IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v320y2025ics0360544225007881.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Experimental investigation on the performance of a −120 °C ultralow temperature refrigeration system based on a three-stage auto-cascade cycle

Author

Listed:
  • Qin, Yanbin
  • Zhang, Shaojie
  • Zhang, Hua
  • Tan, Yuxuan
  • Zhou, Guozhong
  • Liu, Baolin

Abstract

This study presents an experimental investigation on the pull-down performance and energy efficiency of a three-stage auto-cascade refrigeration (TACR) system designed for low-temperature freezer applications down to −120 °C. Utilizing low-GWP refrigerants including R600a, R290, R170, and R50, our research fills a significant gap in the existing literature by providing a comprehensive experimental analysis of a real ultralow temperature refrigerator operating at this temperature range. The unique design of the TACR system, featuring recuperators and a carefully selected refrigerant mixture, optimizes heat transfer and reduces environmental impact. The experimental setup achieved a relatively rapid cooling rate, reaching a no-load temperature of −124.7 °C in 40 min and cooling 2 L of ethanol to −120.1 °C in approximately 2 h. Additionally, the measured cooling capacity, coefficient of performance (COP), and relative Carnot efficiency of the TACR system were 93.5 W, 0.1255, and 15.10 %, respectively, at the temperature level of −120 °C. These results demonstrate the significant potential of the TACR system in the field of ultralow temperature freezing for the storage of vaccines and biomedical products, offering valuable insights and practical guidance for future applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Qin, Yanbin & Zhang, Shaojie & Zhang, Hua & Tan, Yuxuan & Zhou, Guozhong & Liu, Baolin, 2025. "Experimental investigation on the performance of a −120 °C ultralow temperature refrigeration system based on a three-stage auto-cascade cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:320:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225007881
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135146
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225007881
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.135146?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hao, Xinyue & Wang, Lin & Wang, Zhanwei & Tan, Yingying & Yan, Xiaona, 2018. "Hybrid auto-cascade refrigeration system coupled with a heat-driven ejector cooling cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 988-998.
    2. He, Yijian & Gao, Xu & Chen, Qifei & Chen, Guangming, 2020. "Study on the performance of a novel waste heat recovery system at low temperatures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    3. David M. Berchowitz & Yongrak Kwon, 2012. "Environmental Profiles of Stirling-Cooled and Cascade-Cooled Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(11), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Bai, Tao & Yan, Gang & Yu, Jianlin, 2018. "Experimental research on the pull-down performance of an ejector enhanced auto-cascade refrigeration system for low-temperature freezer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 647-657.
    5. Li, Yinlong & Dong, Peiwen & Liu, Guoqiang & Yan, Gang, 2024. "Thermodynamic performance analysis of the fractionation and flash separation auto-cascade refrigeration cycle using low GWP refrigerant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    6. Bai, Tao & Yu, Jianlin & Yan, Gang, 2016. "Advanced exergy analysis on a modified auto-cascade freezer cycle with an ejector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 385-398.
    7. Michał Sobieraj, 2020. "Experimental Investigation of the Effect of a Recuperative Heat Exchanger and Throttles Opening on a CO 2 /Isobutane Autocascade Refrigeration System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-15, October.
    8. Bai, Tao & Yan, Gang & Yu, Jianlin, 2022. "Influence of internal heat exchanger position on the performance of ejector-enhanced auto-cascade refrigeration cycle for the low-temperature freezer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    9. Qin, Yanbin & Li, Nanxi & Zhang, Hua & Jin, Binhui & Liu, Baolin, 2022. "Experimental characterization of an innovative refrigeration system coupled with Linde-Hampson cycle and auto-cascade cycle for multi-stage refrigeration temperature applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    10. Qin, Yanbin & Li, Nanxi & Zhang, Hua & Liu, Baolin, 2021. "Energy and exergy analysis of a Linde-Hampson refrigeration system using R170, R41 and R1132a as low-GWP refrigerant blend components to replace R23," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    11. Qin, Yanbin & Li, Nanxi & Zhang, Hua & Liu, Baolin, 2022. "Study on the performance of an energy-efficient three-stage auto-cascade refrigeration system enhanced with a pressure regulator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    12. Liu, Ye & Yu, Jianlin, 2018. "Performance analysis of an advanced ejector-expansion autocascade refrigeration cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 859-867.