlled by solenoid valve
through signals from a microprocessor controller. According to
fluid dynamic analysis, mass flow rate is the function of EEV open-
ing condition [22]. EEV has provided fast responses than TEV. It
improves efficiency and reduces the power consumption of the
system up to 30%. The experiment of EEV with variable velocity
compressor was conducted and their results were compared with
CT and TEV. Two different circuits were used such as primary VCRS
circuit and secondary fluid circuits and R134a used as the refriger-
ant. EEV was shown that the less power consumption about
75.84kWh/month than CT and TEV [13]. Performance of refrigerant
with various expansion valves was shown in Table 1. R134a refrig-
erant was the suitable for medium and high temperature refriger-
ation (both domestic and commercial).
4. Conclusions
The main focus of the study was the performance of various
refrigerants with different expansion devices used in vapour com-
4
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pression refrigeration system. Also, the following points were
observed.

The mass flow rate in a straight capillary tube was more under
different refrigerants.

Serpentine CT was not produced better performance under dif-
ferent refrigerants.

The uncontrolled mass flow rate of refrigerant gas in VCRS due
to improper selection process parameters.

Thermostatic expansion valve was provided perfect flow regula-
tion control of refrigerant gas and their performances.

The performance various refrigerant on electronic expansion
valve and its characteristics were reported.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
N. Sivaraman: Conceptualization, Data curation, Writing - orig-
inal draft. R. Muthu Vaidyanathan: Formal analysis, Funding
acquisition, Writing - review & editing. Mahaboob Patel: Investi-
gation, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Valida-
tion. Mebratu Markos: Resources, Software, Visualization.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
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