Energy efficiency analysis of a new ternary HFC alternative

In this paper, energy efficiency results are presented for a new HFC ternary blend proposed as a substitute for CFC 502 and HCFC 22. The blend is composed of R‐23/R‐32/R‐125. Performance evaluation test results were obtained after an experimental heat pump set up with a 3 kW rotary compressor. The refrigerants tested in this study under different conditions were HCFC‐22, as a reference base refrigerant and R‐410a (HFC‐32/HFC‐125), R‐407c (HFC‐32/HFC‐125/HFC‐134a), as well as quaternary mixture; HFC‐32/HFC‐125/HFC‐143a/HFC‐134a. The experimental data showed that our proposed HFC ternary blend R‐23/R‐32/R‐125 has superior performance compared to other proposed HFC alternatives such as R‐410a and R‐407c, under the same conditions. Pressure ratios and head pressures were compatible with new compressors to be used in new systems. Furthermore, experimental results demonstrated that the ternary blend R‐23/R‐32/R‐125 is the best performing replacement for R‐22 in heat pump applications and low temperature equipment. Experiments also showed that the heat pump system using R‐23/R‐32/R‐125 was stable and experienced reasonable head pressures. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.