Performance of a Linde-Hampson refrigerator operating from –120 °C to –60 °C with optimised R14-hydrocarbon mixtures exhibiting vapour-liquid-liquid equilibria

Single stage Linde-Hampson refrigerators that operate with R14-hydrocarbon mixtures can be used in place of traditional two/three stage vapour compression cascade refrigerators to provide refrigeration below–60 °C. The exergy efficiency of Linde-Hampson refrigerators can be increased by using compositions that exhibit vapour-liquid-liquid-equilibrium at low temperatures. The main aim of this work is to present the theoretical performance of a Linde-Hampson refrigerator operating with optimal R14-hydrocarbon mixtures from −120 to −60 °C. The results show that constant temperature refrigeration, however, cannot be provided above −80 °C with these mixtures. The use of nitrogen as an additional component below −100 °C is also investigated.