Study on the ejector-expansion refrigeration system for low-temperature freezer application: Experimental and exergetic assessments

In this study, the authors propose applying the ejector-expansion refrigeration system (ERS) to develop a -50 °C low-temperature freezer. The main performance of the ERS based prototype freezers were investigated by experimental and exegetic methods. The influences of nozzle throat diameter and compressor displacement on ejector performance were discussed in detail. The higher efficiency and transiting exergy efficiency of ejector could be obtained with a larger nozzle throat diameter and compressor displacement. When the nozzle throat diameter rises from 0.4 to 0.7, ejector efficiency and transiting exergy efficiency increase from 16.1% to 20.1% and 26.1% to 30.2%, respectively. Moreover, these results demonstrated that the ERS-based freezer could operate stably with appropriate nozzle throat diameter and compressor displacement. Compared with the conventional single-stage vapor compression refrigeration system (CVRS), the compression ratio of ERS was reduced by 15.8%. In addition, the system performance decreased with the increase of capillary tube length. When capillary tube length varied from 40 mm∼ 80 mm, the COP of the freezer decreased from 0.59 to 0.52, and the overall exergy efficiency of freezer decreased from 22.1% to 17.1%. This research confirms that the ERS could provide a novel way for developing a -50 °C low-temperature freezer.