Air cycle cooling and heating Part 1: a realistic appraisal and a chosen application

• Published in: International journal of energy research Vol. 22; no. 7; pp. 639 - 655
• Main Authors: Fleming, J. S., Van Der Wekken, B. J. C., McGovern, J. A., Van Gerwen, R. J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 10.06.1998; Wiley
• Subjects: air cycle; application selection; Applied sciences; autodefrosting regenerators; blast freezing; design tools; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; market position; pilot plant; Refrigerating engineering; Refrigerating engineering. Cryogenics. Food conservation; Refrigeration installations; Cooling by air; Advantage; Pilot plants; Running; Performance; Refrigeration; Cold room
• ISSN: 0363-907X; 1099-114X
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-114X(19980610)22:7<639::AID-ER390>3.0.CO;2-J

The state of refrigeration science and technology are changing rapidly due to the internationally co‐ordinated programme to phase out ozone depleting substances and greenhouse gases. The competitive position among the new systems is extremely complex, partly due to the willingness of some governments to legislate. This paper reports an investigation into the competitive position of systems for heating and cooling which make use of ambient air as the working fluid. A rationally‐based system for choosing the suitable applications is described and used in the choice of a freezing application which was developed to the proof of concept by the construction of a pilot plant, the detail and performance of which are described. Computer‐based design tools for plant components and complete cycles are part of the output of the project. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.