INDEE3 – Sustainable cooling and heating in India
Results
Papers
On-board refrigeration for indian fishing vessels: experimental evaluation of a propane-driven flake ice system
India, the world’s second-largest seafood producer, contributes about 8% of global output and exported 1.78 million metric tons of seafood, generating US$7.38 billion in 2023–24. Seafood harvesting is largely carried out by small fishing vessels, depending on shore-supplied ice for onboard preservation. This practice often results in operational inefficiencies, increased fuel consumption, and quality losses. This study develops and validates a numerical model of a diesel-engine-driven onboard flake ice generation system using R290 under high-ambient marine conditions. The model is validated using experimental data and applied to assess performance over a condensing temperature range of 36–42 °C. Comparative analysis with conventional HFC refrigerants (R404A and R407C) shows that R290 delivers up to 31.2% lower compressor power consumption and COP improvements of up to 31.3%. Although its heat recovery potential is lower, R290 achieves the highest combined COP, indicating superior overall energy utilisation and suitability for onboard refrigeration.
Transcritical CO2 refrigeration system with economizer for small fishing vessels
Seafood plays an important role in the local food supply chain, especially in coastal areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Maintaining proper product temperature throughout the cold chain is essential for preserving seafood quality and reducing food waste. However, small fishing vessels often lack active refrigeration, relying only on ice to preserve the catch. This study investigates the potential of a compact transcritical CO₂ refrigerated seawater (RSW) system as an alternative. Experimental investigations with seawater inlet temperatures from 20 °C to 30 °C, typical for warm climate regions in LMICs, showed COP values from 3.5 to 1.8. To address the low values at high temperatures, an economizer was integrated. This enabled vapor injection. The results showed an improved performance by up to 6.7 % resulting in a COP of 2.07. A Modelica model was developed to simulate various operating conditions and configurations. Simulations for Norwegian conditions showed less than 1.5 % efficiency increase and limited benefit from vapor injection in colder climates.
R744-based integrated heat pump and chiller system for hotels in tropical climates
Hotels in India typically rely on synthetic refrigerant-based chillers for space cooling and diesel-fired water heaters for hot water production—both energy-intensive solutions that contribute significantly to global warming. Transitioning to natural refrigerants like CO2 is a promising alternative, but this shift faces several challenges in India, including high ambient temperatures, limited technical expertise, resistance to adopting new technologies, and a shortage of skilled professionals. Demonstrating the real-world performance of such systems is essential to overcoming these barriers. This paper presents and discusses the first set of field data from a CO2 heat pump recently implemented in a hotel located in a tropical region of India. The system successfully met its design goals, producing hot water at 80 °C while simultaneously providing chilled glycol-water at 2 °C. The results indicate that CO2 based systems can effectively meet both heating and cooling demands in warmer climates, offering a sustainable alternative for the hospitality industry.
Decarbonisation pathways for cold rooms in India using renewable energy and low GWP refrigerants
India’s food chain faces growing challenges from rising ambient temperatures, energy constraints, and post-harvest losses of nearly 30% for some commodities due to inadequate infrastructure and the absence of standard processes. Despite recent expansion, the cold chain sector remains highly energy-intensive, with limited integration of renewable energy and continued reliance on high-GWP refrigerants. This study evaluates a solar photovoltaics (PV)–powered micro cold room integrated with thermal energy storage (TES) to support during the absence of solar energy, using R290 as refrigerant, and compares its performance with grid-dependent and partially PV-assisted configurations. The R290-based system demonstrates up to 11% lower annual energy consumption compared to R404A systems, with an improved coefficient of performance and a 10% reduction in total equivalent warming impact. PV–TES integration enables grid independence. Large-scale deployment could reduce emissions by up to 9,900 kilotonnes by 2050, supporting food security and climate goals nationally significantly.
