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Applied Sciences
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Novel Ecofriendly Refrigeration System: Technology and Application
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Novel Ecofriendly Refrigeration System: Technology and Application

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 2035

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vicente Pérez-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Division, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, University of Guanajuato, Salamanca 36885, Mexico
Interests: low-GWP refrigerants; alternative configurations in vapour compression systems; natural refrigerants; ejectors
Prof. Dr. Juan Jose Garcia Pabon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Av. BPS, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil
Interests: refrigeration; two-phase flow; energy; solar; heating water
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, refrigeration systems that employ refrigerants with low and ultra-low GWP are a reality because refrigerants with high GWP are prohibited according to new regulations. In this sense, refrigeration systems must evolve alternative configurations that promote a reduced carbon footprint whilst increasing performance. This is possible with the use of alternative refrigerants, nanofluids, and natural refrigerants. This topic is focused on novel research surrounding the development of eco-friendly refrigeration systems. The Special Issue also covers speciality areas, such as disruptive refrigeration systems.

Dr. Vicente Pérez-García
Prof. Dr. Juan Jose Garcia Pabon
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • low-GWP refrigerants
  • natural refrigerants
  • disruptive refrigeration

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

43 pages, 7597 KB  
Article
4E Analysis of Alternative Configurations in Mobile Air Conditioning Used in Electromobility and Conventional Vehicles
by D. Méndez-Méndez, J. F. Ituna-Yudonago, J. J. Ramírez-Minguela, J. M. Belman-Flores and V. Pérez-García
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 3071; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16063071 - 22 Mar 2026
Viewed by 296
Abstract
This study analyzes four alternative cycle configurations for the traditional vapor compression system used in conventional, hybrid, and electric vehicles, taking low-GWP alternatives for the substitution of R134a. These are cycle with an internal heat exchanger and thermostatic expansion valve (IHX + TEV); [...] Read more.
This study analyzes four alternative cycle configurations for the traditional vapor compression system used in conventional, hybrid, and electric vehicles, taking low-GWP alternatives for the substitution of R134a. These are cycle with an internal heat exchanger and thermostatic expansion valve (IHX + TEV); cycle with an internal heat exchanger and short tube (IHX + ST); cycle with an ejector (EC); and cycle with an ejector and internal heat exchanger (EC + IHX). Similarly, the energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and environmental impact of these configurations were analyzed using synthetic refrigerants with a GWP of less than 150. The results indicate that, using the EC + IHX configuration, the COP for refrigerants R1234yf, R1234ze(E), R1243zf, and R516A is the highest, increasing by more than 20%. Using R1243zf in the EC configuration can reduce the total cost ratio compared to other refrigerants. On the other hand, the use of IHX cycle configurations with R444A and R445A decreases the exergy efficiency and increases the total cost ratio by up to 35% and 70%, respectively. Additionally, the Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) analysis showed reductions up to 20% for ejector cycle configurations using R1234ze(E), R1234yf, R1243zf, and R516A. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Ecofriendly Refrigeration System: Technology and Application)
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37 pages, 2220 KB  
Article
Comparative Exergoeconomic Analysis of Three Vapour-Compression Refrigeration System Configurations
by Sergio Castro-Hernández, Martín Salazar-Pereyra, Wenceslao C. Bonilla-Blancas, Alejandro Torres-Aldaco, Raúl Lugo-Leyte and Helen D. Lugo-Méndez
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 2483; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16052483 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 368
Abstract
Vapour-compression refrigeration and cooling systems represent a significant share of global electricity consumption, being estimated to account for approximately 10% to 20% of the worldwide electricity demand, which highlights their critical impact on energy efficiency and sustainability. In this context, improving the thermodynamic [...] Read more.
Vapour-compression refrigeration and cooling systems represent a significant share of global electricity consumption, being estimated to account for approximately 10% to 20% of the worldwide electricity demand, which highlights their critical impact on energy efficiency and sustainability. In this context, improving the thermodynamic and exergoeconomic performance of refrigeration cycles, as well as the appropriate selection of the refrigerant, has become a key research priority. Therefore, this work aims to comparatively evaluate the energy, exergy, exergy cost, and exergoeconomic performance of three vapour-compression refrigeration cycle configurations: a simple cycle, a two-stage cycle with a flash tank, and a two-stage cycle with a flash tank and a mixing chamber. Six refrigerants (R134a, R600a, R290, R1234yf, R1234ze (E), and R717) were analysed under evaporation temperatures of 228–238 K and condensation temperatures of 298–308 K. The performance evaluation was carried out using the Fuel–Product–Residue (FPR) methodology, considering the coefficient of performance (COP), exergy efficiency, system irreversibilities, and exergy and exergoeconomic costs. The results indicate that the incorporation of the mixing chamber increases the COP by up to 7% and the exergy efficiency by up to 6% compared to the simple cycle, while reducing exergoeconomic costs by up to 10% for the most favourable refrigerants. Among the working fluids analysed, R600a exhibits the best overall performance (COP up to 4.3 and an exergy efficiency of 33%), followed by R290 and R717, whereas R1234yf shows the lowest efficiencies (COP ≈ 3.7 and exergy efficiency ≈ 28%) and the highest exergoeconomic costs. These findings demonstrate that the design of vapour-compression refrigeration systems should involve the joint selection of the cycle configuration and the refrigerant based on integrated energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic criteria. Overall, the results highlight that both the refrigerant and the cycle configuration must be selected simultaneously, considering energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic criteria, to achieve more efficient and sustainable industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Ecofriendly Refrigeration System: Technology and Application)
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