Exploring refrigeration system performance with solar-powered mechanical porous sub-cooling.

This manuscript presents an innovative simulation study focusing on a solar-powered refrigeration system featuring a mechanical porous sub-cooler. The research evaluates the system's performance by employing diverse porous materials within the sub-cooler, aiming to address the pressing need for sustainable cooling solutions and decreasing dependence on conventional energy sources. The novelty of this study lies in its pioneering approach to bridging a significant void in the current body of the literature. By offering a comprehensive numerical simulation, this research seamlessly integrates three crucial aspects: solar energy utilization, porous media dynamics, and the utilization of diverse refrigerants. The system under scrutiny comprises a 4-ton sub-critical refrigeration unit, incorporating essential components such as a compressor, condenser, porous sub-cooler, expansion valve, and evaporator, with R454B serving as the designated refrigerant. Uniquely, it integrates a solar-powered mechanical porous sub-cooling sub-cycle employing the refrigerant R454C, solved utilizing Engineering Equation Solver (EES) while considering Jordan's climate conditions. The investigation encompasses a range of condensing temperatures from 25 to 40 °C, evaporation temperatures spanning from − 5 to 10 °C, and condensing pressures ranging from 25 to 45 Kpa. The study meticulously analyzes the coefficient of performance and power consumption, considering factors such as sub-cooler porosity, condensing pressure, evaporation temperature, compressor efficiency, and ambient temperature. Remarkably, the results highlight that reducing porosity and condensing pressure significantly enhance the coefficient of performance by approximately 84% and reduce power consumption by 30.2%. Furthermore, enhancements in base-cycle compressor efficiency and decreased sub-cooler porosity also positively impact the coefficients of performance. Particularly noteworthy is the finding that increasing compressor efficiency and decreasing porosity lead to a remarkable 182% increase in the coefficient of performance. This study underscores the critical significance of sub-cooler porosity, compressor efficiency, and condensing pressure for achieving optimal system performance. Moreover, the innovative design of the solar panel system ensures sufficient power generation for continuous operation, thereby conserving utility power during peak solar generation periods. Leveraging the solar-powered mechanical sub-cooling system not only enhances the overall coefficient of performance but also diminishes reliance on utility power, thus contributing to sustainability efforts in refrigeration technology. The model's credibility is affirmed through validation against existing experimental data, further consolidating the reliability and relevance of the study's findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]