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Clean Technol.
Special Issues
Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration
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Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration

A special issue of Clean Technologies (ISSN 2571-8797).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 January 2023) | Viewed by 17069

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José Ramón García-Cascales

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Fluids and Thermal Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, C/ Dr. Fleming s/n, 30202 Cartagena, Spain
Interests: heat pumps, refrigeration systems modelling; hot water production by means of heat pumps; heat exchanger modelling; CO2 and other alternative refrigerants; internal ballistics combustion of propellants; thermohydraulics H2/CO/H2O combustion in nuclear scenarios
Prof. Dr. Antonio López Gómez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Food Engineering and Agricultural Equipment Department, School of Agricultural Engineeringl, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
Interests: food technology and engineering; by-products processing; active and intelligent packaging for food waste reduction; water and energy saving technologies for food processing and packaging; optimation of traditional food processes for enhancing sustainability; food safety

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) stated that refrigeration and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for the emission of 2.61 Gt of CO2, representing 7.8% of the global Greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is necessary to make advancements in the sustainability of refrigeration systems. One way to do this would be to combine advanced technologies in a synergistic way to achieve the desired improvement in the sustainability of the refrigeration facilities that are critical to society to provide food, means of production, and well-being.

Therefore, we are pleased to invite you to participate in this Special Issue of the international journal Clean Technologies, which will be dedicated to Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration. In other words, technologies that can be combined synergistically to further improve the sustainability of cold production and application systems, both in food, as in air conditioning, and other industrial applications.

The scope of this Issue will include (i) the integration of renewable energy sources in synchrony with advanced technologies of cold storage; (ii) waste heat recovery using absorption systems; (iii) modelling advanced technologies for improved design, control, and sustainability of refrigeration systems; (iv) environmentally friendly refrigerants for improving refrigeration sustainability; (v) solar cooling systems using nanofluids; (vi) advanced phase-change materials for thermal energy storage and refrigeration; and (vii) active packaging technologies for improving cold chain sustainability.

Prof. Dr. José Ramón García-Cascales
Prof. Dr. Antonio López Gómez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Clean Technologies is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • synergistic technologies
  • sustainable refrigeration
  • absorption systems
  • advanced modelling techniques
  • advanced control techniques
  • environmentally friendliness refrigerants
  • nanofluids
  • advanced phase-change materials
  • solar cooling
  • active packaging

