Analisa Pengaruh Variasi Susunan Pipa Kondensor, Masa Refrigerant, dan Kecepatan Aliran Udara Kondensor Terhadap Performa Kulkas R-600a

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effects of condenser pipe configuration, refrigerant charge, and condenser airflow velocity on the performance of a refrigerator using R-600a refrigerant. The condenser pipe configurations investigated were U10, U12, and U14, with refrigerant charges of 46 g, 48 g, and 50 g, and condenser fan speeds of 1000 rpm, 1200 rpm, and 1300 rpm. The observed parameters included the refrigerant mass flow rate (ṁ), compressor work (W), condenser heat rejection capacity (Qc), and Coefficient of Performance (COP). The analysis was conducted based on enthalpy data at each point of the refrigeration cycle and the performance test results of the cooling system.The results indicate that increasing the number of condenser pipe passes and the refrigerant charge tends to enhance the condenser's heat rejection capability, thereby improving overall system performance. The optimum configuration was achieved with the U14 condenser pipe arrangement, a refrigerant charge of 50 g, and a condenser airflow velocity corresponding to a fan speed of 1300 rpm. This configuration produced a refrigerant mass flow rate of 0,0184 kg/s, compressor work of 1,32 kW, condenser heat rejection capacity of 5,65 kW, and the highest COP value of 4,28. In contrast, the lowest performance was obtained with the U10 condenser pipe arrangement, a refrigerant charge of 48 g, and a fan speed of 1000 rpm, resulting in a COP of 3,27. In general, increasing the condenser airflow velocity improved the condensation process and enhanced system efficiency, particularly for longer condenser pipe configurations. The findings demonstrate that the combination of condenser pipe configuration, refrigerant charge, and condenser airflow velocity has a significant effect on the performance and energy efficiency of an R-600a refrigerator.