Two-phase modeling and performance evaluation of plate heat exchangers in ejector refrigeration systems with low-GWP refrigerants
Van Vu N. Nazari M.A. Dang T. Muralev Y. Mohanraj M. Tran T. Hoang A.
December 2025Elsevier B.V.
Results in Engineering
2025#28
Accurate modeling of plate heat exchangers (PHEs) is essential for optimizing ejector refrigeration systems, particularly with the integration of low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. This study presents a comprehensive one-dimensional mathematical model for the generator, condenser, and evaporator within an ejector refrigeration system, developed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES). Each PHE is discretized into single-phase and two-phase segments, employing established empirical correlations, Muley for single-phase flow and Amalfi for phase-change processes, to ensure predictive accuracy. Model validation against published experimental data demonstrated a mean absolute percentage deviation below 15 %. A parametric analysis was conducted to assess the influence of plate count on thermal and hydraulic performance across various refrigerants, including R134a, R152a, R600a, R1234yf, R1234ze(e) and R1233zd(e)). Results indicate a fundamental trade-off between heat transfer effectiveness and pressure drop. While HFC refrigerants (R134a and R152a) demonstrated superior performance in the generator and condenser, the Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) R1234yf consistently achieved the highest effectiveness, reaching 0.9 with 100 plates; however, this came at the cost of elevated pressure losses: in the evaporator, the specific pressure drop for R1234yf was as high as 1400 Pa/m with 85 plates, posing a challenge given the ejector’s sensitivity to pressure levels. Generator pressure drops fell sharply with plate count and became negligible (< 1 kPa) beyond 125 plates. The findings suggest that no single refrigerant is universally optimal, and the performance highly depends on component-specific system interactions. Nevertheless, considering both thermal performance and environmental impact, R1234yf emerges as a promising alternative.
Plate heat exchanger, ejector refrigeration, hydrofluoroolefins, r1234yf , Two-phase modeling
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Deparment of Thermal Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, 01 Vo Van Ngan, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh city, 721400, Viet Nam
Engineering School, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Central Asian University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Department of Thermal Engineering, HCMC University of Technology and Education, Viet Nam
Institute for Sustainable Development of Arid Areas, Caspian University of Technology and Engineering, Kazakhstan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology, India
Deparment of Thermal Engineering
Engineering School
Department of Thermal Engineering
Institute for Sustainable Development of Arid Areas
Department of Mechanical Engineering
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