Feasibility of usage recovery heat exchanger in vapor compression refrigeration cycle by using thermodynamic, heat transfer and economic analysis

Usually it is common to use the internal heat exchanger subcooler-superheater after the condenser and before the expansion valve in the compression refrigeration cycles. In this study, the effect of the heat exchanger is evaluated by using recovery heat exchanger after the compressor and before the condenser. For this purpose, the vapor compression refrigeration cycle with conventional heat exchanger and recovery heat exchanger by using R134a, R1234ze, R1234yf and isotropic R507A as refrigerants is studied by thermodynamic, heat transfer and economic analysis. The low capacity compression refrigeration cycle is simulated and the condenser and the evaporator heat exchangers is considered air-cooled by natural convection of air such as household refrigerators. The results showed that by using the recovery heat exchanger in the compression refrigeration cycle a significant reduction occurred in the total amount of heat exchangers area and the total cost function in the cycle. Also R1234yf has the highest decrease in the total heat exchangers area required in the cycle and greatest reduction in the total system cost and it is recommended to use in compression refrigeration cycles instead of R134a as refrigerant.