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 6730 KiB  
Article
A Novel H2O/LiBr Absorption Heat Pump with Condensation Heat Recovery for Combined Heating and Cooling Production: Energy Analysis for Different Applications
by Juan Prieto, Dereje S. Ayou and Alberto Coronas
Clean Technol. 2023, 5(1), 51-73; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol5010004 - 31 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2711
Abstract
The aim of this study is to analyze the feasibility of the single-effect H2O/LiBr absorption heat pump cycle to produce combined heating and cooling. To achieve this, first, the main changes that the absorption cycle requires are described in comparison with [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to analyze the feasibility of the single-effect H2O/LiBr absorption heat pump cycle to produce combined heating and cooling. To achieve this, first, the main changes that the absorption cycle requires are described in comparison with the conventional single-effect absorption chiller. Then, the cycle’s operational limits in terms of temperature lift and LiBr crystallization are evaluated. In this sense, driving heat temperatures required for these applications range from 85 °C to 120 °C. The energy and exergy performance (in terms of cooling and heating capacities, cooling and heating coefficient of performance, and exergy coefficient of performance) of the cycle is theoretically studied for five different types of applications that require simultaneous heating and cooling: building air conditioning, a 4th generation district heating and cooling network, a sports center with an indoor swimming pool, a hybrid air conditioning system with an absorption heat pump and a desiccant evaporative cooling system, and simultaneous cooling and water purification application for coastal areas. The system performance in terms of the cooling coefficient of performance varies in the range of 0.812–0.842, in terms of heating coefficient of performance from 0.58 to 1.842, and in terms of exergy coefficient of performance from 0.451 to 0.667. The application with the highest exergy coefficient of performance is the 4th generation district heating and cooling network. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration)
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19 pages, 4586 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Use of Different Dedicated Mechanical Subcooling (DMS) Strategies in a Water Source Transcritical CO2 Heat Pump for Space Heating Applications
by Fernando Illán-Gómez, José Ramón García-Cascales, Francisco Javier Sánchez-Velasco and Ramón A. Otón-Martínez
Clean Technol. 2022, 4(4), 1208-1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol4040074 - 17 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1693
Abstract
In this work we analyze numerically different design configurations to be used in a R1234yf DMS cycle coupled with a water source, transcritical CO2 heat pump for heating applications in the building sector. Specifically, we study the temperature range proposed by a [...] Read more.
In this work we analyze numerically different design configurations to be used in a R1234yf DMS cycle coupled with a water source, transcritical CO2 heat pump for heating applications in the building sector. Specifically, we study the temperature range proposed by a European standard for heating with inlet/outlet water temperatures of: 30 °C/35 °C, 40 °C/45 °C, 47 °C/55 °C and 55 °C/65 °C. Moreover, 25 °C/30 °C is also analyzed which is the range expected for indoor swimming pool water pool heating applications. A water inlet temperature of 10 °C at the evaporator was considered in all of the cases. Results show that depending on the coupling strategy between the DMS cycle and the CO2 heat pump, optimal COP values obtained can vary up to 30% whereas the optimal operating pressure of the CO2 cycle can vary up to 8%. A configuration based on splitting the water flow to be heated into the DMS condenser and the gas cooler in a system with IHX was the best option for all the temperature ranges studied. The improvement in the maximum COP values obtained with this configuration ranges between 5% (for swimming pool applications) and 25% (for space heating with 40 °C/45 °C) when compared with the base cycle depending on the water temperature range considered. When this configuration is not considered, the basic transcritical CO2 with IHX and without DMS was found the best option. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration)
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10 pages, 1828 KiB  
Article
Adsorption Cooler Design, Dynamic Modeling, and Performance Analyses
by João M. S. Dias and Vítor A. F. Costa
Clean Technol. 2022, 4(4), 1152-1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol4040070 - 03 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1906
Abstract
This paper presents an adsorption cooler (AC) driven by the surplus heat of a solar thermal domestic hot water system to provide cooling to residential buildings. A cylindrical tube adsorber using granular silica gel as adsorbent and water as adsorbate was considered. The [...] Read more.
This paper presents an adsorption cooler (AC) driven by the surplus heat of a solar thermal domestic hot water system to provide cooling to residential buildings. A cylindrical tube adsorber using granular silica gel as adsorbent and water as adsorbate was considered. The AC was modelled using a two-dimensional distributed parameter model implemented in previous adsorption heating and cooling studies. The performance coefficients of the resultant thermally driven cooling system were obtained for a broad range of working conditions. The thermally driven AC was found to have coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.5 and a specific cooling power (SCP) of 44 W·kg−1 when considering condenser, evaporator, and regeneration temperatures of 30 °C, 15 °C, and 70 °C, respectively. Moreover, the results showed that the AC could be used for refrigeration purposes at temperatures as low as 2 °C and that it could also operate during hotter days under temperatures of 42 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration)
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9 pages, 2297 KiB  
Article
The Role of the Compressor Isentropic Efficiency in Non-Intrusive Refrigerant Side Characterization of Transcritical CO2 Heat Pump Water Heaters
by Francisco B. Lamas and Vítor A. F. Costa
Clean Technol. 2022, 4(3), 815-823; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol4030050 - 17 Aug 2022
Viewed by 2095
Abstract
Characterizing the refrigerant side of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) can be intrusive and expensive. On the other hand, direct external measurement techniques can be unfeasible, particularly in commercial HPWHs for residential applications. Non-intrusive in situ characterization methods have already been successfully implemented [...] Read more.
Characterizing the refrigerant side of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) can be intrusive and expensive. On the other hand, direct external measurement techniques can be unfeasible, particularly in commercial HPWHs for residential applications. Non-intrusive in situ characterization methods have already been successfully implemented in subcritical heat pumps. They provide the refrigerant mass flowrate and the equipment energy performance, by using contact temperature sensors and electric power meters. Subcritical suction and discharge-specific enthalpies necessary to apply the method can be obtained from the measured temperatures and their corresponding saturation pressures. Nevertheless, this approach does not apply to the transcritical CO2 HPWHs. In the supercritical region, temperature and pressure are independent variables, and an iterative process regarding the compressor isentropic efficiency has to be considered. However, when isentropic efficiency data are not available, an additional procedure is required, using a validated gas cooler model to verify the physical reliability of the numerical solutions. This work aims at presenting base thermodynamic analysis of a novel methodology for non-intrusive refrigerant side characterization of transcritical CO2 HPWHs, exploring the influence of the compressor isentropic efficiency condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration)
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13 pages, 3482 KiB  
Article
Seasonal Efficiency of a Brine-to-Water Heat Pump with Different Control Options according to Ecodesign Standards
by Jaime Sieres, Ignacio Ortega, Fernando Cerdeira, Estrella Álvarez and José M. Santos
Clean Technol. 2022, 4(2), 542-554; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol4020033 - 16 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2633
Abstract
The seasonal performance of a heat pump indicates its average performance during the heating and/or cooling season, taking into account the different energy demands and their variability over time. Several European and international regulations and policies related with energy efficiency and the reduction [...] Read more.
The seasonal performance of a heat pump indicates its average performance during the heating and/or cooling season, taking into account the different energy demands and their variability over time. Several European and international regulations and policies related with energy efficiency and the reduction of the carbon footprint of energy related products are affecting the heat pump industry. Among them, the ecodesign regulations impose minimum energy efficiency values for heat pumps, efficiencies that are based on the seasonal coefficient of performance. This work is focused on a domestic brine-to-water heat pump for low-temperature applications. The methodology to determine its seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) according to the European standard EN 14825 is explained and evaluated based on experimental results. The impact on the SCOP of using some technology options such as fixed or variable speed compressors, and fixed or variable outlet temperature operation is evaluated. Results show that between the lowest and highest efficient option, the SCOP can be improved by 26%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration)
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Review

