ProMax
Modeling and rating
propane refrigeration
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Bryan Research & Engineering, LLC
Chemical Engineering Consultants
www.bre.com
Copyright 2020, BRE Group Ltd.
ProMax
BRE 600:
Modeling and rating
propane refrigeration
Bryan Research & Engineering, LLC
Chemical Engineering Consultants
www.bre.com
Copyright 2020, BRE Group Ltd.
Outline
• Refrigeration basics
• Simple refrigeration model
• Models that incorporate performance curve and HX rating
• Fixed compressor speed to predict performance
• Adjustable economizer P to minimize power
33
Refrigeration
Simple Refrigeration Loop
4
Refrigeration
Refrigeration Cycle
P re s s u re (p s ia )
800
700 (Pure Propane)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
-56 -54 -52 -50 -48 -46 -44 -42
Enthalpy (MBtu/lbmol)
5
Refrigeration
Refrigeration Cycle
P re s s u re (p s ia )
800
700 (Pure Propane)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
-56 -54 -52 -50 -48 -46 -44 -42
Cooling Comp. work
Enthalpy (MBtu/lbmol) 6
C o m p re s s io n (h p /[ M M B t u /h ] ) Refrigeration
Refrigeration Performance
400
Condenser T
350 120°F
100°F
300
80°F
250
200
150
100
50
0
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30
Evaporator T (°F)
7
P re s s u re (p s ia ) Refrigeration
800
Why propane?
700
• Can be condensed
600 with an air cooler
500
Air-Cooled
Exchanger • Reaches low
400
temperatures
300
200
• Readily available
100
0
-50 0 50 100 150 200
Temperature (°F)
8
Refrigeration
Why propane?
• Can be condensed
with an air cooler
• Reaches low
temperatures
• Readily available
9
Refrigeration
Refrigeration Operating Range
P re s s u re (p s ia )
300
250
Condenser
200
150
100
50 Chiller
0
-50 0 50 100 150
Temperature (°F)
10
Refrigeration
Multistage Loop with Economizer
Compression power savings of 20% are typical
11
Refrigeration
Multistage Loop with Economizer
13
C o m p re s s io n (h p /[M M B tu /h ])
Refrigeration
Multistage Loop with Economizer
400
Condenser T
350 120°F
120°F-
Economizer
300 100°F
100°F-
Economizer
250
80°F
80°F-Economizer
200
150
100
50
0
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30
Evaporator T (°F)
14
Refrigeration power requirements
• Operating conditions determine relative compression power
• Condenser outlet conditions set the final compressor discharge pressure
• Evaporator outlet conditions set the first compressor suction pressure
• Refrigerant flowrate determined by evaporator inlet vapor fraction and
process cooling duty
• Economizer can reduce total compression power
• Benefit increases as ΔT between condenser and evaporator increases
• There is an optimal economizer pressure
15
Refrigeration modeling tips
• Suggested setup
• Typically assume saturated conditions at condenser and evaporator outlets.
Not always true, so double-check!
• Supply compressor efficiencies or compressor performance curves.
• Propagation terminal downstream of condenser
• Propagate what is specified (or manipulated by solver) on condenser outlet.
Typically two properties are propagated
• Specify refrigerant composition on outlet of propagation terminal
• If using economizer,
• Set first stage compressor outlet P equal to economizer P
• Set economizer P directly or manipulate with solver
16
