LPG

LPG refrigerants occur naturally, cause no ozone depletion and negligible global warming. Initially R290
can replace R22 and LPG mixtures replace R12 and R134a. The market for R600a will grow as new
equipment exploits the advantages of its lower vapor pressure. LPG refrigerants have superior
properties often giving 10 to 20% energy savings. They are highly flammable so for charges above 2.5 kg
systems should comply [1].

Average COP obtained using LPG is 9.5% higher than that of R134a and LPG offers the lowest power
consumption. The compressor consumes 12% less power when LPG was used instead of R134a in the
system. The performance of R134a in an experimental refrigerator closely follows that of LPG. Generally,
the system performs better with LPG than with R134a. This shows that LPG can be used as replacement
refrigerant for R134a in a domestic refrigerator [2].

Pull-down time, discharge temperature, pressure ratio, mass flow rate and electric power were reduced
by about 7.6%, 3.8%, 5.5%, 51% and 4.3%, respectively, when LPG is used as a drop-in replacement for
R134a. Coefficient of performance of the domestic refrigerator working with LPG is improved by 7.6%
as compared with R134a. Freezer and cabinet air temperatures of LPG are 1 C lower than those of
R134a. Energy consumption and on-time ratio using LPG are lower than those of R134a by 10.8% and
14.3%, respectively [3].

LPG and R134a

Vapor pressure characteristics of R134/LPG (28:72) blend was found to be closer to R134a over a broad
range of evaporator temperatures so without any modifications R134a compressor can be used for
R134/LPG (28:72) blend. The COP of R134/LPG (28:72) blend was also found to be highest and it is higher
than that of R134a by about 15.6–27.8%. The compressor discharge temperature of R134a/LPG (28:72)
blend is also found lower than that of R134a over a wide range of evaporator temperature due to
which compressor better life may be expected. The outcomes confirmed that R134a/LPG (28:72) blend is
an energy efficient and environment-friendly substitute for R134a in VCRS [4].
The results showed that the design temperature and pull-down time set by International Standard
Organization (ISO) for small refrigerator were achieved earlier using refrigerant LPG and R134a than using
R32. The average coefficient of performance (COP) obtained using LPG is 4.7% higher than that of R134a
while average COP of R32 is 8.5% lower than that of R134a.Use R-134a/LPG as a replacement of R-134a
and get better COP, and less power consumption [5].
Vapor compression refrigeration system (VCRS) using the mixture of R134a and LPG with mass fractions
of 28:72 as an alternative to R134a. The System with R134a/LPG (28:72) was tested by varying the
capillary tube length and refrigerant charge under experimental conditions. Performance comparisons of
both the systems are made taking refrigerant R134a as baseline, and the results show that the compressor
power consumption, compressor discharge temperature and pull down time obtained with R134a/LPG
(28:72) of 118 g and capillary tube length of 5.1 m in vapor compression refrigeration system are about
4.4% 2.4% and 5.3%, respectively, lower than that obtained with R134a in the studied range. Also, when
using R134a/LPG (28:72), the system shows values of refrigeration capacity and COP are about 10.6% and
15.2% respectively, higher than those obtained using R134a, Investigated in the domestic refrigerator as
replacement for R12, and a 10.5% improvement in COP has reported with R134a/R600a (50:50) under
similar operating conditions[6].

Blend of other refrigerant

The application of mixtures of propane, butane and isobutane in a domestic HFC-134a refrigerator. The
gross capacity, freezer storage capacity, and nominal electrical input of the refrigerator are 239, 53 l and
100 W respectively.[7]

The performance of a domestic refrigerator was using R600a and R436A as refrigerants. Although the
base refrigerator has been designed for 105 g R134a, it was capable to work with R600a and R436A.
Nevertheless, energy consumption analysis indicated that the HFC compressor should be changed to a
HC compressor for hydrocarbon refrigerants. The optimum charge amounts for R600a and R436A were
found to be 55 g and 60 g, respectively. The optimum charge amounts were reduced to 50 g for both
hydrocarbon refrigerants, when the compressor was changed to a HC type compressor (designed for
R600a). Moreover, results showed that energy consumption was reduced by 14% and 7%, for the
refrigerator while working with a HFC type compressor charged with the optimum amount of R436A and
R600a[8]

[1] PerformanceandSafety of LPGRefrigerants

I. L. Maclaine-cross E.Leonardi SchoolofMechanicalandManufacturingEngineering
TheUniversityofNewSouthWales SydneyNSW, Australia2052 Internet: ian@ilm.mech.unsw.edu.au
e.leonardi@unsw.edu.au Fax: (02)6631222

[2] EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF LPG AND R134a REFRIGERANTS IN VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION

T. O. Babarinde,1,* O. S. Ohunakin,1 D. S. Adelekan,1 S. A. Aasa,2 & S. O. Oyedepo1 1Mechanical

Engineering Department, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria 2Mechanical Engineering Department,
University of Pretoria, South Africa *Address all correspondence to: T. O. Babarinde,  E-mail
taiwo.babarinde@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

[3] Experimental evaluation of a domestic refrigerator working with LPG M. Fatouh *, M. El Kafafy
Department of Mechanical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ibrahiem Abd El-Razik, Mattaria,
Masaken El-Helmia P.O., Cairo 11718, Egypt Received 6 April 2005; accepted 21 November 2005
Available online 18 January 2006

[4] Babarinde, Taiwo O., et al. "Experimental study of LPG and R134a refrigerants in vapor compression
refrigeration." International Journal of Energy for a Clean Environment 16.1-4 (2015

[5] Gill, Jatinder, and Jagdev Singh. "Experimental analysis of R134a/LPG as replacement of R134a in a
vapor-compression refrigeration system." International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
25.02 (2017): 1750015.

[6] Akintunde, M. A. "Experimental study of R134a, R406A and R600a Blends as Alternative to Freon 12."
IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering 7.1 (2013): 40-46.

[7]Wongwises, Somchai, and Nares Chimres. "Experimental study of hydrocarbon mixtures to replace
HFC-134a in a domestic refrigerator." Energy conversion and management 46.1 (2005): 85-100.

[8]Rasti, Mehdi, SeyedFoad Aghamiri, and Mohammad-Sadegh Hatamipour. "Energy efficiency

enhancement of a domestic refrigerator using R436A and R600a as alternative refrigerants to
R134a." International journal of Thermal sciences 74 (2013): 86-94.