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The European Commission (EC) as well as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published legislations to regulate or encourage the use of low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants applied to Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) systems. Europe mandates a GWP less than 150 of MAC refrigerants for new vehicle types. The thermodynamic refrigerant properties of R-1234yf are slightly different from the properties of R-134a, currently used in MAC systems. Although the basic material data show that R-1234yf is flammable, ignition tests performed for an automotive engine under-hood environment reveal design and packaging influences of its ignition behavior. After extensive collaborative research in 2009, the Society of Automotive Engineers Cooperative Research Team (SAE CRP1234) concluded that R-1234yf is suitable for use in automotive applications. Further ignition risk assessment regarding R-1234yf usage in MAC systems was done by SAE CRP1234-4 in 2013.

As part of the launch of the refrigerant R-1234yf there were a number of studies done regarding the ignition behavior of this new refrigerant in passenger cars. These tests were conducted by a number of automobile manufacturers, component suppliers, and the refrigerant supplier under laboratory conditions at the component and vehicle level. In November 2009 the international automotive industry concluded that the R-1234yf can be used safely in automotive air conditioning systems. Further tests were conducted by different automobile manufacturers, suppliers, and the refrigerant supplier under various laboratory and vehicle operation conditions means hot surfaces in the engine compartment. A number of vehicle manufactures have conducted full vehicle crash tests.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the European Commission (EC) are developing test procedures to regulate mobile air conditioning system (MAC) efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce global warming. In the United States, air conditioning related MAC credits can be earned by implementing an internal heat exchanger (IHX) into a MAC system. By integrating an IHX into a MAC system the, Coefficient of Performance (COP) can be increased at the same time increasing cooling capacity. This improvement in efficiency reduces the energy and/or fuel consumption of the MAC system. This paper will compare various IHX plumbing configurations for a dual evaporator system with R1234yf refrigerant. A MAC system optimized for efficiency as well as evaporator cooling capacity is used to assess these different IHX plumbing configurations.

This paper will compare systematically coaxial and non-coaxial internal heat exchanger types on the component and the system level as applied to R1234yf mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems. Pressure drop, heat transfer rate, effectiveness, and efficiency ratio of the Internal Heat Exchanger (IHX) are compared on the component level for the different heat exchanger types. At the system level, a MAC system optimized for efficiency as well as evaporator cooling capacity is used to assess these different internal heat exchanger types. System level factors that will be discussed include IHX heat transfer rate, pressure drop, compressor efficiency, compressor discharge temperatures, and the impact of these factors on the efficiency and capacity of the MAC system. This paper also describes the test bench used for the system level tests and the testing procedure applied.

This paper will examine a mobile air conditioning (MAC) system optimized for efficiency as well as evaporator cooling capacity. Different internal heat exchanger (IHX) capacities and various thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) parameters will be applied using R1234yf refrigerant. Factors that will be considered include IHX heat transfer and pressure drop, TXV superheat setting and slope, the effect of oil in circulation and how these factors impact the efficiency and capacity of the MAC system. The paper describes the test facility used and the test procedures applied.

This paper will examine the various design and performance criteria for optimized internal heat exchanger performance as applied to R134a and HFO-1234yf systems. Factors that will be considered include pressure drop, heat transfer, length, internal surface area, the effect of oil in circulation, and how these factors impact the effectiveness of the heat exchanger. The paper describes the test facility used and test procedures applied. Furthermore, some design parameters for the internal heat exchanger will be recommended for application to each refrigerant.