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Yinlong & Liu, Guoqiang & Chen, Qi & Yan, Gang, 2023. "Progress of auto-cascade refrigeration systems performance improvement: Composition separation, shift and regulation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Chen, Sen & Li, Xiuzhen & Song, Ziyun & Tan, Yingying & Wang, Zhanwei & Wang, Lin, 2025. "Thermodynamic performance analysis of a grade compression auto-cascade refrigeration cycle with multi-dephlegmation processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    3. Yang, Kaiyin & Sun, Tianyu & Liu, Yilun & Wang, Qin & Xue, Ziqian & Yang, Hongxing & Luo, Jielin, 2025. "System modifications with a nonflammable eco-friendly mixture for ultra-low-temperature refrigeration: Energy, advanced exergy, life cycle analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    4. Li, Yinlong & Yan, Gang & Jing, Dongliang & Liu, Guoqiang & Llopis, Rodrigo, 2025. "A novel online measurement method for compositions and energy performance of an auto-cascade refrigeration system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    5. Tan, Yingying & Li, Xiuzhen & Wang, Lin & Huang, Lisheng & Xiao, Yi & Wang, Zhanwei & Li, Shaoqiang, 2023. "Thermodynamic performance of the fractionated auto-cascade refrigeration cycle coupled with two-phase ejector using R1150/R600a at −80 °C temperature level," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    6. Li, Yinlong & Yan, Gang & Yang, Yuqing & Dong, Peiwen & Liu, Guoqiang, 2024. "Thermodynamic analysis of new configurations of auto-cascade refrigeration cycles integrating the vortex tube," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    7. Zhenzhen Liu & Jingde Jiang & Zilong Wang & Hua Zhang, 2023. "Thermodynamic Analysis of an Innovative Cold Energy Storage System for Auto-Cascade Refrigeration Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-17, February.
    8. Liu, Jiarui & Yu, Jianlin & Yan, Gang, 2024. "Experimental study on performance characteristics of a −70 °C ultra-low temperature medical freezer with mixed hydrocarbon refrigerant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    9. Besagni, Giorgio, 2019. "Ejectors on the cutting edge: The past, the present and the perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 998-1003.
    10. Li, Yinlong & Dong, Peiwen & Liu, Guoqiang & Yan, Gang, 2024. "Thermodynamic performance analysis of the fractionation and flash separation auto-cascade refrigeration cycle using low GWP refrigerant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    11. Qin, Yanbin & Li, Nanxi & Zhang, Hua & Liu, Baolin, 2022. "Study on the performance of an energy-efficient three-stage auto-cascade refrigeration system enhanced with a pressure regulator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    12. Feng, Xu & Wu, Yuting & Du, Yanjun & Qi, Di, 2024. "Optimization and performance improvement of ultra-low temperature cascade refrigeration system based on the isentropic efficiency curve of single-screw compressor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    13. Ye, Wenlian & Liu, Yang & Zhou, Zhongyou & Hu, Lulu & Liu, Yingwen, 2025. "Performance prediction of an auto-cascade refrigeration system using multiple-algorithmic approaches," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    14. Konrad, Mary Elizabeth & MacDonald, Brendan D., 2023. "Cold climate air source heat pumps: Industry progress and thermodynamic analysis of market-available residential units," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    15. Hao, Xinyue & Wang, Lin & Wang, Zhanwei & Tan, Yingying & Yan, Xiaona, 2018. "Hybrid auto-cascade refrigeration system coupled with a heat-driven ejector cooling cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 988-998.
    16. Min-Ju Jeon, 2021. "Experimental Analysis of the R744/R404A Cascade Refrigeration System with Internal Heat Exchanger. Part 1: Coefficient of Performance Characteristics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
    17. Albà, C.G. & Alkhatib, I.I.I. & Llovell, F. & Vega, L.F., 2023. "Hunting sustainable refrigerants fulfilling technical, environmental, safety and economic requirements," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    18. Mingzhang Pan & Huan Zhao & Dongwu Liang & Yan Zhu & Youcai Liang & Guangrui Bao, 2020. "A Review of the Cascade Refrigeration System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-26, May.
    19. Ma, Xudong & Du, Yanjun & Wu, Yuting & Lei, Biao, 2024. "Performance improvement of air-source autocascade high-temperature heat pumps using advanced exergy analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    20. Cui, Yunhao & Qiao, Jianxin & Song, Bin & Wang, Xiaotao & Yang, Zhaohui & Li, Haibing & Dai, Wei, 2021. "Experimental study of a free piston Stirling cooler with wound wire mesh regenerator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:320:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225007881. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.