Performance Characteristics of a Joule–Thomson Refrigeration System with Mixed Refrigerant Composition

Abstract

As the use of semiconductors in industrial site increases, research on ultra-low refrigerators is required to increase the life and quality of the semiconductors. While various types of refrigerators exist, Joule–Thomson refrigeration with the mixed refrigerant is preferred because of its compactness and stability. The performance of Joule–Thomson refrigeration with mixed refrigerants is based on the mixing ratio of the refrigerants. Therefore, in this study, three kinds of refrigerant groups, namely high boiling point (R-600a), middle boiling point (R-23), and low boiling point (R-14), are used to examine the change in the system’s performance according to the composition ratio of each refrigerant. The results indicate that as the ratio of the high boiling point refrigerant increases, the discharge, and suction temperature decrease. As the ratio of the middle boiling point refrigerant increases, the condensation pressure decreases, and thus, the inlet temperature of the expansion valve also decreases. As the ratio of the low boiling point refrigerant increases, the cooling capacity tends to increase.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. 2019R1F1A1059766) and UNISEM Co. Ltd. And this paper was part of Kwang-Seok Lee's Master’s thesis who graduated Pukyong National University [30].

Notes on contributors

Kwang-Seok Lee

Kwang-Seok Lee is a Cryogenic Systems researcher in Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. He obtained his master degree in the School of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineering at Pukyong National University, Republic of Korea, where he studied refrigeration, heat transfer and air-conditioning. His master research is focusing on the Joule-Thomson refrigeration using mixed refrigerants.

Jung-In Yoon

Jung-In Yoon is a professor at the Department of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering at Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea. He received his Ph.D. degree in 1995 from Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology, Japan. He has been teaching at Pukyong National University since 1995 except for one year spent at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and another year at the University of Oklahoma in USA. His research contributions are in the field of refrigeration and air-conditioning engineering. He is currently working on the development of the OTEC cycle, and performance of inverter industrial cooled chillers on high-accuracy temperature control.

Chang-Hyo Son

Chang-Hyo Son is an associate professor at the Department of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering at Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea. He received his Ph.D. degree in 2004 from Pukyong National University. He has been teaching refrigeration engineering at Pukyong National University since 2013. He is currently working on the development of the high-efficiency refrigeration cycle and the OTEC cycle.

Joon-Hyuk Lee

Joon-Hyuk Lee is a doctoral degree student at the Department of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea. He has been conducting research on Cascade Refrigeration systems for semiconductor chiller during his masters in Pukyong National University, South Korea. His main interest is cryocooler.

Choon-Geun Moon

Choon-Geun Moon is a technical director at DAEIL corporation, Busan, Republic of Korea. He received his Ph.D. degree in 2004 from Pukyong National University. He had been teaching a refrigeration engineering at Pukyong National University since 2018. He is currently working on the development of ice making machines and sea water coolers.

Wook-Jin Yoo

Wook-Jin Yoo is a team leader of the R&D Division at Unisem Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. He has been with this company since 2000 and has been a team leader since 2009. He designs a system of chillers for cooling semiconductor equipment. Resent achievements include the development of an ultra-small chiller in 2016 and a cryogenic chiller at -70 °C in 2018. And now he is developing a cryogenic chiller at -100 °C.

Byeong-Chan Lee

Byoung-Chan Lee is a chiller development manager of the R&D Division at Unisem Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. He has been with thiscompany since 2004. And has been a chiller development manager since 2017. He develops cryogenic chillers. Resent achievements include the developmentof a cryogenic chiller at -70 °C in 2018 and a cryogenic chiller with 3-stagecascade refrigeration cycle applied. And now he is developing a cryogenic chiller at -100 °C.