Design and Development of Cascade Refrigeration Test Rig
摘要
A cascade refrigeration system is a specialized technology designed to reach and sustain ultra-low temperatures, reaching −170 °C. The system’s ability to achieve low temperatures addresses the challenge of high-pressure ratios and low volumetric efficiency inherent in conventional refrigeration systems. This paper covers the design and analysis of the cascade refrigeration test rig. The cascade system utilizes R-32 in the high-temperature cycle and R-134a in the low-temperature cycle. The test rig's components are meticulously selected and arranged to optimize performance. The Coefficient of Performance (COP) is compared both theoretically and practically to validate the system’s efficiency. Defined quantity of water is added in the chamber, submerging the evaporator coils to facilitate the calculation of the actual Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the system. The system achieves a temperature of −1 °C within 20 min, starting from an ambient temperature of 30 °C.