Development of a novel hydrate-based refrigeration system: A preliminary overview

Tomohiro Ogawa, Tomonari Ito, Kenji Watanabe, Ken ichi Tahara, Ryuzo Hiraoka, Jun ichi Ochiai, Ryo Ohmura, Yasuhiko H. Mori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

146 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper gives a preliminary overview of our attempt at developing a hydrate-based refrigeration system based on a novel conceptual design. The system forms a closed cycle, which is more or less analogous to the conventional vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. The cycle of present interest is performed by a multiphase refrigerant, which is typically a mixture of one or two hydrate-forming substances and water. The refrigerant is required to form a hydrate at a temperature as high as ∼30 °C or above, desirably under a modest pressure, such that the heat released by the exothermic hydrate formation can be efficiently removed by an environmental fluid such as the atmospheric air, groundwater or river water. The hydrate slurry thus formed is depressurized to dissociate at a lower temperature, typically 5-9 °C, thereby absorbing heat from a space to be refrigerated. To confirm the feasibility of the above conceptual design of the hydrate-based refrigeration system, a thermodynamic analysis of the system and a simulation of its operation have been performed. Also a laboratory-scale refrigerator based on the above design was constructed and tested. The paper summarizes the results of these efforts to show the potential advantages of the hydrate-based refrigeration system over conventional ones and to give the prospects of our refrigeration-system development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2157-2167
Number of pages11
JournalApplied Thermal Engineering
Volume26
Issue number17-18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006 Dec
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Clathrate hydrate
  • Gas hydrate
  • Heat pump
  • Refrigeration system

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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