INVESTIGATING THE THERMODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ENERGY SAVING REFRIGERATING SYSTEM WITH COLD ACCUMULATOR

• Ikem, I.A.

  University of Cross River State, Calabar, Nigeria

• Akintunde, M. A

  Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

• Titiladunayo, I. F

  Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

• Awatt.E

  University of Benin

This study investigates the thermodynamic characteristics of an energy-saving refrigerating system integrated with a cold accumulator. The purpose is to enhance system performance, reduce energy consumption, and improve temperature stability during fluctuating load conditions. The purpose is to enhance system performance, reduce energy consumption, and improve temperature stability during fluctuating load conditions. The experimental setup and theoretical analysis focus on evaluating the performance of the system under various operating parameters, including evaporating and condensing temperatures, accumulator charge–discharge cycles, and refrigerant mass flow rate. Key thermodynamic indicators such as Coefficient of Performance (COP) and energy savings potential were analyzed. From simulation, freezing ice above the thickness of 4 mm during the process of charging the accumulator led to an increase in charging time and a decrease in the mass of ice accumulated over 8 hours. The maximum thickness of ice obtained during the accumulation time, required lowest boiling point of the refrigerant, which is at  and defrosting was carried out with ice thickness not more than 10 mm to avoid increasing the condensation temperature. Results show that incorporating a cold accumulator significantly improves system efficiency by optimizing compressor operation and reducing peak power demand. Reducing the condensation cycle temperature during the accumulation, reduces overall power consumption by 8 -10 % compared to the conventional system.

1. Ikem, I.A., University of Cross River State, Calabar, Nigeria

   Department of Mechanical Engineering

2. Akintunde, M. A, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Mechanical Engineering

3. Titiladunayo, I. F, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

4. Awatt.E, University of Benin

   National Center for Energy and Environment, Energy Commission of Nigeria, 

• pdf

Copyright (c) 2025 FUTA JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright

With the submission of a manuscript, the corresponding author confirms that the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal. With the acceptance of a manuscript, the Journal reserves the exclusive right of publication and dissemination of the information contained in the article. The veracity of the paper and all the claims therein is solely the opinion of the authors not the journal.