Comparative performance evaluation of conventional and condenser outlet split ejector-based domestic refrigerator-freezers using R600a

The objective of this study is to investigate the performance characteristics of an R600a domestic refrigerator-freezer (RF) adopting a condenser outlet split (COS) ejector cycle. Experiments are conducted to measure the performances of conventional and COS ejector-based domestic RFs using R600a. A test bench is used to analyze the pressure lifting effect, mass flow rate variation, and coefficient of performance (COP) improvement with respect to the entrainment ratio (ER). For entire cycle operation at similar cooling capacity condition, the overall COP improvement of the test bench adopting COS ejector cycle over the baseline cycle is 11.4% at the ER of 0.18. Moreover, the COS ejector-based domestic RF is tested to examine its feasibility in actual applications. The COS ejector-based domestic RF with a compressor speed of 1450 rpm exhibits a temperature profile in the freezer compartment that is similar to that of the baseline domestic RF. At similar cooling capacity condition, the energy consumption of the COS ejector-based domestic RF with the compressor speed of 1450 rpm is 10.9% lower than that of the baseline domestic RF, owing to the pressure lifting effect. •Performance characteristics of a COS ejector-based domestic RF are investigated.•Experiments are conducted in a test bench and on an actual domestic RF.•Performance comparison between the baseline and COS ejector-based RFs is conducted.•The COS ejector-based RF shows 10.9% lower energy consumption than the baseline RF.