The investigation includes calorimeter test data for two compressors that were specifically designed for the HFCs - 134a and 152a. The calorimetric tests were conducted with an ester oil for R-134a and an alkyl-benzene oil for R-152a. The tests showed an energy efficiency ratio advantage of 3% for the R-152a compressor over the R-134a compressor if the design fluids were used. The performance of one domestic refrigerator/freezer with the two compressors was tested over a range of refrigerant charges and capillary tube lengths for the same refrigerator/freezer system with the two different working fluids were investigated. The tests do not show a significant difference between the two optimised systems. At the same time, significant differences in the necessary refrigerant charge as well as the necessary capillary tube length have been found. The results show that the system needs about 40% less refrigerant (by mass) and a significantly long capillary tube with R-152a as the working fluid instead of R-132a.

KEYWORDS: refrigerants, R134a, R152a, comparing, testing.