PROJECT PROPOSALS FOR S-VII (ME)

TITLE: Modification of Refrigeration Unit to refrigerant R-600a based system.

AIM: To make the Refrigeration unit suitable for use with R-600a, a refrigerant that
has low global warming potential and ozone depletion potential.
SUMMARY: Refrigeration Unit is one of the two equipments placed in Thermo Lab
for conducting practicals in subject of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning. The
apparatus was based on R-12 and was converted to R-134a through a student project.
The project was semi-successful and current state of equipment is non-operational.
R-12 has high ozone depletion potential and was thus systematically replaced by other
environment-friendly refrigerants. R-134a is the most commonly used replacement.
However R-134a has high global warming potential and new refrigerants are being
proposed to replace it. R-600a is one of them.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
1. A properly working Refrigeration Unit based on R-600a, that is capable of
performing all the experiments as listed in manual of the equipment.
2. A complete design report having at least following descriptions:

reasons for replacement of R-12 by R-134a and R-134a by R-600a,

possible replacing refrigerants and a comparison of properties of
refrigerants,
fundamental requirement for conversion of any system from R-134a to R600a
detail description of design of modified system,
cost analysis of modification, and
sets of experiments on Refrigeration Unit using initially R-600a The
purpose is to show that the performance of modified system is as good as
the current system. (The performance data for R-12 and R-134a are
available in the lab)

NO. OF STUDENTS: Three students

ESTIMATED COST: It is assumed that no major equipment is required to be
replaced. The estimated cost is Rs. 60,000.00.