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21 pages, 1345 KiB  
Review
Artificial Neural Networks as Artificial Intelligence Technique for Energy Saving in Refrigeration Systems—A Review
by Mario Pérez-Gomariz, Antonio López-Gómez and Fernando Cerdán-Cartagena
Clean Technol. 2023, 5(1), 116-136; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol5010007 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3070
Abstract
The refrigeration industry is an energy-intensive sector. Increasing the efficiency of industrial refrigeration systems is crucial for reducing production costs and minimizing CO2 emissions. Optimization of refrigeration systems is often a complex and time-consuming problem. This is where technologies such as big [...] Read more.
The refrigeration industry is an energy-intensive sector. Increasing the efficiency of industrial refrigeration systems is crucial for reducing production costs and minimizing CO2 emissions. Optimization of refrigeration systems is often a complex and time-consuming problem. This is where technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence play an important role. Nowadays, smart sensorization and the development of IoT (Internet of Things) make the massive connection of all kinds of devices possible, thereby enabling a new way of data acquisition. In this scenario, refrigeration systems can be measured comprehensively by acquiring large volumes of data in real-time. Then, artificial neural network (ANN) models can use the data to drive autonomous decision-making to build more efficient refrigeration systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration)
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14 pages, 4065 KiB  
Review
Potential of Released Essential Oils from Active Packaging to Reduce Refrigeration Needs of Fruit and Vegetables
by Ginés Benito Martínez-Hernández and Antonio López-Gómez
Clean Technol. 2022, 4(4), 1255-1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol4040077 - 01 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2144
Abstract
The energy efficiency of fruit and vegetables refrigeration facilities can be increased through the reduction of heat generated by produce (in kWh/kg). Ethylene production in fruit and vegetables is closely linked to their respiration rates. Clean technologies that can reduce ethylene production of [...] Read more.
The energy efficiency of fruit and vegetables refrigeration facilities can be increased through the reduction of heat generated by produce (in kWh/kg). Ethylene production in fruit and vegetables is closely linked to their respiration rates. Clean technologies that can reduce ethylene production of fruit and vegetables are needed to relax (increase) the setpoint temperature of cold rooms. The heat produced may be reduced by up to 50% when ethylene concentrations surrounding the produce are reduced from 0.1–1 to 0.001–0.01 μL L−1 during the storage of some vegetables. There is a need to find green alternatives to ethylene scavenging techniques (of high cost and chemical origin) such as, for example, active packaging with encapsulated essential oils. Hence, respiration and ethylene production rates of flat peaches and broccoli were reduced by up to 30–50% with active packaging with essential oils. It would imply a lower produce heat generation of 14–30% with the consequent energy savings in the refrigeration systems of horticultural facilities. Consequently, the potential of essential oils released from active packaging to reduce the energy consumption related to respiratory heat of produce is hereby firstly reviewed and proposed as a clean technology to extend the postharvest life of fruit and vegetables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergistic Technologies to Advance in Sustainable Refrigeration)
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