Investigation on energy-saving potential from heat rejection pressure management in a CO₂ transcritical vapor compression system

Heat rejection pressure is an important factor influencing the performance of a CO₂ (R-744) transcritical vapor compression system. Previous relevant studies have investigated the optimum heat rejection pressure ensuring the maximum coefficient of performance (COP) and operating parameters affecting the optimum pressure value. However, studies presenting quantitatively how much energy can save when an R-744 transcritical system operates in the optimum heat rejection pressure are still rather limited. This work aims to investigate an energy-saving potential gain achieved by managing heat rejection pressure in an R-744 transcritical system and provides quantitatively how much energy can save with that. In that way, this work tries to fill out the research gap. Simulations were carried out employing prevalidated model, the system COP was investigated in various operating conditions, and the optimum heat rejection pressure securing the maximum COP was found. The optimum heat rejection pressure found in this work was compared to the existing correlations, thereby the comparison results are provided in this paper. The system's dynamic performance was also investigated in two different cases: when the expansion valve opening was regulated for the optimum heat rejection pressure, and when the valve opening was adjusted with a thermostatic expansion valve conventionally. In this study, it is observed the given system reduces the compressor power consumption by 62% when the refrigerant temperature at the main gas cooler outlet varies within a range of 33 ℃ to 45 ℃ and the evaporator temperature of 1 ℃. Consequently, in terms of energy-saving potential, this paper highlights the importance of heat rejection pressure management in an R-744 transcritical system and the significance of proper selection for the control target of an expansion valve depending on the system's operating regime.