Evaluation of HFC-245ca for commercial use in low pressure chillers. Task 1 report: Preliminary estimates of chiller performance

HFC-245ca has been identified as a potential replacement for both CFC-11 and HCFC-123 in centrifugal chillers based on estimates of its thermodynamic properties, even though serious concerns exist about its flammability characteristics. The overall objective of this project is to assess the commercial viability of HFC-245ca in centrifugal chillers. This first report focuses on preliminary estimates of chiller performance only, while the next report will include laboratory performance data. The chiller performance estimates are based on early correlations of thermodynamic properties and predictions of compressor efficiency, with variations in heat transfer ignored until experimental data are obtained. Conclusions from this study include the following: The theoretical efficiency of HFC-245ca in optimized three stage chiller designs is very close to that for CFC-11 and HCFC-123 chillers. HFC-245ca is not attractive as a service retrofit in CFC-11 and HCFC-123 chillers because significant compressor modifications or dramatic lowering of condenser water temperatures would be required. Hurdles which must be overcome to apply HFC-245ca in centrifugal chillers include the flammability behavior, evaluation of toxicity, unknown heat transfer characteristics, uncertain thermodynamic properties, high refrigerant cost and construction of HFC-245ca manufacturing plants. Although the flammability of HFC-245ca can probably be reduced or eliminated by blending HFC-245ca with various inert compounds, addition of these compounds will lower the chiller performance. The chiller performance will be degraded due to less attractive thermodynamic properties and lower heat transfer performance if the blend fractionates. The experimental phase of the project will improve the accuracy of our performance estimates, and the commercial viability assessment will also include the impact of flammability, toxicity, product cost and product availability