A new multi‐objective optimization of refrigeration cycles (Case study: “Optimization of transcritical carbon dioxide cycle”)

For store and maintain products, ingredients, and other perishables at a safe temperature, there is a growing need for low‐temperature refrigeration systems. In this study, a new multi‐objective exergetic criterion is proposed for the optimization of refrigeration cycles, the conventional coefficient of performance (COP) maximization method results in high evaporator temperature, which is in contrast with the philosophy of the invention and design of refrigeration cycles. Thus, it is not a suitable platform for comparing different refrigeration cycles. This research aims to define a practical performance analysis parameter for designing and comparing refrigeration cycles. The novelty of this research is incorporating the impact of evaporator temperature into the COP concept. A performance comparison of the multi‐objective optimization is drawn with that of the maximum COP state on a transcritical carbon dioxide refrigeration cycle. According to the comparison, the evaporator temperature at the optimal state of multi‐objective exergetic optimization was 44 K lower than that of the maximum COP state, which demonstrates the excellent performance of the method. The results of the new multi‐objective exergetic optimization can be used to design low‐temperature evaporation refrigeration cycles. In the end, the flowchart of the suggested performance optimization is presented. Exergy of power at the optimal point of exergetic optimization is about 77% higher than the maximum COP. A comparison of the results obtained from maximum performance coefficient with optimal point of exergetic optimization suggests that the performance coefficient at optimum state of exergetic optimization is about 58% lower than the maximum COP.