In this study, the energy and exergy of an automobile refrigeration system using R134a and R134a/R1234yf were analyzed experimentally with respect to outdoor air temperature and compressor speed. As outdoor air temperature increased from 32.5 °C to 37.5 °C, the coefficient of performance (COP) and total exergy destruction rate of the refrigeration system using Mix30 decreased by 5.19% and 25.8% on average, compared to that of the system using R134a. The exergy efficiency of the Mix30 refrigeration system was on average 21.8% higher than that of the R134a system. As the compressor rotating speed increased from 1000 to 2000 rpm, the cooling capacity of the refrigeration system using R134a and R134a/R1234yf increased, while the COP decreased. The COP and total exergy destruction rate of the refrigeration system using Mix30 decreased by 4.82% and 19.5%, compared to that of the system using R134a. The exergy efficiency of the Mix30 refrigeration system increased on average by 20.7%, compared to that of the R134a system. The total exergy destruction rate of the automobile refrigeration system using R134a/R1234yf decreased with increase in R1234yf, while exergy efficiency increased. In addition, the exergy destruction rate of the automobile refrigeration system decreased as the amount of R1234yf in the R134a/R1234yf automobile refrigeration system increased.
Keywords: COP (coefficient of performance); GWP (global warming potential); R1234yf; exergy destruction; exergy efficiency.