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<p>Next-generation refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump technologies have advanced due to the shift toward ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, with GWP values of 1–6, zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), moderate operating pressures, and low discharge temperatures. A critical system-level review of R-1234ze(E) is presented in this paper, with applications in vapour compression refrigeration systems (VCRS), heat pumps, mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems, chillers, ejector refrigeration systems (ERS), cascade systems, and electronic cooling devices during 2014–2024. Unlike previous assessments that have mostly focused on replacement potential, this assessment also examines exergetic, thermodynamic, environmental, and operational trade-offs, with specific attention to the distinction between direct drop-in substitution and system redesign for optimized performance. In the current article, emphasis is placed on the refrigerant R-1234ze(E) which can offer an equivalent or better coefficient of performance (COP), lower compressor discharge temperature, and lower exergy destruction than traditional refrigerants, particularly R-134a, under optimized working conditions. However, losses of 24–34% in volumetric cooling/heating capacity from direct drop-in experiments limit its applicability to small, capacity-sensitive systems such as mobile air conditioning (MAC). Internal heat exchangers, vapour injections, ejector expansion, compressor redesign, and refrigerant blends are some system-level approaches that can partially overcome these limitations.&#xa0;Overall, the review demonstrates that the principal limitation of R-1234ze(E) is its reduced volumetric cooling/heating capacity, whereas its thermodynamic performance remains generally competitive under appropriate operating conditions. Therefore, its successful implementation requires application-specific optimization rather than direct substitution of refrigerant. Strong potential is identified in optimized heat pumps, ejector refrigeration systems, chillers, and passive two-phase electronic cooling, while Future research should focus on transient and seasonal performance, long-term experimental validation, techno-economic assessment, refrigerant mixtures, and integrated system optimisation to facilitate the wider commercial adoption of R-1234ze(E) based technologies.</p>

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A critical system-level review of R-1234ze(E) in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems: performance trade-offs and design constraints

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月24日

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  • Raju Kumar,
  • Arvind Kumar Patel,
  • Moti Lal Roy

摘要

Next-generation refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump technologies have advanced due to the shift toward ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, with GWP values of 1–6, zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), moderate operating pressures, and low discharge temperatures. A critical system-level review of R-1234ze(E) is presented in this paper, with applications in vapour compression refrigeration systems (VCRS), heat pumps, mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems, chillers, ejector refrigeration systems (ERS), cascade systems, and electronic cooling devices during 2014–2024. Unlike previous assessments that have mostly focused on replacement potential, this assessment also examines exergetic, thermodynamic, environmental, and operational trade-offs, with specific attention to the distinction between direct drop-in substitution and system redesign for optimized performance. In the current article, emphasis is placed on the refrigerant R-1234ze(E) which can offer an equivalent or better coefficient of performance (COP), lower compressor discharge temperature, and lower exergy destruction than traditional refrigerants, particularly R-134a, under optimized working conditions. However, losses of 24–34% in volumetric cooling/heating capacity from direct drop-in experiments limit its applicability to small, capacity-sensitive systems such as mobile air conditioning (MAC). Internal heat exchangers, vapour injections, ejector expansion, compressor redesign, and refrigerant blends are some system-level approaches that can partially overcome these limitations. Overall, the review demonstrates that the principal limitation of R-1234ze(E) is its reduced volumetric cooling/heating capacity, whereas its thermodynamic performance remains generally competitive under appropriate operating conditions. Therefore, its successful implementation requires application-specific optimization rather than direct substitution of refrigerant. Strong potential is identified in optimized heat pumps, ejector refrigeration systems, chillers, and passive two-phase electronic cooling, while Future research should focus on transient and seasonal performance, long-term experimental validation, techno-economic assessment, refrigerant mixtures, and integrated system optimisation to facilitate the wider commercial adoption of R-1234ze(E) based technologies.